Angle irons to support coping stones

[p2001]

We've recently had a roofer examining a leak around our chimney stack. Whilst he was surveying the roof he noted that the coping stones at the edge of the roof (we are an end of terrace) have starting to slide downwards, due to a lack of support and have begun to push the guttering off at one side of the property. Now that he's pointed it out, it's pretty obvious from the ground. He suggested that the coping stones would/should have originally been supported with angle irons (the property is around 130 years old). I was wondering if this would have been the case originally or whether there were varying methods used to secure coping stones when these properties were constructed?

We've only owned the property for six months and paid for a structural survey before we bought the property, which didn't flag any issues with the roof. I'm wondering whether it should have been obvious that the coping stones weren't supported properly and this is something that's been missed on the survey?

The chimney stack leak was determined to be a problem with the flashing, so we've now been issued with a quote for £3500 to re-do the flashing, lift all of the copings, fit angle irons at either end, lay a dpc barrier and then re-bed everything. I'd be grateful for any thoughts on whether that sounds necessary/reasonable or whether we're being fleeced?

Thanks!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

What do the other quotes say?

 

[datarebal]

It was standard practice to build in metal ties going up and support at the foot of the parapet.. good practice . You wouldn't want the copings to slip off onto your kids would you ..
But we've seen a few with nothing just luck

 

[^woody^]

Quote seems high.

You probably don't want a DPC under gable copings - they won't be stuck down!

Any metal bracket needs to be stainless steel, or at least galvanized depending on its location. Not any old bit of steel. But lots of large copings are held down by friction and their own weight with no metal.