From the 2025 North County storms to summer thunderstorms and winter ice events — we specialize in storm damage chimney repair across Greater St. Louis. Insurance-friendly documentation, emergency assessments, and full restoration services.
If you have an active leak, structural damage, or emergency situation — call us immediately. We respond to storm emergencies day and night.
Call Emergency Line: (314) 379-2871On This Page
Action Plan
If your chimney was damaged by a storm, follow these steps in order — they protect both your home and your insurance claim.
Don't approach a visibly damaged chimney — falling masonry can cause serious injury. Don't go on the roof. Don't try to tarp damage yourself if it requires roof access. Wait for professional assessment.
Take photos from the ground from multiple angles. Use zoom to capture damage detail. Photograph any debris that fell. Date-stamp photos if your phone supports it. This documentation supports your insurance claim.
If water is entering your home, place buckets under leaks and move valuables away. Don't try to climb up to seal anything yourself. Note exactly when you noticed the damage and what's getting wet — this matters for the claim.
Call your homeowners insurance company to start the claim. Get a claim number. They'll typically schedule an adjuster visit within 1-3 days. Do this before scheduling repairs — it makes the process much smoother.
Call us for a professional inspection. We provide insurance-grade documentation including photos, written assessment, and itemized repair estimates that adjusters can work with directly. This is free for storm damage situations.
After major storms, out-of-state contractors flood damaged areas making aggressive door-to-door sales. Never sign a repair contract under pressure. Get multiple estimates, verify local licensing, check reviews, and confirm insurance. Established local contractors with verified St. Louis-area history (like AIO Pro) are your best protection against scams.
Damage Categories
Each type of storm causes different damage patterns. Understanding what you're dealing with helps the repair process.
Direct lightning strikes can shatter masonry, melt metal components, and cause hidden internal cracking. The chimney is often the highest point on a home — making it a frequent lightning target. Always requires professional assessment.
Winds over 60 mph can dislodge caps, displace bricks, topple unstable chimneys, or rip flashing away from the roof. After tornadic activity, even structurally sound chimneys may have hidden damage requiring inspection.
Hailstones over 1.5" can chip mortar joints, dent metal caps and chase covers, and damage waterproof sealants. Hail damage often goes unnoticed until water entry begins months later.
Tree limbs falling on or near a chimney can crack masonry, shift entire sections, displace caps, and damage flashing. Even glancing impacts can cause hidden structural problems.
Heavy storm-driven rain can find weaknesses in caps, crowns, and flashing that handle normal rain fine. Sudden interior leaks during storms often indicate compromised waterproofing.
Winter ice storms can cause ice dams that lift flashing, expand existing cracks through freeze-thaw cycles, and weight-stress already-damaged structures. Damage often appears in spring after final thaw.
Local Focus
The historic North County storms left a trail of chimney damage that's still being processed. Here's what we've learned.
The 2025 North County storm events caused widespread chimney damage across Florissant, Hazelwood, Black Jack, Bellefontaine Neighbors, and surrounding North County communities. We've personally documented damage on hundreds of homes since the storms hit.
Florissant's housing stock is dominated by 1950s-1970s brick homes. After decades of freeze-thaw damage that was already compromising mortar integrity, the storms found those weaknesses simultaneously. Result: damage that would have been minor on newer chimneys was catastrophic on older ones.
Most insurance policies have 1-2 year deadlines to file storm damage claims. If your chimney was damaged in the 2025 storms but you haven't yet filed, the window is closing. Many homeowners didn't realize they had storm damage because the symptoms (water entry, masonry shifting) developed gradually after the initial event.
If you live in North County and haven't had a post-2025-storm chimney inspection — schedule one before the deadline passes.
Claims Made Easy
Most storm damage is covered by homeowners insurance. We make the claim process as smooth as possible.
We've successfully processed claims with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Farmers, American Family, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, and most other carriers serving St. Louis. Each insurer has slightly different documentation requirements — we know what each one needs.
Real Storm Damage Repairs
Real chimneys, real damage, real restoration. Every job documented for insurance and customer records.
Storm-damaged chimney top with destroyed crown, missing chase cover, and severe masonry deterioration. Full top restoration completed:
Storm-damaged chimney with no proper water diversion. Cricket (peak diverter) installed to channel storm water away from chimney base:
Years of storm damage compounded — water staining, eroded masonry, failed sealant. Complete restoration with waterproof finish:
How We Work
Designed to make insurance claims smooth and repairs lasting.
Same-day assessment for active damage. Free for storm damage situations. We document everything from the moment we arrive.
Photo and written documentation in formats insurance adjusters need. We coordinate directly with your adjuster if requested.
Detailed written estimate with materials and labor breakdowns. Designed for insurance review and approval.
Professional repair using appropriate techniques — from minor sealing to full structural rebuild. Photo documentation throughout.
Complete before/during/after photo set provided. Final invoice formatted for insurance reimbursement.
Costs & Coverage
Most storm damage is covered by homeowners insurance — your out-of-pocket is typically just your deductible.
Cap or chase cover replacement, minor flashing repair, sealing of new water entry points, debris removal.
Crown rebuild, partial masonry restoration, multiple component replacement, lightning damage repair.
Full chimney rebuild, structural restoration, lightning strike full repair, complete top reconstruction.
Storm damage assessments are free and include full insurance documentation. You don't pay anything upfront for the assessment.
Coverage
Heaviest 2025 storm damage in North County. We respond across all of Greater St. Louis.
Related Services
Common Questions
Everything St. Louis homeowners ask after storm damage.
Yes — most homeowners insurance policies cover sudden storm damage including:
• Wind damage
• Hail damage
• Lightning strikes
• Falling tree damage
• Storm water intrusion
Damage from gradual deterioration or lack of maintenance is typically not covered.
We provide detailed photo documentation and written reports specifically formatted for insurance claims, helping ensure your claim is approved.
We offer same-day emergency assessments for storm damage in Greater St. Louis.
After major storms, we prioritize calls based on severity:
• Active leaks or structural danger: same-day
• Major visible damage: 24-48 hours
• Minor damage assessment: 2-5 days
Initial assessment with photos and written report is provided free for storm damage claims.
Common storm damage types:
Lightning: Cracked or shattered masonry, hidden internal damage
High winds: Displaced caps, bricks, or entire chimney sections
Hail: Chipped mortar, dented metal components
Falling trees: Direct impact damage, structural shifting
Torrential rain: Water intrusion through compromised seals
Ice/freeze: Expansion damage, lifted flashing
Each type requires different repair approaches.
The 2025 North County storms caused significant chimney damage across Florissant, Hazelwood, and surrounding areas.
We've documented hundreds of cases including:
• Completely toppled chimneys
• Dislodged caps and chase covers
• Cracked crowns
• Displaced flashing
• Lightning strikes to masonry
• Storm-driven water intrusion
Many homeowners haven't yet had post-storm inspections — and insurance claim windows are closing.
5 steps in order:
1. Stay safe — don't approach unstable structures
2. Document with photos from ground level
3. Stop further damage (buckets under leaks)
4. Contact your insurance to start a claim
5. Call us for professional assessment with insurance-grade documentation
Don't sign any repair contracts until you've had a qualified professional assessment.
Costs vary widely based on damage severity:
Minor: $300-$800 (cap, chase cover, minor sealing)
Major: $1,500-$5,000 (crown rebuild, masonry repair)
Severe: $5,000-$15,000+ (full rebuild, lightning damage)
Most storm damage is covered by homeowners insurance — your out-of-pocket cost is typically just your deductible.
It depends on severity:
Lightning & direct impact: Often requires partial or full rebuild
Wind damage: Usually localized and repairable
Water damage: Ranges from minor sealing to major masonry repair
Our assessment includes both repair and rebuild estimates so you can compare options with your insurance adjuster.
Yes — comprehensive insurance documentation is standard with every storm damage assessment:
• Detailed photo documentation from multiple angles
• Written assessment of damage
• Repair recommendations with itemized estimates
• Professional credentials and licensing
• Direct communication with your adjuster if requested
We've helped hundreds of St. Louis homeowners successfully process storm damage claims.
