What chimney Repair covers
A chimney stack stands clear of the roof and takes wind driven rain from every direction, so it deteriorates faster than the walls below it. Most chimney related leaks come from the flashing at the roof junction or from open joints in the stack rather than from the flue itself.
A chimney stack stands clear of the roof and takes wind driven rain from every direction, so it deteriorates faster than the walls below it. Most chimney related leaks come from the flashing at the roof junction or from open joints in the stack rather than from the flue itself.
Repointing, rebuilding and reflashing chimney stacks, which weather faster than anything else on a roof.
Waystar carries out this work on residential and commercial property in Brooklyn and across New York City. Every project starts with a look at the building, and the scope, the materials and the figures are written down before anything begins.
When might you need it?
These are the signs owners usually notice first.
- Damp on a ceiling or wall near the chimney breast
- Mortar visibly missing from the upper courses
- A cracked or missing crown at the top of the stack
- Flashing lifted or patched with tar at the roof junction
- Loose brick at the head of the stack
What the work involves
- Safe access to the stack arranged
- Stack, crown and flashing inspected together
- Failed mortar raked out and repointed on all faces
- Damaged brick cut out and replaced
- Crown repaired or recast with an overhang
- Flashing lifted, redressed and resealed at the roof junction
How the process works
Get proper access
Stacks need safe access, and we will say when equipment is required rather than improvising.
Inspect stack, crown and flashing together
The leak is usually at one of the junctions rather than in the brickwork.
Repoint and rebuild
All exposed faces are repointed and damaged brick replaced.
Recast and reflash
The crown is formed with an overhang and the roof junction is properly flashed.
What you get
- The whole stack dealt with rather than one visible face
- A crown that sheds water instead of collecting it
- A flashing detail that replaces the tar patch
What affects the scope
- Stack height above the roof and how it is reached
- How much of the stack needs rebuilding rather than repointing
- Whether the crown can be repaired or has to be recast
- Roof pitch and covering type at the junction
This is a preliminary planning range, not a quote. A property visit is required before any price is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
My chimney is not used. Can I remove it?
Sometimes, though it may be shared, may serve a flue still in use, or may be part of the roof structure. It is worth checking before deciding.
Is tar around the flashing acceptable?
As an emergency measure only. It cracks within a season or two and usually has to be cleaned off before a proper flashing can be formed.
Why is the damp downstairs and the fault at roof level?
Water entering at the stack runs down inside the masonry and shows wherever it finds a route out, often a floor or two below.
Services often needed alongside this
This service is part of Masonry and Facade Restoration.
Related work
