Cracked crowns, failing mortar, rusted caps, damaged flue liners. We find what is actually wrong with it, then fix that.
Real customers, real chimneys, in their own words.
Chimney repair covers the structural and weatherproofing parts of a chimney: the crown, the cap, the flashing, the mortar joints, the flue liner, and the firebox. When one of those fails, water gets in or smoke does not get out.
Most repair calls we get in Los Angeles start the same way. Someone notices a stain on the ceiling near the chimney breast, or a bit of mortar on the roof, or smoke that will not draw properly. By that point the actual problem has usually been developing for a while.
Chimneys here take a specific kind of beating. Months of dry heat, then winter rain landing on masonry that has been baking since June. Near the coast you can add salt to that. And every few years the ground moves, which old brick does not handle well.
We inspect before quoting. Quoting a repair you have not looked at is guesswork, and on a chimney the visible damage is often the smallest part of it.
The concrete slab on top. Hairline cracks let water into the masonry below, and once it freezes or the structure shifts, those cracks open up. Repaired with a sealant or recast entirely, depending on how far gone it is.
Metal parts rust, and near the coast they rust faster. A failed cap means rain straight down the flue, plus birds and debris. Replacement is straightforward and usually the cheapest thing preventing a much larger problem.
Mortar is designed to fail before the brick does. When joints crumble, the chimney loses its weather seal and its structural integrity together. Repointing cuts out the failed joints and replaces them with matched mortar.
The metal seal where the chimney meets the roof. It is the most common source of a leak that looks like a roof problem. Resealing or replacing the flashing usually solves ceiling stains that other trades could not track down.
Clay tile liners crack. A cracked liner lets heat and combustion gases reach the framing around the chimney, which is a genuine fire risk. Relining with stainless steel restores the barrier and often improves draft.
Cracked refractory panels, failed firebrick, dampers that will not seat or will not open. All of it affects how safely the fireplace burns and how much conditioned air you lose when it is not in use.
A sweep cleans. It does not fix anything structural. If you have noticed any of these, the chimney needs looking at properly.
A lot of the housing stock across Los Angeles predates modern seismic requirements, and unreinforced brick chimneys are one of the most common casualties when the ground moves. Tall, slender chimneys are the most vulnerable, and damage is not always obvious from the ground.
There is a rough test you can do yourself. Run a screwdriver along the mortar joints. If it crumbles under light pressure, the chimney has a problem worth taking seriously. Another indicator is height: a chimney standing taller above the roofline than its own narrowest width is carrying more risk than a squat one.
Repair of earthquake-damaged masonry chimneys in the City of Los Angeles is governed by a specific Building and Safety standard, and the work is permitted. Worth knowing for two reasons. It changes what can legally be repaired, and it leaves a paper trail that comes up when you sell.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time. We confirm what applies to your property before quoting.
No work starts until you have seen the problem and agreed the number.
Firebox, flue, crown, cap, flashing and masonry. From inside the house and from the roof where we can safely get to it.
We show you what we found and explain what it means without the jargon. If something is urgent we say so. If it can wait, we say that too.
A written quote covering the work and the timeline. It does not change once you have agreed it, unless we open something up and find more, in which case we stop and talk to you first.
Drop cloths inside, tidy site outside. Repairs are matched to the existing masonry where that is possible, so the finished chimney does not look patched.
Photos of the completed work and a record of what was done. Many of our repairs come with a guarantee or warranty, so ask and we will tell you exactly what is covered.
Same chimney, same angle. This is what a finished repair should look like.
It depends entirely on what has failed. Replacing a cap is a different job to recasting a crown, and both are different to relining a flue or rebuilding masonry. We inspect first, then give you a firm written number before anything starts.
For cosmetic work, usually not. For structural repair or rebuilding after earthquake damage, yes, and in Los Angeles that work follows a specific Building and Safety standard. We will tell you which category your job falls into before quoting.
Depends how far gone it is. Fine surface cracks can usually be sealed. Once the crown is spalling or has cracks running right through it, sealing is a waste of money and it needs recasting.
Very often it is the flashing, which is the seal where the two meet. That is why a roofer sometimes cannot find the source. We check the flashing, the crown and the masonry together. Water finds whichever is weakest.
A cap replacement can be done in a single visit. Repointing or crown work usually takes a day. A full rebuild takes longer and depends on permitting and weather. We give you a timeline with the quote.
It can be. A cracked flue liner lets heat and combustion gases reach the framing around the chimney, and a structurally compromised chimney can shed masonry. If we find something that makes it unsafe to burn, we will say so plainly.
Regularly. Sitting unused does not mean a chimney has stayed in good shape. The problems tend to be water damage more than creosote. Get it looked at before you light the first fire.
We inspect before quoting, show you the photos, and give you a firm number before any work begins. Appointments are usually available the same week.
