Spalled and cracked chimney bricks replaced in Rio Vista
New brick goes in after we have looked for what damaged the old units.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that point to spalled brick
- Brick faces flaking or popping off
- Corners broken off several bricks
- Bricks that look loose or pushed out
- Damage worst near the chimney top
Jump to
From damaged unit to matched new brick
Breaking out a damaged brick
A damaged unit comes out in pieces, not whole. Brick industry maintenance guidance describes breaking it to help removal, which puts less strain on the surrounding bricks than trying to pry it free.
We break the damaged unit carefully and lift out the pieces. The bricks above, below and beside the opening stay supported by their own mortar throughout. If a neighboring brick turns out to be loose once the damaged one is out, we stop and show you before going further.
Brick under stucco is a different repair
Some chimneys are finished with stucco over brick or block. Damage there shows as cracked, bulging or loose stucco rather than individual spalled bricks, and it belongs to stucco repair.
If brick is exposed on part of the chimney, such as the stack above the roof, those units can be assessed on their own. We confirm how your chimney is finished before proposing any work, and each type of repair appears on its own line. That keeps the brick estimate honest about what it covers.
When more damaged bricks turn up
Once a damaged unit is out, the brick beside it is easier to judge. Sometimes a neighboring unit that looked sound turns out to be cracked or loose, and the count changes.
When that happens, we stop and show you. The extra unit is explained and priced before it is added. You decide whether it is replaced now or noted for later. The agreed scope does not grow quietly while you are not looking. You also see the extra unit before it comes out, so the decision is based on what is actually there.
Appliances venting into the chimney during brick work
A chimney may serve a furnace or water heater as well as the fireplace. Its flue must stay open and clear while brick work goes on, even when the new units sit close to it.
Tell us about any appliance connected to the chimney when you book. We plan the work so its flue is not blocked and debris is kept out of it. Servicing the appliance itself is outside brick replacement, and we explain if anything we see needs another trade.
Brick replacement priced area by area
- Loose or cracked units identified
- Break-out of each damaged unit
- Surfaces dampened before setting
- Solid wall kept around the flue
Questions to ask before replacing bricks
Will a sealer stop my chimney bricks from getting worse?
A sealer does not replace a brick that has already lost its face, and brick industry guidance says a repellent is no substitute for replacement. Film-forming products can even trap moisture. We replace damaged units first and discuss repellents later.
Do you replace the firebrick inside the fireplace too?
Firebrick lining the firebox is a different material and job, handled under firebox repair. Chimney brick replacement covers the exterior masonry. If both need attention, each is priced separately so you can decide.
What if the damage turns out worse once bricks come out?
We stop and show you. If more units are loose or the damage runs deeper, we explain the options and price the added work before continuing. Nothing is added to the scope without your approval.
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Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo