Chimney repair in West Palm Beach FL - a chimney that keeps the rain out
Water stain near the fireplace or damp brick around the chimney? We find where the water is really getting in and fix it.
Why is my chimney leaking, and what does fixing it take?
Chimney repair in West Palm Beach is mostly about keeping water out of your house by finding where rain gets past the flashing, crown, cap or chase cover and fixing that spot instead of guessing.
Most people call us after a water stain shows up on the ceiling or wall beside the fireplace, or after the brick around the chimney stays dark long after a rain. First I figure out whether you have a brick chimney or a prefab one, because they leak in different places and need different fixes. Then I find where the water is really getting in before we replace any part.
The price depends on which part has failed, how much of it needs replacing and how hard the chimney is to reach. On a prefab chimney, the metal you pick for a new chase cover matters too. The schedule mostly comes down to dry weather and getting safely onto the roof. If the brick is cracked or the joints are crumbling, we handle that as part of the job with brick repair or tuckpointing, and the estimate lays out what we'd do and why.
The parts chimney repair comes down to
Most chimney leaks start at a few parts near the top and along the roof line. Which ones matter depends on how your chimney was built.
Flashing at the roof line
On a brick chimney, the joint at the roof needs base flashing plus counter flashing, a second strip set into the mortar that laps over the first, to keep water out of the house.
The crown and its seal
The crown is the concrete top around the flue, and its seal keeps water out of the gap behind the flue liner. It gets overlooked a lot, so I check it even when the flashing looks like the problem.
Chase cover material
One chimney company finds that most builder-installed chase covers on prefab chimneys are thin galvanized steel that rusts within several years. It says stainless steel or copper solves the problem.
Parts matched to your fireplace
A prefab chimney can only be used with the fireplaces it was tested with, so we keep repairs to the parts tested with yours. We also keep the gap from nearby wood that the maker set.
Chimney repair questions we hear
How do I tell if my chimney is brick or prefab?
A brick chimney is solid masonry all the way up, even under stucco, and a prefab one is a wood-framed box covered in siding with a flat metal lid on top. Inside, a prefab fireplace usually has a metal firebox and a round metal flue. If you're still not sure, a photo of the top and the fireplace is usually enough for me to tell.
What causes a prefab chimney to leak?
A prefab chimney usually leaks at the cap, the seams in the flue, the chase cover or the flashing where the framed box meets the roof. Rust streaks running down the siding below it can mean the chase cover has rusted through and rain is getting inside the box. I check each of those spots by hand, because the fix depends on which one it is.
What's the difference between a chimney cap and a chase cover?
The chase cover is the flat metal lid over the whole top of a prefab chimney's box, like the lid on a shoebox. The cap is the smaller hood over the flue opening. Knowing which one is rusted or loose helps you ask for the right part when you're getting quotes.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
At least once a year, under the standard one chimney guide explains for chimneys, fireplaces and vents. That's a standard's guidance, not a city rule, and repairs often start from what the yearly check finds. A deeper Level 2 inspection adds the attic and the reachable inside of the flue, and it applies when something about the chimney changes, when the house is sold or after an event likely to have caused damage.
How much does chimney repair cost in West Palm Beach?
Across the US, chimney cap and crown repair usually costs about $550 to $2,300 per job, installed. That's the going range nationwide, not our price. Where your chimney lands depends on which part failed and how much of it has to be replaced. I'll give you your own number once I've seen it at your house.
Who can do chimney repair on a house in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County, anyone who advertises, bids on or contracts masonry or roofing work needs a certificate of competency for that trade, under a state special act. The county's standards also limit residential building contractors to homes for one, two or three families that are no more than two stories. We're based in West Palm Beach and work in the cities around it across the county, and it's fair to ask any contractor which license they hold before you sign.
Why West Palm Beach homeowners call us about chimney leaks
You'll get a straight answer about what's wrong with your chimney and what can wait, and a repair that's meant to hold up long after we've packed up and gone.
I do the estimate myself
I'm the one who comes out, looks at your chimney with you and writes up what we'd do.
Our own crew of masons
The repair is done by our own masons, and I check on their work as it goes.
Working on lived-in homes since 2013
I learned the trade on new houses across Palm Beach County, then started this business in 2013 to work on homes people already live in.
Paperwork you can check first
We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to see both before anyone sets up a ladder at your house.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, because a repair that leaves the real leak in place isn't one I'll put my name on.
Get your leaking chimney looked at
Call (561) 268-0285 with your chimney type, where the leak or rust stain shows and a few recent photos, so I know what I'm looking at before I come out.
What happens after you call about your chimney?
I plan each chimney job around your house and your roof, so you know what we're fixing and why before anyone climbs a ladder.
You get in touch
Call (561) 268-0285 or send a message through our form, and tell us what you're seeing and where it shows up.
I look at the chimney
I come out, figure out whether it's brick or prefab and check each spot where water could get in, with you there if you'd like.
A written estimate
I write up an estimate that explains what we'd do and why, so you can see which part failed and what fixing it involves.
The repair and a final look
Once you're ready, we handle any permit the job needs, our masons do the work with me checking on it, and we look it over together.