Bath is one of the finest Georgian cities in the world — and that means it has one of the highest concentrations of period properties in England. The stone townhouses on the crescents and terraces, the converted Georgian apartments, the Victorian villas on the hillsides, the older farmhouses on the city fringes — a huge proportion of Bath’s housing stock was built before central heating existed. Every one of those homes was built around fireplaces, and most of them still have chimneys that need looking after.
Phil Markides has been working in Bath for 20 years. He knows the city’s housing stock well — the way Bath stone behaves, the particular quirks of Georgian chimney construction, the lime mortar requirements that apply to so many of the city’s listed and conservation area properties. When you book Phil in Bath, you’re getting someone who genuinely understands what he’s looking at.
Chimney Sweeping in Bath
If you have an open fire or a wood-burning stove and you’re in Bath, your chimney needs sweeping every year. In the terraced streets and apartment conversions of central Bath, chimneys are shared, enclosed within party walls, and often relatively short — the kind of configuration where a blockage or unswept flue can be a serious problem quickly. Phil sweeps thoroughly, documents the sweep properly for your home insurance, and tells you honestly if he spots anything developing that needs attention.
If you’ve moved into a Bath property and you don’t know the sweep history, get it done before you light anything. Phil can assess the flue condition at the same time — particularly important in older properties where the flue lining may need attention.
Fireplace Installation in Bath
Bath’s period properties deserve fireplaces that look right. Phil installs traditional open fires, stone surrounds, inset fireplaces and statement hearths — and in a city where a poorly chosen or badly installed fireplace can look out of place in an otherwise beautiful room, the quality of his work matters. He understands period architecture, works with Bath stone and appropriate traditional materials, and doesn’t cut corners on the specification.
Bath falls within a smoke control area in parts — meaning any solid fuel appliance needs to be a DEFRA-exempt model or burn authorised smokeless fuel. Phil knows the zones and will ensure your installation is fully compliant before anything goes in.
Stove Installation in Bath
Wood-burning stoves are popular in Bath, including in the city’s smaller apartments and townhouse conversions. Phil installs stoves throughout Bath, handles the HETAS certification, and deals with the smoke control requirements that apply in parts of the city. In older Bath properties, the existing chimney often needs a new liner before a stove can be safely used — Phil assesses and includes this in the installation where required.
Stone Masonry and Chimney Repairs in Bath
Bath stone is a beautiful material but it weathers, cracks, and over centuries the mortar pointing around it softens and fails. Chimney stacks on Bath’s older properties need periodic maintenance — repointing with lime mortar (not cement), pot and cowl checks, and structural repairs where needed. Phil’s masonry background is well-suited to Bath’s building stock, and he uses appropriate materials that are sympathetic to the existing fabric rather than damaging it.
He also works on garden walls, stone paving, hearths and bespoke masonry features for Bath properties — the kind of careful stonework that sits right in a city with Bath’s architectural standards.
Based in Lower Westwood, Phil is a short drive from Bath and visits the city regularly. Call Phil on 07708 362 171, call Angela on 07535 675 363, or get in touch online. We also cover the villages around Bath. See all areas we cover.
Does Bath have smoke control restrictions for wood-burning stoves?
Yes, parts of Bath are designated smoke control areas. This means solid fuel appliances must either be DEFRA-exempt models (which are permitted to burn dry wood) or multi-fuel stoves burning authorised smokeless fuel. Phil will check whether your address falls within a smoke control zone and advise on compliant appliance options when he visits.
My Bath property has Bath stone. Do I need special mortar for repointing?
Almost always yes. Bath stone buildings are typically built with lime mortar, and using modern Portland cement for repointing causes long-term damage — the cement is harder than the stone and traps moisture, leading to the stone deteriorating from behind. Phil uses lime mortar of an appropriate specification matched to the existing construction.
I live in a listed building in Bath. Can you still do the work?
Yes, though listed building consent may be required depending on the nature of the work. Phil is familiar with working in Bath’s listed and conservation area properties and will flag any consent requirements at the assessment stage. The work itself is carried out with the care and methods appropriate to a historic building.
How quickly can you come out to Bath?
Phil is in Bath regularly and same-week or next-week appointments are usually available for chimney sweeping. For installation and masonry projects, lead times vary depending on the project scope and current workload. Call to check availability.
The most useful neighbourhood-style areas for service targeting are: Bath city centre, Widcombe, Combe Down, Oldfield Park, Twerton, Weston, Larkhall, Southdown, Odd Down.
Other well-known Bath areas you may also want in mind later are Bathwick, Bear Flat, Lansdown, Walcot, Claverton Down.