Chimney Repair - Inspected on Camera, Then Priced in Writing

Trusted Chimney Repair Nationwide

Chimney repair is the difference between a fireplace that heats your home safely and one that leaks smoke, water, or carbon monoxide into places it should never go. We fix what has failed before it becomes a larger threat: cracked crowns, rusted caps, corroded liners, leaking flashing, and spalling brick. Flint Chimney Sweep has done this work since 2002 as part of the Garrison Partners family, with every repair backed by a written guarantee valid for a full year. If a covered repair fails during that period, we return and make it right at no charge. Call (830) 251-4560 and you’ll get a live person, not a voicemail tree.

Call (830) 251-4560

Chimney Cap Installation

Chimney Cap Installation is the process of fitting a protective metal cover over the top of your flue to keep rain, animals, and debris out while allowing smoke and gases to escape. You need one when there’s no cap present, which we still find on a surprising number of homes built before 1995. Without a cap, rain pours straight down the flue and deteriorates the liner, the damper, and the firebox floor. A standard cap install with stainless steel hardware typically runs $95 to $250 depending on flue size and cap style. We specify the right cap for your flue dimensions and chimney crown before any work starts, and the written price you approve is the price you pay.

What We Install and Why It Holds Up

We install caps built with stainless steel or copper bodies and stainless steel mesh sides. The mesh size matters: too wide and bats still get in, too narrow and creosote builds up against it. We measure the flue opening, not the visible cap, so the fit is exact on day one.

The Problem With Cheap Caps

Big-box caps often use galvanized steel that rusts through within three winters. We’ve seen them fail so badly that sections fall into the flue and block the draft. The caps we install come from trade suppliers like Olympia Chimney, built to tolerate heat, rain, and freeze cycles without warping.

Chimney Cap Replacement

Chimney Cap Replacement means removing an old, damaged, or improperly sized cap and installing a new one that actually fits the flue and resists the weather. You need this when the existing cap is rusted through, dented from storm damage, or was sized wrong by a previous contractor. A replacement runs $140 to $320 including removal of the old cap and inspection of the crown beneath it. We check the crown while we’re up there because a cracked crown is often why water was getting in around the old cap in the first place. You’ll get a written price before the old cap comes off.

Rust, Gaps, and Loose Fittings

Rust is the most common reason we replace caps. Once the body rusts, the mesh rusts soon after, and then animals find their way in. A loose cap is also worse than no cap because it clatters against the crown and chips the mortar over time.

Match the Cap to the Flue, Not the Guess

We see caps held on with sheet metal screws and silicone by people who didn’t want to measure twice. That fails within a season. Our technicians measure the inside dimension of the flue and the outside edge of the crown, then select a cap that locks down firmly with mechanical fasteners.

Chimney Liner Installation

Chimney Liner Installation is the replacement or fitting of the inner pipe that channels smoke and combustion gases from your fireplace or appliance safely out of the house. You need this when the existing clay tile liner has cracks, gaps, or missing sections, or when there’s no liner at all. A full liner replacement with a stainless steel system like DuraFlex typically runs $2,500 to $6,000 depending on the length, diameter, and whether we’re insulating the void. We camera-inspect the full flue before quoting anything, and the photos go into the written estimate so you can see exactly what we saw.

When a Cracked Liner Becomes a Danger

A cracked clay tile allows heat and gas to reach the brick and framing around the chimney. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, which is why liner integrity is not a “keep an eye on it” issue. If the camera shows cracked tiles or the liner has missing sections, it’s time to act.

DuraFlex and HeatShield: Two Honest Answers

For full replacements, we install DuraFlex stainless steel liners sized to your appliance and fuel type. For liners with limited cracking and sound brickwork, HeatShield can be a lower-cost alternative when conditions are right. We present both options only when both are legitimate for your chimney, not to nudge you toward the more expensive job.

Chimney Flashing Repair

Chimney Flashing Repair is the process of replacing or resealing the metal strips where your chimney meets the roofline, which is the single most common source of chimney-related leaks. You need this when you see water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, when roof tar has been smeared over old flashing, or when the flashing is lifting, rusted, or patched with caulk. A straightforward flashing repair runs $300 to $800; replacing all flashing and counter-flashing with new metal typically runs $850 to $1,500. We use mechanical fastening and proper overlap, not sealant as the first line of defense.

Why Tar and Caulk Keep Failing

A previous roofer might have slathered tar over the seam to stop a leak. Tar cracks under UV exposure within two years. Even quality caulk is a temporary patch in a spot that needs a physical barrier. We remove all of it and start with clean metal.

Step Flashing and Counter-Flashing Done Right

The correct method is step flashing woven into the shingle courses, with counter-flashing cut into the brick mortar joints at least one inch deep. That’s how water gets redirected away even during wind-driven rain. We cut a reglet into the masonry, fit the counter-flashing, and seal the joint properly.

Chimney Crown Repair

Chimney Crown Repair is the restoration or replacement of the concrete or mortar slab that caps the top of the chimney structure and sheds water away from the flue. You need this when the crown has hairline cracks, pieces missing, or has been built without proper overhang. A small crack repair with flexible crown sealant runs $150 to $400; rebuilding a deteriorated crown with a proper overhang and expansion joint typically runs $800 to $2,000. We inspect the crown on every repair call because it’s the first thing failing on most chimneys over 20 years old.

The Overhang Everybody Gets Wrong

A crown should extend at least two inches beyond the brick on all sides, with a drip edge underneath. Most original crowns are poured flush with the brick, so water runs down the face of the chimney and freezes inside the mortar joints. When we rebuild, we form that overhang into the new crown.

Flexible Sealant vs. Rebuild

If the crown is structurally sound but has small cracks, a flexible crown coat can buy years of life. If the concrete is sandy, spalling, or separated from the flue, a coat won’t hold. We tell you straight which category yours falls in, with photos in the report.

Chimney Repair Companies

Chimney Repair Companies vary widely in what they actually do: some are sweeping services that refer repairs out, some are general handymen with a chimney brush, and some are full-service fireplace and venting contractors like Flint Chimney Sweep. You need to know which one you’re hiring before you hand over a deposit. If you’re wondering how much Chimney Repair costs, repairs run from $150 for a small crown seal to $6,000 for a full liner system, which is exactly the range where vague estimates hurt you. If a company won’t put a price in writing before starting, that’s a signal to look elsewhere.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Commit

Ask whether the technician carries a camera for flue inspection, whether the repair carries a written warranty, and whether the price covers materials and labor with no open-ended provisions. Ask who shows up at the door: we dispatch background-checked, uniformed technicians, and the person you booked is the person who arrives.

What Separates Flint Chimney Sweep from the Rest

Flint has operated since 2002 under The Garrison Standard, the same code every Garrison Partners location follows. That means documented pricing before work, materials from trade brands like Gelco and Copperfield selected for the job, and a repair guarantee that is written, not implied. We put it all on paper because that’s what discipline looks like in this trade.

Chimney Masonry Repair

Chimney Masonry Repair covers the brick, block, mortar joints, and stone that make up the chimney structure itself, from tuckpointing to partial rebuilds. You need this when mortar joints are crumbling or recessed, bricks are spalling (flaking or popping off), or the chimney has visible lean, cracks, or missing units. Tuckpointing a standard chimney runs $800 to $2,500; a partial rebuild from the roofline up typically runs $2,500 to $7,000. We match mortar by color and hardness, not by guess, because a modern mortar that’s harder than the original brick causes the bricks to fail faster.

Spalling Bricks Are a Structural Warning

Spalling happens when water soaks into the brick, freezes, and bursts the face off. One or two spalled bricks is a cosmetic issue. Widespread spalling means water has been entering for years and the structural integrity of the chimney is compromised.

The Mortar Match That Actually Matters

Many repair companies use whatever mortar comes off the shelf. We take a sample when possible and match both color and compressive strength, because a mortar that is too hard for old soft brick will transfer freeze damage directly into the brick. This is the difference between a repair that lasts decades and one that fails in five years.

Brands We Service

We work with materials from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield because these are the trade brands that hold up under repeated heat cycles and weather exposure. Gelco products cover chimney covers and chase tops built from durable metal; Olympia Chimney supplies caps and venting that we size directly to your flue; Copperfield is a name we trust for chimney care hardware and accessories. We specify the brand by the job, not by what’s in the truck.

We also install HeatShield as a cost-effective liner repair when the clay tiles are still structurally intact and DuraFlex stainless steel liners for full replacements on wood-burning and gas appliances. Whether you have an existing system from any of these brands or need new material installed, we can help you get the right product for your chimney and your fuel type.

Signs You Need a Pro Right Now

• Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the fireplace. This usually means flashing or crown failure is letting rain into the house. By the time the stain shows, water has been traveling for a while, and the framing around the chimney may already be affected.
• Crumbling or missing mortar joints. The chimney’s mortar is its weather barrier. When joints recede past a quarter inch, water gets behind the brick and freezes, accelerating damage every winter cycle.
• A cracked or missing chimney cap. Rain, birds, and raccoons all use the same entry point. A missing cap also pulls heat from the house when the fireplace is not in use.
• Smoke backing up into the room instead of going up the flue. This can signal a blocked flue, collapsed liner, or even a creature nest. Burn marks or soot around the damper are another version of the same warning.
• Rust on the damper or firebox floor. Rust means water is consistently getting down the flue. That is not a cosmetic issue; it’s evidence the system is leaking somewhere above.

Our Process, Step by Step

1. 1
   You call and a live person answers. There’s no voicemail tree at (830) 251-4560, no callback form. We take your information, listen to what you’re seeing, and schedule a window that works. A background-checked, uniformed technician arrives inside that window.
2. 2
   We inspect the full system on site. Every repair starts with a visual inspection of the cap, crown, flashing, brickwork, and accessible flue. When a camera inspection is called for, we run the camera and save the footage.
3. 3
   You get a written price before any work starts. The estimate includes the repair scope, the materials we’ll use, and the total price. Nothing gets added at the door. If extra damage shows up during the work, we stop and put the change in writing before proceeding.
4. 4
   We complete the repair with the right materials. Whether that’s DuraFlex liner, HeatShield coating, Gelco chase components, or mortar matched to your existing brick, we install what the job requires and clean up the site before we leave.
5. 5
   You get the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Every repair carries a written guarantee valid for a full year from the service date. If a covered repair fails during that period, we return and fix it at no charge. That’s the deal, in writing.

How Much Does Chimney Repair Cost?

Where We Work

Flint Chimney Sweep serves homeowners and businesses across the United States through local crews operating under The Garrison Standard, including Los Angeles Chimney Repair. Wherever you are, the commitment is the same: a written price before the work, professional materials from brands like DuraFlex and HeatShield, and a full-year written guarantee on every repair. When you call, you get a live person who can direct your request to the right local crew.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Repair

Schedule Your Chimney Repair Service Today

Call (830) 251-4560 for a free, no-obligation estimate. You’ll reach a live person, get a written price before any work starts, and every repair is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If you’d rather start at home, you’ll find everything we do there.

Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving homeowners and businesses nationwide since 2002.