From hairline crown cracks to complete chimney rebuilds — we handle every type of repair across Greater St. Louis. Skilled masonry craftsmen, lifetime-quality materials, and free written estimates before any work begins.
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Don't Ignore These
Chimney damage gets exponentially more expensive the longer you wait. Catch these signs early and you'll save thousands.
Brown or yellow stains on interior walls near the chimney mean water is penetrating the structure. Often caused by failed crown, flashing, or chase cover.
Efflorescence — white mineral deposits on exterior masonry — means water is moving through the brick and dissolving the salt content. Sign of compromised waterproofing.
Finding mortar chunks at the base of the chimney is a clear tuckpointing emergency. The structural integrity is failing — water is now flowing freely between bricks.
Orange-brown stains running down the chimney sides indicate a rusting chase cover or flashing. Water is being directed exactly where it shouldn't go.
The cement cap on top of the chimney is the first defense against water. Visible cracks, crumbling edges, or missing chunks mean immediate intervention is needed.
Any visible lean is a structural emergency. The foundation may be failing, water damage may have weakened the structure, or the chimney may need partial rebuild.
Smoke entering your home instead of going up the flue indicates blockage, damaged liner, or improper draft — all repairable, but dangerous to ignore.
After major storms (like the 2025 North County storms), inspect for missing caps, cracked crown, displaced bricks, or torn flashing. Insurance often covers this.
A $400 crown sealing today prevents a $4,000 rebuild in 3 years. A $1,500 tuckpointing job today prevents a $15,000 demolition-and-rebuild in 5 years. Chimney damage compounds — fast. Get an inspection at the first sign of any of the above.
Repair Categories
We handle every category of chimney repair — from minor sealing to full structural rebuilds.
Most Common Repair
The single most common chimney repair on St. Louis homes — and the one most often done wrong.
Tuckpointing is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar. It's both functional (waterproof seal between bricks) and aesthetic (clean, sharp lines).
St. Louis is a tuckpointing market unlike most cities. Here's why:
Here's an example of recent tuckpointing work — original mortar was crumbling, joints were widening, water was beginning to penetrate. After full tuckpointing, the chimney is sealed and structurally sound for decades:
Some contractors offer cheap tuckpointing at $400-600 for an entire chimney. They grind 1/4 inch deep, use generic gray mortar regardless of age or color match, and skip curing. The work fails within 3-5 years and you pay again. We grind to proper depth and use the right materials — costs more upfront, lasts 30+ years.
First Line of Defense
The chimney crown is the cement slab on top — your chimney's most exposed and most damaged component.
The chimney crown sits on top of the masonry and shields the entire structure from rain, snow, and ice. When it fails, water enters everywhere — and the damage cascades.
Crown failure is the #1 cause of chimney leaks we see in St. Louis. Original builder-grade crowns from the 1950s-1990s often weren't built to current standards — they're thin, lack overhangs, and have no drip edge. Combined with 50+ years of weather, almost all of them are now failing.
We offer two levels of crown service depending on the damage:
Here's a recent crown rebuild — the old cement slab was cracking and missing pieces, allowing water into the masonry below. After full rebuild with proper overhang and drip edge, the chimney is fully sealed:
Where Roof Meets Chimney
The metal seal between your chimney and roof — and the #2 source of chimney leaks.
Flashing is the metal sheeting that seals the joint where your chimney meets the roof. When properly installed, it's invisible and waterproof for decades. When damaged, it allows water to enter your home along the entire perimeter where the chimney meets the roof.
Common flashing problems we see:
Here's a recent flashing replacement — the original tar-only "flashing" had failed completely, allowing water along the entire chimney-roof joint. After full step flashing and counter-flashing installation, the seal is permanent:
Prefab Chimney Specialists
The metal lid on top of framed (prefab) chimneys — and where most St. Charles County leaks start.
If you live in Wentzville, O'Fallon, St. Peters, or any other St. Charles County area built after 1990, your home likely has a chase cover — a flat or sloped metal lid covering the top of a wood-framed chimney chase.
Builder-grade chase covers from the 1990s-2000s are typically galvanized steel with a 10-15 year service life. Most homes in St. Charles County are now 25-35 years old — meaning their chase covers are well past their lifespan.
We don't replace galvanized covers with more galvanized — that's just buying another 15-year problem. We install stainless steel chase covers, custom-fabricated to your exact dimensions, with a built-in cricket (a small ridge) that directs water away from the cap.
Stainless steel chase covers last the life of the home. They cost more upfront ($800-$2,000 vs $200-$400 for galvanized), but you only pay once.
Here's a recent chase cover replacement — the original galvanized cover was rusting through with visible staining running down the siding, a sure sign that water was pooling on the flat surface and eating through the metal. After installing a custom stainless steel replacement with a proper cross-break design, the chase is permanently sealed:
Inside Your Fireplace
The interior of your fireplace takes more abuse than any other part — and it's a major fire safety component.
The firebox is the interior chamber where the fire actually burns. It's lined with refractory panels or firebrick — heat-resistant materials designed to contain temperatures over 1,000°F and protect your home's wood framing from catching fire.
When refractory panels crack or firebrick mortar joints fail, heat can transfer to combustible wood framing behind the firebox. This is one of the most common causes of house fires that originate at the fireplace.
Here's a recent refractory panel replacement — original panels were cracked through, exposing the metal firebox shell behind. After replacement with new code-compliant panels, the firebox is back to factory specifications:
What to Expect
Honest ranges for the most common repairs. Final pricing depends on your specific chimney — every quote is free and written.
Crown sealing, small flashing fixes, cap installation, minor masonry repairs. Same-day service often available.
Crown rebuild, full tuckpointing, chase cover replacement, refractory panel replacement.
Partial or full chimney demolition and reconstruction. For chimneys with severe structural damage.
All pricing is based on average St. Louis-area jobs. Specific pricing depends on chimney height, accessibility, materials, and scope. Free written estimate before any work begins.
Real Work, Real Results
A small sample of recent work across Greater St. Louis. Every job documented, every customer satisfied.
Coverage
Chimney repair across all of St. Louis County and St. Charles County. Click any city for area-specific information.
Common Questions
Everything St. Louis homeowners ask before booking a repair.
It depends entirely on what's wrong. Here are honest ranges for common St. Louis repairs:
Minor repairs ($300-$700): Crown sealing, cap installation, small flashing fixes
Major repairs ($800-$4,500): Crown rebuild, full tuckpointing, chase cover replacement, refractory panel replacement
Restoration ($3,500-$15,000+): Partial or full chimney rebuild, historic masonry restoration
Every job is different. We always provide a free written estimate with photos before any work begins.
Most chimneys can be repaired rather than rebuilt — even those with significant damage. We always recommend the most economical solution that's structurally sound.
Full rebuild is only necessary when 50%+ of the structure is compromised, when the chimney is leaning more than a few degrees, when interior tile liners are completely destroyed, or when previous "patches" have failed multiple times.
An honest inspection will tell you which path to take. We've talked customers out of unnecessary rebuilds many times.
Tuckpointing is removing deteriorated mortar from between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar. It's structural (waterproof seal) and aesthetic (clean lines).
St. Louis is brutal on mortar because of three factors:
1. Aging housing stock — many homes are 50-100+ years old
2. Brutal freeze-thaw cycles — temperature crosses freezing 80+ times per winter
3. High humidity — mortar takes longer to dry between cycles
Most St. Louis chimneys built before 1980 need tuckpointing every 25-40 years. Many haven't been touched since they were built.
Same day: Crown sealing, minor flashing repair, cap installation, chase cover replacement
1-2 days + 3-5 days curing: Crown rebuild, partial tuckpointing
2-4 days: Full tuckpointing, refractory panel replacement
5-10 days: Above-roofline or full chimney rebuild
We schedule jobs based on weather — masonry work needs dry conditions for proper curing.
Usually covered: Sudden damage from storms, lightning strikes, falling trees, or vehicle impact.
Usually NOT covered: Gradual deterioration from age, weather, or lack of maintenance.
We provide detailed written reports with photo documentation that you can submit to your insurance for storm-damage claims. The 2025 North County storms damaged hundreds of chimneys — many of those repairs were covered.
Yes — 24/7 emergency service for active leaks, structural damage, fire damage, and storm damage. Call (314) 379-2871 anytime.
Emergency callouts are billed at standard rates with no premium. We don't gouge homeowners during a crisis.
Yes — every repair carries a written workmanship warranty:
Minor repairs: 2-year warranty
Major repairs (tuckpointing, crown rebuild, chase cover): 10-year warranty
Full rebuilds and restorations: Lifetime structural warranty
Materials carry their own manufacturer warranties (typically lifetime for stainless steel components).
Cheap tuckpointing fails. Here's the difference:
Cheap ($400-600): Mortar grinding 1/4 inch deep, generic gray mortar regardless of age or color, no proper curing. Fails within 3-5 years.
AIO Pro ($1,500-4,500): Mortar grinding 3/4 inch deep, color-matched and composition-matched mortar, proper 3-day curing. Lasts 30+ years.
You're not comparing apples to apples. Cheap tuckpointing is usually a 5-year temporary fix that will need to be redone. We do it once, properly.
All of Greater St. Louis — both St. Louis County and St. Charles County. We regularly work in:
North County: Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, Wentzville
West County: Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood, Manchester, Town and Country, Frontenac, Ladue
Central: Clayton, University City, Webster Groves, Kirkwood
South County: Fenton, Arnold
If your area isn't listed but you're in Greater St. Louis, give us a call.
Every photo below is from an actual job we completed in the Greater St. Louis area — before, during and after. No stock images.
Maryland Heights fieldstone and brick — joints cleared by hand chisel, and the section carrying the structural crack taken down and rebuilt. No power tools on stone, no plates bolted over cracks.
Been quoted $20,000 for a full chimney teardown?
An above-roofline rebuild runs $3,500–$8,500 and usually does everything you actually need. Get a free second opinion.
Cracked crown, failing joints, and an aging water heater flue liner — three problems handled on one visit and one setup.
Does your water heater vent through the chimney?
That flue has a liner with about a 20-year life — and it is the single most overlooked item in home maintenance.
Only the section above the roof had failed. Rebuilt from the roofline up — around a third of the cost of a full teardown.
Quoted $20,000 to "replace the chimney"?
Get a free second opinion before you sign. We'll photograph what's actually up there.
