Taking a chimney down and rebuilding it in Westchester
A partial or full rebuild, chosen from the evidence and explained before you commit.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When patching gives way to rebuilding
- Loose bricks through several top courses
- Mortar washed out deep in the joints
- Bricks crumbling to sand
- A top section that sways in the wind
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Planning a rebuild above the roofline
Why many rebuilds start above the roof
The chimney above the roof has no shelter. Rain, sun and wind reach it on every side, and water that gets past the top soaks its upper courses first. The brick industry notes that chimneys may need repairs sooner than ordinary walls for that reason.
That is why many rebuilds are partial and start near the roof line. The masonry lower down, protected by the roof and the house, often stays sound. We check it before assuming it is, and the estimate says where the evidence puts the start of the rebuild.
The code's height rule for the top
A chimney top has to clear the roof where it passes through, and it has to clear any part of the building close by. Florida's building code sets both margins. Those margins are set for fire safety rather than for draft.
When a chimney is rebuilt, the new top has to meet that rule. We check the old height against it before work starts. If the old top fell short, we explain what the rebuild must change and how the chimney will look afterwards. That way there are no surprises when the new courses go up.
Protecting the roof during removal
Taking masonry down means heavy material moving above the roof covering. Dropped brick, tool marks and foot traffic can crack or scuff some coverings.
We plan how the masonry comes down and where it goes, protect the roof around the chimney and keep traffic to set routes. Let us know the roofing material and any spots that are already cracked or loose. Any roofing that must be lifted is named on the estimate, along with who resets it. If the covering is easily damaged, we may suggest the roofer lifts and resets it.
Smoke problems and what a rebuild can change
If the fireplace smoked into the room before the rebuild, the rebuild may help, or it may not. A top below the code's height rule or a flue narrowed by damage can be corrected as part of the rebuild.
Other causes, such as a room that is too airtight or a fireplace opening too large for the flue, lie outside the rebuild. We explain what we think caused the problem and what the rebuild can realistically change before you approve it.
Steps a full rebuild may add
- New brick matched to the lower courses
- New crown with drip edge and bond break
- Top height checked against the code
- Roof covering protection
What people ask before a rebuild
Can you reuse the original bricks?
Where they are sound, yes. We clean the old mortar off and check each unit for cracks and broken faces. Damaged bricks are replaced with new or salvaged units chosen to match the courses that stay.
Who handles the roof and flashing during a rebuild?
We set new counterflashing into the courses as they go up. The base flashing and roof covering around the chimney are coordinated with your roofer where needed, and the estimate says who does which part.
How do you keep debris off the roof and the yard?
Masonry is taken down by hand and lowered in a controlled way. We protect the roof covering and the ground below, clean up as we go and haul all of the debris away at the end.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Animal RemovalAssess occupied chimney openings and plan appropriate follow-up cleaning or entry protection.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
- Gas Fireplace InstallationCreate a complete gas fireplace installation plan for the room, appliance and connected systems.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
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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