Chimney Repair and Rebuilding in Scranton, PA
The chimney is the most exposed masonry on any house, taking weather on all four faces at once, and it fails from the top down. Water finds its way in at a cracked crown or a lifted flashing, then works down through the brick above the roofline, washing out joints and flaking faces as it goes. We repair and rebuild chimneys across Scranton, and most of the time the fix lives at the top.
The Crown and the Cap
The crown is the sloped slab across the top of the chimney that carries rain away from the brick. A cracked crown lets water pour down inside the stack. We pour a new crown with an overhang and a slope so it drains off the masonry. The cap sits over the flue opening and keeps rain, animals, and debris out of it. A cracked crown and a missing cap are the two most common ways a chimney first starts drinking water.
Flashing at the Roofline
Flashing is the metal that seals the seam where the chimney passes through the roof. When it lifts, corrodes, or was never sealed right to begin with, water runs down the brick and into the roof deck around the stack. We reflash that seam and point the brick behind it so the seal holds. A leak pinned on the chimney is often just the flashing letting go.
Spalling Brick Above the Roofline
The courses above the roof catch the worst of the freeze-thaw, because they are wet on every side and dry slowly. Once a bad crown is feeding water in, those bricks spall and the joints wash out fast. We swap the spalled brick and repoint the exposed stack. Where the damage runs through the top courses, that section comes down and gets rebuilt.
Rebuild Above the Roofline, Keep the Stack Below
The stack inside the house and below the roofline is sheltered, and it usually stays sound long after the top has gone. So the common repair is a rebuild from the roofline up, not a chimney torn out down to the basement. We show you where the good brick begins and rebuild from there in matched brick and mortar.
Firebox and Hearth
Inside, the masonry firebox and hearth take the heat and the odd bit of moisture. Firebrick joints open up, and a firebox face can spall or crack. We repoint the firebox in the right refractory-grade mortar and rebuild a failed face. The masonry is our end of it; a flue liner or a sweep is a separate trade, and we will say so if that is what the chimney needs.
What It Costs
A chimney repair covering the crown, cap, flashing, and some repointing runs about $500 to $2,500. A rebuild above the roofline runs about $2,000 to $6,000, depending on height and how many courses come down. Access drives much of it, since a tall stack needs staging before a single brick is touched. Every chimney gets a free look and a written estimate.
Seeing stains near the chimney or crumbling brick up top? (570) 555-0148 gets you a free estimate. If the joints on the rest of the house are open too, we can repoint while the staging is up.
How do I know if my chimney needs rebuilding or just repair?
It comes down to how far the damage runs. Chimneys fail from the top, so often only the courses above the roofline are gone while the stack below is still sound. We check where the good brick starts. Crown, cap, and a few top courses is a repair. A whole exposed stack that is spalled and leaning comes down to the roofline and gets rebuilt.
What is a chimney crown, and why does it matter?
The crown is the sloped concrete or mortar slab across the top of the chimney, around the flue. It throws rain clear of the brick below. When it cracks, water runs straight down inside the chimney into the top courses, and everything under it gets wet. A sound, sloped crown is the first line of defense the chimney has.
Can a leaking chimney cause damage inside the house?
Yes. Water coming in at a cracked crown or failed flashing travels down through the masonry and turns up as stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney, and as a musty smell. The leak is at the top; the damage shows up lower down. Fixing the crown, cap, and flashing stops it at the source.
Do you repair the firebox and hearth too?
We handle the masonry firebox and hearth, repointing firebrick joints and rebuilding a spalled or cracked firebox. The masonry is our work. We do not sweep or line flues; that is a chimney sweep's trade, and we will tell you when that is what you actually need.