What flaunching does
Flaunching holds the pots in place and is shaped to shed water away from them, so when it cracks or crumbles, both the pot's stability and the stack's weatherproofing are compromised.
How to spot failing flaunching
Cracks around the base of the pots, a pot that wobbles, or debris falling from the top of the stack are all signs the flaunching needs attention before a pot works loose completely.
Repair process
We rake out failed flaunching and reform it in a mortar mix suited to the stack's age, making sure it's properly sloped so water runs off rather than sitting and refreezing over winter.