Chimney repair in Allentown PA - a chimney that keeps smoke and water out
Cracked brick, crumbling joints or a damp patch by the chimney? We find out why, then repair or rebuild what's actually failing.
Does my chimney need a repair or a rebuild?
Chimney repair in Allentown, PA, fixes failing mortar and cracked or crumbling brick so your chimney stays safe and keeps working. On most jobs, the real question is whether a repair will hold or part of the chimney has to come down and be rebuilt.
Most calls start with something you can see. It might be mortar crumbling out of the joints, a crack running through the brick, a chimney that seems to lean or a water stain on the ceiling beside it. If it's only the joints, that's often tuckpointing work on the chimney. When the brick itself is breaking up, the job gets bigger, and I'd rather you understand why before you decide anything.
The price depends on how far the damage goes, how tall the chimney is, how hard the roof is to work on and whether the flashing where it meets the roof needs redoing. The schedule mostly depends on the weather and on whether the city or a historic review has to sign off first. Once I've looked at your chimney, the estimate puts your scope in writing, so you know what you're paying for.
- Repointing worn joints and replacing cracked or crumbling brick on the chimney above the roof.
- Taking a badly damaged chimney down to sound brick and rebuilding it from there.
- Matching new brick and mortar to the old so the repair suits the house.
What happens after you call about chimney repair?
I come out to look at your chimney myself, and I work alongside the small crew that does the repair. Here's how it goes from your first call to the day we pack up.
Call or send a message
Call (610) 424-2415 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. It helps to tell us your address, whether your house is in a historic district and any cracked or leaning brick you've spotted.
I look at it with you
I check the chimney with you and show you what I'm seeing in the joints, the brick and where it meets the roof. Then I explain your options and write up an estimate with the scope in writing, so you know the cost before you decide.
Permits first, then the work
Before work starts, we check with the local office for your property about permits and take care of the application if one's needed. We're fully licensed and insured, and I work alongside our crew to take out what's failed and put it back so it suits the house.
We walk the finished job
When the work is done, we walk through the finished chimney with you before we pack up, so you can ask anything and see what changed. Our work is satisfaction guaranteed.
Pointed joints, rebuilt chimneys and other brick work
These photos show the kind of chimney and brick work masons do, from freshly pointed joints to a chimney rebuilt above the roof. Use them to picture the work before we look at your own chimney together.
Stone patio steps connect two paved levels, bordered by low stone walls and planted containers.
Curved retaining wall of pale stone blocks encloses a leafless shrub beside a brick house.
Stone patio with large gray pavers, a circular fire pit, white chairs, and a low curved stone wall.
Stone masonry fireplace with a lit fire and mounted TV anchors a covered outdoor seating area.
A paved garden path runs alongside a brick house, bordered by river stones, shrubs and a low stone retaining wall.
Stone outdoor fireplace beneath a covered patio, with a mounted TV and firewood stacked in built-in side niches.
Get your chimney looked at and the scope in writing
Send the form or call (610) 424-2415, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done at your house and comes with no obligation.
(610) 424-2415Chimney repair questions we hear from Allentown homeowners
These are the questions people ask me most when I'm standing in their yard looking up at a chimney. Where the answer depends on your house, I'll say so and tell you what decides it.
How much does chimney repair cost in Allentown?
Chimney repair across the US usually costs about $250 to $13,000 per job, and repairs average about $750. That's the market's range, not our price. A cap replacement sits at the low end and structural masonry work at the high end, so most of the difference comes down to whether the brick is still sound. Your own figure comes from the estimate after I've seen the chimney.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
If you burn wood, fire officials recommend a professional inspection of the chimney and vent every year, including a check for cracks. A crack can let smoke into the house or expose parts of the chimney to heat that may cause a fire, so the inspection is worth treating as routine upkeep.
How do I know if my chimney needs a partial rebuild?
One masonry pricing guide says a partial rebuild is needed once the damage goes past failed joints into spalling brick, where the face flakes off, or cracking or leaning brick. The same guide describes taking the chimney down to sound brick, typically to the roofline, and rebuilding from there. If it comes to that, ask whether the rebuild will use new or salvaged brick, because either can be used.
Should I get a chimney inspection before selling my house or relining the chimney?
Yes. A Level 2 chimney inspection is recommended before a sale, before lining or relining a chimney, and after a chimney fire or a weather event like a bad storm. Book that inspection first, then plan the repair from what it finds.
Does exterior work on a historic district home in Allentown need city review?
Yes. If your house is in Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds or West Park, the city requires a Certificate of Appropriateness application when exterior alterations are proposed. Minor changes may need only staff review, while bigger changes visible from the street, such as a change in design or material, go to the city's historic review board. Contact the city's Historic Office about your project early, and we'll help you reach them.
How long does chimney repair take?
It depends on the scope, because repointing a few joints is a much shorter job than taking a chimney down to sound brick and rebuilding it. The start date also depends on the weather and on any city or historic review that has to come first. I'll talk you through the timing for your chimney when I'm out there.