Chimneys constructed from brick and mortar require regular upkeep. Any damage to them poses a fire hazard, allowing smoke, ash, and carbon monoxide into combustible areas of the house and increase fire risks.
Chimney repair such as repointing, sealing and parging may be more cost effective, while rebuilding or fixing leaning stacks require larger investments. Understanding these costs will allow homeowners to better budget for chimney repair expenses.
Cost of Materials
Chimney repair costs depend on the materials used. Prefabricated chimney repairs tend to cost less than masonry chimney repairs; wood or stucco chimneys often require more materials and require extra finishing once repairs have been completed.
Leaks in chimneys can damage roofs and rooms below, while cracks in their structure allow carbon monoxide into living spaces. Although these problems may appear minor, they indicate larger structural issues which could compromise both its safety and integrity.
Repairing a leaky chimney typically costs between $150 and $385 depending on its severity, with cracks in its crown or mortar joints typically running from $200-500 for repair. Leaning chimney stacks usually require professional inspection and may cost over $2,000 in stabilization efforts; in cases where this lean is due to shifting foundation or compromised mortar joints helical piers may also be necessary in supporting them.
Cost of Labor
Chimneys are complex structures that require special knowledge and tools for repairs. Doing it yourself could be dangerous; to ensure proper workmanship that prevents future issues it’s wiser to leave this task to professionals.
Cracked or crumbling chimney mortar joints allow moisture to seep into the bricks and further damage. Tuck point, or repointing, involves removing old mortar and filling any gaps with new mortar; this labor-intensive job typically costs $250+ per chimney.
Damaged chimney masonry should be completely replaced in order to ensure the safety of both you and your family. A damaged chimney poses serious fire hazards or allows carbon monoxide leakage into the house, thus necessitating this costly repair procedure.
Cost of Inspection
Inspections, which should accompany chimney cleaning sessions, can help protect against serious and costly chimney issues. Cleaning helps reduce creosote residue build-up that leads to fires; inspections allow inspectors to detect structural issues like cracks or leaks that need fixing and repair them – these services typically range between $100-500.
A chimney stack is the section that protrudes above a home’s roofline and can endure wear from weather over time. Minor damages like mortar cracks are typically easy to repair, while more significant issues could require rebuilding and re-mortaring, with costs estimated between $500 to $3,500 for these services.
An unfortunate yet common problem for homeowners is a leaking chimney, which leaks water into brickwork and masonry structures and causes costly water damage, necessitating significant chimney repairs. A chimney flashing, made up of metal sheets placed around the exterior of the stack to prevent water leakage, usually costs $150-500 when repaired; any necessary changes would increase this figure substantially.
Cost of Repair
Chimney repair contractors generally charge between $50-$150 an hour for their services, which can quickly add up when repairs require extensive masonry work.
Cracked chimney crowns need to be repaired immediately as soon as they’re noticed; otherwise they could lead to structural damage and flue collapse that releases harmful gases such as carbon monoxide into your home. Repair costs typically range between $150 and $400 to fill surface cracks with epoxy sealant and apply an elastomeric crown coat sealer.
Tuckpointing and repointing are processes designed to repair crumbling brick chimneys by patching or smoothing the mortar joints of their chimney, offering services between $550 to $2,500.
Parging is a spray-on chimney coating designed to minimize buildup of residue and creosote in the smoke chamber, thus improving safety and performance of your chimney system. It typically costs between $1,000 and $2,000.