Chimney Inspection
Level 1 and camera inspections with a written 21 point report, for yearly checks, home sales and after a fire.
Inspection
Rochester chimney rebuilds
Chimney Rebuild in Rochester, NY
For a chimney rebuild in Rochester, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep takes the loose brick down to solid masonry and lays it back up with matching brick, a new crown and a cap. A leaning chimney does not fix itself.
Some chimneys get past the point where mortar and a coat of sealer can save them. The top courses lean, the brick falls apart in your hand, or the whole stack has started to pull away from the house. That is a rebuild. We take down the loose brick to the roof line, or to the first solid course, and lay it up again with matching brick and fresh mortar. Almost every rebuild we do could have been a small repair three winters earlier, and we will say so without lecturing you about it. A chimney rebuild is not a job we push.
Chimney Rebuild Options
How much comes down depends on how far the damage runs
Partial Chimney Rebuild
We take down the damaged top section, often the top several feet, and rebuild it. The sound brick below stays. It is the most common rebuild we do and costs far less than starting from scratch.
Full Rebuild to the Roof Line
When the brick is bad all the way down, we take the whole chimney above the roof to solid masonry and rebuild it. The footing and anything below the roof line stay in place.
Rebuild With New Liner and Cap
Open chimney, open chance. While the top is off, setting a new liner and cap is quicker than doing them later. You pay for the rebuild once and get the whole top working together.
Matching Brick and Mortar
We pull a sample of the old brick and mortar to match size, color and texture, so the new top does not look like a patch. Supplier discounts on brick, block and stone help keep the bill down.
Chimney Rebuild Prices
- Partial rebuild, top several feet: $2,500 to $4,500
- Full rebuild to the roof line: $4,500 to $9,000 and up
- New liner during the rebuild: $1,800 to $4,800
- New crown and cap on top: $800 to $1,800
Height, brick and roof access set the price. Free quotes.
Every Rebuild Includes
- A roof look and a written price first
- Loose brick taken down to solid masonry
- Brick and mortar matched to your house
- A new fiber-reinforced crown, sloped to shed water
- Cleanup of the roof, the yard and the gutters
- Photos of the damage and of the finished chimney
How Much Does a Chimney Rebuild Cost in Rochester?
A chimney rebuild in Rochester costs $2,500 to $4,500 for a partial rebuild and $4,500 to $9,000 or more for a full rebuild to the roof line in 2026. Height, roof pitch, brick type and whether a new liner goes in at the same time all change the price.
We built or rebuilt about 25 chimneys in the last year, and most of them were partial. Our favorite phone call is the one where a homeowner expects a full rebuild and we find that three feet of new brick on top will do.
When Does a Chimney Need to Be Rebuilt?
A chimney needs a rebuild when the brick is loose or falling apart, the stack leans or has pulled away from the house, or the mortar is gone through much of the depth. If you can pull a brick out by hand, repair is no longer enough. A roof-top look will confirm it.
A Chimney That Leans
A lean means the lower courses have shifted or a mortar joint has failed across a wide area. It is not something to wait on. Wind and lake-effect snow push on the top, and a heavy stack can drop through a roof. Keep people away from the base and call us.
Brick Falling Apart
Bricks that crumble to powder, or come off in chunks, mean freeze-thaw cycles have worked through them, a problem called spalling. Repointing cannot fix a brick that is gone. If it is only the top few courses, the chimney crown repair alone will not hold, because the crown needs solid brick under it.
Gaps From the House
A gap between the chimney and the siding or roof means the stack is moving. Sometimes it is only flashing, which is a roofer's job. We look from the roof, and if the stack itself is shifting, we rebuild. Our chimney inspection report records which one it is.
Rebuild or Repair, an Honest Take
We would rather repoint, seal and cap a sound chimney than take it down. If the brick is solid, a repointing job costs a fraction of a rebuild. Where it is not solid, a rebuild is the cheaper job overall than paying for repairs that do not hold. A rebuild in Greece or Gates usually takes two to five days, like most rebuilds across Monroe County. We also check the new height against the 3-2-10 rule: 3 feet above the roof and 2 feet higher than anything within 10 feet.
Questions we hear
Chimney Rebuild FAQs
How long does a chimney rebuild take?
A partial rebuild usually takes two to three days. A full rebuild above the roof can take four or five, plus time for the mortar to cure. We only work in dry weather above freezing, so a late fall rebuild may start later than you hoped. We will give you the schedule with the price.
Is a partial rebuild enough?
Often, yes. If the brick in the lower part of the chimney is solid, we rebuild only the damaged top and leave the rest. That is cheaper and keeps more of the original chimney. We press on the brick, show you photos and explain exactly where the good brick ends.
Do I need a permit for a chimney rebuild?
It depends on the town and the scope. A partial rebuild or repair often needs no permit, while a full rebuild or new work can. We check with your town or village building office first and the NYS Residential Code, and tell you what is needed before we start. You never pay for guesses.
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.
WaterproofingBook 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