Starting the Day – Family First

One of the perks of being self-employed is having the flexibility to enjoy precious moments with my young family. Before heading out, I got to make porridge with my daughter (who’s just turned seven) and feed the baby, a calm start before a busy day.

By 8:40 am, I was on the road to Derby to meet a team of stove fitters for the first job, installing a chimney liner and pot.

Job 1: Chimney Liner & Pot Installation in Derby

The task was straightforward on paper – remove an old gas liner, drop in the new flexible liner, install a new chimney pot, and secure everything neatly in place.

Step 1 – Removing the Old Liner

The first challenge was chipping away the top of the chimney to free the old liner. A bit of brickwork was dislodged during removal, so I rebedded the bricks before fitting the pot.

Pro Tip: When working with Jubilee clips on chimney cowls, I prefer a compact drill with an 8mm bit instead of an impact driver, it gives better control and avoids over-tightening.

Step 2 – Installing the New Liner

With the pot temporarily in place, I dropped the liner, secured it, and prepared for final flaunching. A gusty wind made filming a bit shaky, part of the reality of working at height.

Unexpected Setback – Cherry Picker Track Issues

Just as I wrapped up, one of my cherry picker tracks came off after running over an outrigger pad. This is becoming a recurring issue and will be investigated at the next LOLER inspection.

Repairs done, I was back on the road to meet an electrician in Loughborough for job two.

Job 2: Air Vent Tile Installation

This was a bungalow job that, in hindsight, could have been done quicker with a ladder, but the customer had booked me and the cherry picker, so that’s what we used.

How the Air Vent Works:

• The external grill lets air through.
• A built-in tray catches any water ingress and channels it safely back onto the roof tiles via small outlet holes.
• This design helps prevent leaks while ensuring good ventilation.

I extended the vent’s ducting by joining and taping three sections together to reach the extractor fan, not ideal, but it did the trick.

Job 3: Leak Investigation at a Social Club

Final stop: a roof survey in Mansfield (Kirkby-in-Ashfield).

What I Found:

• The interior wall showed mould – possibly condensation-related.
• On the roof, lead soakers were in place, but flashing on one side had slipped out from under the coping stones.
• On the other side, the flashing wasn’t in great condition either.

Likely Cause: Either slipped flashing or gaps in the soaker alignment, allowing water ingress during heavy rain.

End of the Day – Lessons & Reflections

By the time I got home, I’d completed three jobs, dealt with equipment repairs, and clocked up a fair few miles.

Takeaways from the Day:

• Always check flashing integrity during leak investigations – it’s a common culprit.
• Keep an eye on cherry picker maintenance; small issues can quickly become big delays.
• Sometimes jobs could be done with simpler tools, but if the customer books the cherry picker, the cherry picker they get!

Watch the Full Video

 Want to see how it all played out? You can watch the full day here: 🎥 Chimney Liner, Tile Vent & Leak Troubles, High Access in Action!

Need Chimney or Roof Work Done?

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