How Much Does A Chimney Rebuild Cost?

Chimney Rebuild Cost

A complete chimney rebuild costs $1,000 to $3,500 to rebrick the stack above the roofline. A partial rebuild costs $600 to $1,000 to redo a small chimney or the top few feet of a large stack. A complete chimney replacement costs $4,000 to $15,000 to rebuild above and below the roofline.

• Partial Chimney Rebuild – Recommended when only a few bricks are cracked, missing, or crumbling (spalling). A partial replacement rebuilds a full small chimney or the top few feet or courses of a large chimney above the roofline without scaffolding.
• Roofline Up Chimney Rebuild – With significant deterioration, vertical cracking, spalling bricks, and damaged mortar joints, the whole stack must be torn down and rebuilt from the roofline up.
• Total Chimney Replacement – Required when there's structural damage above and below the roofline, such as a leaning chimney, severe spalling, or mortar deterioration throughout. In most cases, the firebox, smoke chamber, and hearth remain intact.

In all three cases, the chimney crown and cap are replaced.

• A chimney needs to be rebuilt when it's severely cracked and crumbling, spalling, leaning, deteriorating, or no longer structurally sound.
• Hire a chimney sweep or structural engineer to inspect and determine if the chimney needs rebuilding.
• A severely deteriorating or leaning chimney that goes unfixed eventually collapses and needs rebuilding immediately to prevent future damage.

Rebuild Chimney Stack Cost

A complete chimney stack rebuilding costs $1,000 to $3,500 or between $100 and $300 per linear foot from above the roof to the crown. A partial rebuild costs $600 to $1,000 to rebrick a small chimney or the top few feet of a large stack with cracks, spalling, or missing bricks.

*Costs vary depending on the chimney size, roof accessibility, scaffolding, level of deterioration, materials, design intricacies (corbelling or shadowing), additional repairs, and labor.

A complete rebuild from the roofline up includes scaffolding and replacing any damaged flashing. Professionals match the color and consistency of the existing mortar and bricks and try to reuse any bricks that are still in good condition.

Usually, only the outside bricks (show courses) have to be replaced when significant deterioration occurs and repointing is insufficient. The top part of chimneys degrades first, especially without proper maintenance of repointing and resealing the grout joints every five years.

Chimney Extension Cost

A chimney extension costs $1,000 to $3,000 on average, depending on the required material and height. Extending a chimney adds a few feet of height to the stack to get proper ventilation, meet building codes, or prevent embers from escaping.

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Chimney Replacement Cost

A chimney replacement costs $4,000 to $15,000 to rebuild above and below the roofline. A complete replacement is required when there's structural damage throughout, such as a leaning stack, severe spalling, or mortar deterioration. Typically, the firebox, smoke chamber, and hearth remain intact.

Additional costs for chimney construction may include:

• Pouring a new concrete pad or chimney foundation
• Designs and calculations to ensure the chimney draws properly
• Constructing a new hearth, mantel, or smoke chamber
• Installing a new chimney liner
• Installation of dampers
• Permits and inspections

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Fireplace Replacement Cost

Replacing a fireplace costs $1,000 to $3,500 on average, depending on if it's gas, wood-burning, or electric. Replacing a gas log fireplace insert alone costs $200 to $1,000. Installing a new gas line costs $300 to $800 to connect the fireplace to the manifold.

Cost To Rebuild Fireplace

Rebuilding a fireplace costs $500 to $2,500, including stone or brick refacing and mantel remodeling. Costs depend on the fireplace size and if the bricks or stones can be reused. Building a new fireplace costs $1,900 to $5,600, depending on if it's gas, wood-burning, or masonry.

Fireplace Removal

Removing a fireplace costs $500 to $2,500 on average, depending on it's size, if the chimney breast needs demolishing, and if a gas or electric line needs capping. A partial removal that leaves the stack may require structural support for the chimney breast.

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Alternatives To Rebuilding Chimney

Damaged masonry chimneys that are still structurally sound can be repaired. Stacks that have collapsed or are beyond repair can be removed and completely replaced.

Cost To Repair Brick Chimney

The average cost to repair a brick chimney is $150 to $1,000. Repairing cracked bricks cost $20 to $30 per brick to remove and replace. Replacing the top few feet of bricks and repairing the crown costs $600 to $1,000 on average.

Repointing a chimney costs $500 to $2,500 or $20 to $50 per row. Repointing or tuckpointing repairs crumbling and damaged mortar joints on brickwork to help support a stack that is still structurally secure. Repointing does not work if the chimney damage is substantial.

New Brick Chimney Cost

Brick chimney construction costs $100 to $300 per linear foot or between $1,000 and $3,500 to install on average. Building a masonry fireplace costs $2,000 to $5,600 more. Therefore, a complete fireplace and chimney installation costs $3,000 to $9,000 on average.

Chimney Removal

A severely damaged chimney stack that's unused can be removed to reclaim wasted space. Removing a chimney stack costs $800 to $2,000 for everything above the roofline. Chimneys along the side exterior must be demolished entirely above and below the roofline for $2,500 to $7,000.

Removing a chimney can compromise a home's structual stability and requires an inspection from a structural engineer costing $200 to $600.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Signs A Chimney Needs To Be Rebuilt or Replaced?

A chimney needs to be rebuilt or rebricked when it's severely cracked and crumbling, spalling, leaning, deteriorating, or no longer structurally sound.

Signs a chimney needs rebuilding:

• Vertical cracking in the chimney stack
• Damaged, cracked, or uneven areas of mortar
• Chipped, cracked, missing, crumbling, or spalling bricks
• Crumbling, cracked, or missing chimney crown
• Cracked flue tiles
• Old chimney is missing a liner, and the interior is coated in thick creosote
• A leaning chimney stack with eroded mortar joints
• Water damage posing a structural risk

What Causes Chimney Cracks?

Cracks in a chimney are caused by improper construction, water expansion, chimney movement, tension, and thermal expansion. Excessive moisture that seeps into the bricks freezes and thaws repeatedly, which leads to cracking. Untreated cracks cause spalling, water and structural damage, and increases the chances of fire.

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DIY Chimney Rebuild

Rebuilding a chimney is dangerous, even with safety measures in place. The majority of masonry chimneys involved in fires had one or more construction defects. Plus, more than 500,000 people fall off a roof or ladder each year.

Chimneys must also meet building code requirements to pass inspection. Chimneys require the right height, wall thickness, adequate clearance from combustibles, properly supported components, and should accommodate thermal expansion.

How To Rebuild A Chimney

Here are the steps to rebuild a chimney:

1. Prepare Masonry Cement – The mason or sweep analyzes the existing mortar and mixes the new mortar to match the consistency of the original.
2. Removing Old Mortar – The old mortar is removed using a hand rake, trowel, crowbar, or hard blows from a hammer. A hammer should be used as the last resort.
3. Replace Bricks – After removing the mortar, the old bricks are replaced with a new set one-by-one using fresh mortar. The mason replaces bricks one section at a time and gradually moves to other parts until all the old bricks are replaced.
4. Combustible Clearance – The professional ensures proper clearance of combustibles, insulation, and between the flue for the firebox.
5. Brick Patterns – The expert uses a trowel to draw the bricks' patterns and applies cement with the refractories to give the appropriate outlines.
6. Crown Replacement – The professional replaces the chimney crown and installs a cap to prevent water damage, protect the stack from deteriorating, and keep sparks contained.
7. Fireplace – In most rebuilds, the firebox, hearth, and smoke chamber remain. Otherwise, if the fireplace is pre-fabricated, the professional removes it from the panel and orders a new model to match the existing model's specifications.

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Hiring A Chimney Rebuilding Company

Hiring a mason or chimney service ensures proper construction and limits the risk of a fire. Before hiring a chimney contractor, be sure to:

• Get at least three in-person estimates to compare.
• Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors.
• Read reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Select companies that are insured, bonded, and have been in business for longer than five years.
• Choose companies that are certified with the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).
• Avoid selecting the lowest quote as quality may suffer.
• Ask for a written contract and warranty.
• Avoid making large payments upfront. Come up with a payment schedule for the work completed.

Questions To Ask

• Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
• Who's the project manager, and will you use subcontractors?
• Will you obtain a structural engineer’s report?
• Will you pull any necessary permits?
• Are scaffolding, debris disposal, and cleanup included in your estimate?
• Will you fix any roof damage after the stack is rebuilt?

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