Chimney Repair near you

Some of these problems are first noticed on the roof during shingle work, and chimney flashing is often redone jointly by the roofer and the mason.

You can spot many warning signs without going up on the roof. Look at the chimney from the ground or a window, with binoculars if needed, and check inside around the fireplace or appliance.

Water is behind most chimney repairs. Brick and mortar absorb it, and when that water freezes in winter it expands and breaks the masonry apart from within, a little more with each cycle. A cracked crown or a missing cap lets rain and snowmelt pour straight into the chimney, and failed flashing lets it run into the roof framing, the attic and the ceilings below.

Inside the flue, water mixes with combustion deposits to form acidic compounds that eat at mortar and clay liners and rust metal parts. Moisture trapped in a chimney that no longer serves an appliance can do the same damage slowly. That's why a good repair focuses first on keeping water out: a sound crown with a drip edge, a proper cap, tight flashing and, where the contractor recommends it, a breathable water repellent made for masonry.

The liner is the inner flue that contains heat, smoke and condensation and protects the surrounding masonry and the house framing. Older chimneys sometimes have no liner at all, or clay tiles that have cracked or shifted over the years. A sweep or inspector can usually spot liner damage with a camera or during a sweep.

When a wood stove, fireplace or chimney is installed, comes with a house you're buying or is raised by an insurer, you may be asked for a safety inspection. In most provinces, the reference is the WETT program, run by Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc., a non-profit training and education association that acts as the national registrar for wood-energy professionals. WETT-certified inspectors check whether a wood-burning appliance and its venting system were installed to building and fire code requirements, and insurers often ask for this kind of inspection.

In Quebec, the provincial government advises having the chimney swept at least once a year, ideally in spring while the deposits are dry, by a professional who holds the appropriate licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, and having the system inspected every year, before the heating season, by a member of the Association des professionnels du chauffage. Repairs that come out of these inspections, such as a new liner or crown, should go to a qualified mason or chimney contractor, and your municipality may require a permit to rebuild or remove a chimney.

Book the sweep first when a wood-burning appliance is in use: a clean flue reveals the cracks and gaps that soot hides, and the sweep's report tells the mason what needs fixing.