Leaks beside the chimney
A stain on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney usually points to the crown or flashing, so that's where we look before pricing any mortar work.
Chimney repair in Columbia, MO - a dry chimney with mortar that matches your brick
Water stains by the chimney or mortar sanding out of the joints? We find where the water gets in and fix that first.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What chimney repair involves on your house
Chimney repair in Columbia, MO means finding where water is getting into your chimney and fixing it at that spot, whether it's a cracked crown, loose flashing, worn mortar joints or a failing liner, so the brick stops breaking down.
Most folks call me when they spot a stain on the ceiling beside the fireplace or find bits of mortar on the shingles, and by then the brick has usually been soaking up water for a while. Wet brick cracks and flakes apart as it freezes and thaws, so the whole job comes down to keeping water out of it. The price moves with how much of the chimney needs work: a crown patch or a new crown, a few courses of repointing or the full stack, flashing or liner work, and how tall and steep your roof is for us to work on safely. The schedule turns on dry weather warm enough for fresh mortar to cure, finding mortar and brick that match yours, and any permit the job calls for, and you'll get your own figure in the estimate I write on site.
Cause found before the trowel
I look the chimney over top to bottom before quoting anything, because a repair that misses where the water gets in just comes back, and then you've paid twice.
New work that blends in
We match the mortar color, joint shape and brick as closely as we can, so the repair looks like it's been part of your house all along instead of a patch.
The smallest fix that works
If a crown patch and some repointing will do it, that's what I'll tell you. I'd rather quote you a small repair than sell you a rebuild you don't need.
How we repair a chimney, from the top down
We start up top. I get on the roof and look at the crown, the cap that sheds water off the top of the chimney, and at the flashing, the metal that seals the joint between chimney and roof, before anybody touches a mortar joint, since plenty of leaks start right there. Then we plan the mortar around the brick you have, because on an older chimney a hard, cement-heavy mortar can trap moisture in softer brick and make it fail faster, and that's real damage, not just a looks problem. From there our lead mason's crew rakes out the worn joints, packs in the new mortar, patches or rebuilds the crown, reseals the flashing, sets any liner the chimney needs and cleans up after itself.
Chimney trouble often shows up on the rest of the house too. If the joints on your walls are wearing the same way, tuckpointing refills them with mortar shaped to look like the original, and where bricks themselves are cracked or flaking, brick repair swaps them for ones that match in size and color.
Chimney problems we get called out for
Crumbling or missing mortar
When joints go sandy or hollow, water gets in behind the brick. We repoint with a mortar picked for your brick, not just whatever bag is on the truck.
Brick chipping off the face
Brick that's soaked up water for years starts to spall, with its face popping off in chips. We replace the worst ones and fix where the water came from.
A cracked or worn-out liner
A broken flue liner lets heat and moisture into the brick around it. We check the flue and talk through which liner suits your chimney before quoting it.
Get a free on-site chimney estimate
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look your chimney over and write the estimate, free and with no obligation.
The owner does the estimate
I come out myself to look at the chimney and write the estimate, so the person pricing your job has been doing this work since 2013.
A lead mason runs the crew
Our lead mason runs the crew on site, and I stop by to check the work and do the final walkthrough with you. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Photos help us get ready
If you can, add a photo of the chimney top and a note on where and when it leaks. It tells me what to bring up the ladder.
Masonry examples for chimneys and brick
Example photos of crowns, flashing, repointed joints and brick colors to look through, so we can talk about what fits your house.
Chimney repair questions from Columbia homeowners
Straight answers to what people ask most about chimney leaks, crowns, liners, inspections and permits before they give us a call.
How much does chimney crown repair cost in Columbia, MO?
Installed chimney cap and crown repair usually costs about $550 to $2,300 per job across the US, and that's the going range, not our price. Where your chimney lands depends on whether the crown needs a patch or a full rebuild, plus the flashing and how hard the roof is to work on. You'll get your own figure in the estimate I write on site.
Why does my chimney leak at the top?
Most often the water is getting in around the crown, the top surface of the chimney, which is an easy spot to overlook. Flashing and sealants up there keep water out of the gap between the chimney wall and the flue liner, so a cracked crown or loose flashing lets water run down inside, and the stain can show up well below the real problem.
Which chimney liner is right for my chimney?
For most existing chimneys it's a stainless steel flexible liner, the most common retrofit, because it threads down the flue without tearing anything out. Clay tile really only makes sense during a rebuild. If your chimney is damaged or oddly shaped, a cast-in-place liner, a seamless insulated flue formed right inside it, usually fits better, so the chimney's condition makes the call.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
At least once a year, according to the recognized chimney standard, NFPA 211, which covers chimneys, fireplaces and vents. It's a standard rather than a law, so it binds you only where a code, your insurer or a contract points to it. A deeper inspection that adds the attic, basement and inside of the flue fits when you're selling or after something that may have damaged the chimney.
Do I need a permit for chimney repair in Columbia?
We sort that out before work starts by checking which office covers your address and handling any permit paperwork the job calls for. Boone County Resource Management issues building permits for new construction and wants 24 hours' notice for every inspection, booked by phone, not email, so we build that day into the schedule. We're licensed and insured.
Get your chimney looked at before winter
Call (573) 530-1031 or send the form, because a leak caught early usually means a smaller repair than one left through another season.