Mortar joints from top to bottom
Soft or sandy joints are where a chimney usually gives out first. We cut the old mortar out carefully, because power tools run hard can chip the bricks around each joint.
Chimney repair in Fresno CA - tight joints and a chimney that keeps water out
Mortar crumbling out of your chimney joints? We repoint the worn section and check the top and the roof line so water stays out.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What chimney repair usually comes down to
Chimney repair in Fresno is mostly mortar work, because a brick chimney usually wears out at the joints before the bricks go. We cut the worn mortar out and pack in new, which masons call repointing or tuckpointing, so water stops working its way into the chimney and your house.
Most calls start with sandy mortar on the roof or a stain on the ceiling near the fireplace. The price moves with how much of the chimney has worn joints, whether the crown, the concrete cap on top, or the flashing, the metal that seals the roof line, needs work too, how many bricks need replacing and how hard the chimney is to reach from your roof. The schedule turns mostly on the size of that worn section and whether the job needs a permit. When I come out, I look at the whole chimney and you get the price in writing, and if your house walls need the same joint work, I can price tuckpointing on the same visit.
Known for mortar repair on old brick
Joint work takes a different hand than laying new brick, and a fine bricklayer isn't always a good tuckpointer. Mortar repair on older brick is what we're best known for.
I see the chimney before pricing it
I come out and write the estimate myself after looking at the joints, the crown and the roof line. I'd rather tell you a small fix will do than sell you a big one.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured. The state licensing board has a masonry class that covers fire brick for heat-resistant work, so it's fair to ask any bidder which license they hold.
How we repair a worn chimney
We start at the top, where the chimney takes the most weather, and mark off the whole worn section. Then we repoint all of it instead of chasing single cracks, because water can come in through joints that look fine and there's no telling which ones are letting it in. Our crew cuts the old mortar out to a solid depth and packs in new mortar mixed to suit your brick, since mortar that's harder than the brick can crack the brick instead of the joint. We fix the crown and the flashing where they need it, because water finds those spots first, then clean up the roof and the ground before we leave.
Sometimes the chimney isn't the only place with tired joints. If your house walls show the same wear, tuckpointing them while we're there can make sense, and if only the chimney needs it, that's all I'll quote. Bricks that are cracked through or flaking get handled as brick repair, so the new joints sit between sound brick.
What we look at on a chimney
Flashing where it meets the roof
The roof line needs base and counter flashing, a piece on the roof and a piece set into the brick that laps over it, to keep water out of your house.
The crown on top
The crown is an often missed spot for water to get in. Keeping it sealed keeps water out of the gap between the chimney's brick and the flue inside it.
Cracked or loose bricks
A brick that's cracked through or working loose won't hold new mortar well. We replace those as part of the job so the repointed section has sound brick in it.
Get a written price for your chimney
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the chimney, and you get the price in writing, free and with no obligation.
Send photos if you have them
Pictures of the mortar joints, the crown and the roof line help me see what I'm walking into before I climb up, so the visit is shorter and the questions are better.
Our own crew on your roof
Our own crew does the work, with a lead mason running it on site, so the people up there answer to us. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Fresno and the cities around it
We're based in Fresno and work in the cities around it, including Clovis, Madera, Selma, Sanger and Kingsburg. Ask even if your city isn't one of those.
Chimney and brick masonry examples
Joint profiles, mortar colors, crown shapes and flashing details to look through and talk over when we come out to see your chimney.
Chimney repair questions from Fresno homeowners
Straight answers on warning signs, repair methods, cost, permits and earthquakes, the things homeowners want to know before hiring someone for chimney work.
How do I know my chimney needs repointing?
Your chimney likely needs repointing when the mortar has gone soft, is breaking down or shows cracks, because water can get into joints in that shape. If you can scrape mortar out with a key or see sand collecting on the roof, plan the repair before more water gets in. The brick itself usually outlasts the mortar around it.
Is surface grouting as good as repointing a chimney?
No, surface grouting isn't a substitute for repointing. Grouting spreads a thin coat of cement grout over the joints, which makes them look wider and leaves a film on the brick, while repointing cuts out the worn mortar and replaces it. If two bids seem far apart, check whether one is grouting and the other repointing, because they're different levels of repair.
How much does chimney repair cost in Fresno?
Across the US, a common single-issue chimney repair usually costs about $200 to $750 per job. That range covers one problem, so a chimney with a worn section, a cracked crown and loose bricks gets priced on everything it actually needs. I'll give you your own price in writing after I've seen the chimney.
Do I need a permit to repair a chimney in Fresno?
The City of Fresno requires anyone who plans to repair or alter a building or structure to get the required permit through its Building and Safety Permit Counter. The same rule covers work on a gas system, such as a gas fireplace. When one's needed, we file it and handle the paperwork, and if your home is a designated historic property, tell me at the estimate.
Can an earthquake bring down my chimney?
Yes, federal earthquake guidance warns that an unreinforced brick chimney, one built without steel bars inside, can fall outward onto people walking by or into the house onto the people inside. Retrofitting lowers that risk, and the options in that guidance run from capping the chimney at the roof or ceiling to replacing the firebox and chimney with a factory insert and a metal flue.
Get your chimney looked at
Call (559) 319-0148 or send the form, because soft joints caught early usually mean repointing one section instead of rebuilding the top.