Chimney Inspection
Level 1 and camera inspections with a written 21 point report, for yearly checks, home sales and after a fire.
Inspection
Pittsford, New York
Chimney Sweep in Pittsford, NY
For a chimney sweep in Pittsford, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep cleans fireplaces and wood stoves, inspects every flue and repairs the tall brick and stone chimneys that go with larger Pittsford homes. From our Greece base it is about 30 minutes, and we go slowly once we get there.
Chimney Care for Pittsford Homes
Pittsford mixes historic village houses with bigger homes built after the 1950s. Both have tall chimneys, and both reward careful mortar and a steady hand on the roof. Rushed repairs show from the street.
Contact UsPittsford jobs we see every month
- Tall chimneys that need a partial rebuild, see chimney rebuild
- Old brick and stone repointed in soft mortar, see chimney repointing
- Large homes with several flues to reline, see chimney liner installation
- Cracked crowns on tall stacks, see chimney crown repair
- Level 2 camera inspections for historic houses, see chimney inspection
Planning a Pittsford Chimney Visit
Larger Pittsford homes may have three or four fireplaces and tall stacks. Tell us how many, and whether the roof is slate, cedar or steep. A tall steep roof means more rigging and more time, and we plan for it.
Rebuilds and big repointing jobs go on the calendar for dry months, usually May through October. Call in early spring to get on that list before it fills.
Contact UsWhat Chimneys in Pittsford Usually Need
Pittsford was settled in 1789 and incorporated in 1796, and the village followed in 1827. Nine cobblestone farmhouses and other buildings in town sit on the National Register of Historic Places, and rapid suburban building started in the 1950s. So we see chimneys from two very different eras, sometimes on the same street.
Historic Village Homes
Older village houses were laid up in soft lime mortar, sometimes around stone. Modern hard mortar is tougher than the stone, so it cracks the stone instead. We use Type N, a softer mix, matched in color so the repair blends in. Ron is a bit stubborn about this.
Larger Homes From the 1950s Onward
Bigger houses carry bigger chimneys, often with two or three flues and a long run from the firebox to the top. More brick up there means more wind, rain and snow, and more places for a crack to start.
Tall Chimneys and Steep Roofs
A tall chimney on a steep roof means a harness, roof ladders and often a second person. We would rather set up slowly than rush at height, and we put that setup time in the quote instead of springing it on you.
Cobblestone and Stone Chimneys
A few of the oldest houses in town may carry stone chimneys. Those need a mason who understands soft mortar and old bonds. If a job calls for a specialist we say so straight out, and we will not touch what we cannot do right.
How Much Does a Chimney Rebuild Cost in Pittsford, NY?
In Pittsford a partial chimney rebuild usually runs $2,500 to $9,000 or more in 2026, depending on how far down we go and how tall the stack is. Repointing alone is $600 to $3,500. We price after a roof walk, with photos, and the number is in writing before any brick comes off.
| Job | Typical Pittsford home | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Partial rebuild from the roof line | Tall chimney on a larger home | $2,500 to $9,000 |
| Repointing a full chimney | Historic brick or stone | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Crown replacement | Two-flue chimney | $900 to $2,500 |
| Sweep and report, three flues | Larger home with three fireplaces | $450 to $800 |
Those ranges are for the Rochester area, not a quote. Every job is priced after a roof walk, and the photos go to your phone.
Types of Chimney Services We Offer in Pittsford
Partial and Full Rebuilds
When the top has gone soft, we take it down to solid brick and lay it back up, matching the brick, the bond and the mortar. About 25 rebuilds crossed our schedule last year. See chimney rebuild for how we decide how far down to go.
Soft-Mortar Repointing
Repointing is grinding out failing joints and packing in new mortar. In historic Pittsford houses we use a softer mix, and we test the color on a small patch first, because honestly the color is what the neighbors notice. More at chimney repointing.
Liners for Multiple Flues
A big house with several fireplaces may need a liner in each flue, sized to what is connected. Ours are insulated stainless with a lifetime warranty. See chimney liner installation.
Crowns and Caps
A big chimney wears a big crown, and big crowns crack. Small cracks get sealed, broken crowns get replaced, and each flue gets a Hy-C stainless cap with a lifetime guarantee on top.
Inspections for Historic Houses
In an older house, start with a Level 2 camera inspection. You cannot see inside a flue from the hearth. We log every crack and gap in a 21 point report. Read more on chimney inspection.
Chimney Waterproofing
Chimney Saver, a breathable water repellent, slows weather damage on sound brick and carries a 10-year guarantee. It does not repair cracks. See chimney waterproofing.
What a Chimney Visit Looks Like in Pittsford
Pittsford chimneys are tall and the roofs are big, so we set up slowly and carefully.
- The roof walk comes first, because it tells us where the harness and roof ladders have to go.
- Each flue is swept alone, and the crown and the top courses of brick get photographed.
- A camera goes down every flue, and anything odd lands in the 21 point report.
- On older brick we try a mortar color patch in a hidden spot before we quote any repointing.
- Photos and the written quote hit your phone the same day.
Big jobs like rebuilds are quoted from the roof, never over the phone.
Historic Brick and Careful Mortar in Pittsford
Mortar is the grout between bathroom tiles. In a historic wall it is meant to be the weak part, so it takes the wear instead of the brick. Use mortar harder than the brick and the brick becomes the weak part. That is how you ruin a hundred-year-old wall.
Rochester gets just over 100 inches of snow in an average year. Water in brick expands when it freezes, and a tall exposed chimney takes more of that than a short one.
Your chimney is the tallest, most exposed part of the house. On a clear fall day, a pair of binoculars from the yard will show you loose brick, a leaning top or a crown with daylight under it.
Northeast of the village, we also work in Penfield, where newer subdivisions bring a different set of chimneys.
What people ask us
Chimney Sweep in Pittsford FAQs
Do you work on historic or stone chimneys in Pittsford?
Yes, with care. Old stone and soft brick call for a softer mortar in a matching color, or the repair splits the stone by next winter. We try a patch first, photograph the job, and say so honestly if the work needs a specialist mason instead of our crew.
How long does a chimney rebuild take in Pittsford?
Two to four days is typical, depending on height and weather. The top comes down, the brick goes back up, and we finish with a new crown and cap and a clean roof and yard. Rebuilds go on the calendar for dry months, usually May through October.
Can you sweep a chimney with three fireplaces in Pittsford?
Yes. Every flue is brushed and inspected on its own, with its own line on the 21 point report. Three flues take longer than one and cost more, usually $450 to $800. Tell us how many fireplaces you have when you book.
What is a Level 2 inspection and when do I need one?
It is a camera scan of the flue plus a look in the attic. You want one when you buy or sell, after a chimney fire, or when you switch fuel. It finds cracks a glance from the hearth cannot, and the whole visit takes about an hour.
Will repointing change how my old brick looks?
Done right, no. We grind out only the failed joints, pack in softer mortar colored to match and clean the face of the brick. A sample patch goes on a hidden spot first, so you can see the color before we do the whole chimney.
Our reviews
What Rochester Customers Say
We had a brown stain by the chimney every spring and two roofers blamed the shingles. Ron went up, took pictures of the crown and showed me the crack. New crown, dry ceiling, and he mentioned two cracked bricks before I asked.
Karen L.Crown repair · Irondequoit Bought a 1940s house in Brighton and the inspector said the chimney needed a closer look. They sent a camera down the flue the next week and gave us a report the bank wanted. We closed on schedule.
Matt & Priya S.Camera inspection · Brighton Our wood stove would not draw. They fitted a stainless liner and a new cap in one day, showed me how to burn it and haven't left a speck of soot on the carpet. First winter with no smoky smell.
Dan W.Liner and cap · Greece
Explore Our Other Services
Chimney Liners
Stainless steel liners and clay flue tile replacement for wood, oil and gas chimneys, with a lifetime warranty on stainless.
LinersChimney Caps
Hy-C stainless caps with a lifetime guarantee and top-mount dampers that seal the flue tight.
CapsChimney Crown Repair
New fiber-reinforced or concrete crowns that keep meltwater out of the brick, with a guarantee on the work.
CrownsChimney Repointing
Old mortar joints removed and new mortar colored to match, so a crumbling chimney is solid again.
RepointingChimney Waterproofing
Chimney Saver breathable water repellent that slows freeze-thaw damage, with a 10 year guarantee.
WaterproofingChimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds to the roof line for chimneys that lean, crumble or have come apart.
RebuildsBook online in a minute
Smoke, Smell or a Wet Ceiling by the Chimney? Tell Us.
Leave your name, number and a line about your chimney. We call back within one business day, and often the same afternoon.
- Photos before any quote
- 21-point report after every visit
- Free quotes on repairs