Chimney work and ridge repointing — Coburg's two dominant jobs
Coburg's interwar bungalows share a characteristic with all 1920s–40s Melbourne stock: they were built with solid chimney stacks (many still functional for open fireplaces) and ridge lines finished in rigid cement mortar. After 80–100 years, both present the same maintenance needs at similar times. Chimney flashings — the lead or aluminium strips that seal the junction between the chimney masonry and the surrounding tile field — crack and lift after decades of thermal cycling, creating one of the most reliable leak paths we see. Simultaneously, the cement ridge mortar on the same roofs has been fracturing progressively under Melbourne's freeze-thaw winters and is typically either crumbling visibly or already shifting ridge caps. Getting both done in the same visit makes more sense than returning twice.
