Chimney Repair
Inside a chimney leak repair
A free inspection comes first, and the repair is priced in writing before any work begins.
Crown cracks and their repair
The crown should slope water away from the flue and past the edge of the brick. Hairline cracks in an otherwise sound crown can be sealed with a crown coating made for the purpose, applied to the maker's instructions.
A crown that is broken through, crumbling or flat enough to hold water needs rebuilding. The new crown is formed to slope, with a drip edge that throws water clear of the chimney faces, as the Florida Building Code describes. We explain which repair the crack pattern supports and price it before any work begins.
Crickets behind wide chimneys
On the uphill side of a wide chimney, a cricket divides the flow of water and sends it around the chimney. The Florida Building Code requires a cricket on any chimney wider than 30 inches, measured parallel to the ridge, that does not meet the ridge.
Without a cricket, leaves collect and water backs up against the flashing in heavy rain. Adding one involves framing, roofing and flashing work, so we explain how that work would be coordinated and what each part would cost before anything is scheduled.
Leaks with more than one source
A chimney can have two defects at once, such as a cracked crown and loose counterflashing. Repairing one reduces the leak while the other keeps it going.
The estimate lists each repair on its own line, with the reason it is included, so you can see how the whole leak is being addressed. If you prefer to repair in stages, we explain which item is most likely to stop the water first and what to watch for afterward.
Paint and coatings on brick
Paint and glossy sealers form a film on the brick surface. Water that gets in through a crack or joint cannot leave through that film, so it stays in the masonry and pushes the surface off.
Where a coating is part of the leak problem, we explain the options, from repairing the cracks it covers to removing failing coating before a breathable treatment. Each step is priced separately, and none is recommended unless the brick underneath needs it.
