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 waterproofing
Chimney Waterproofing in Rochester, NY
For chimney waterproofing in Rochester, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep rolls on Chimney Saver, a water repellent that lets brick breathe but keeps winter melt out. It is guaranteed for 10 years.
Keep the Water Out, Let the Brick Breathe
A repellent that sheds rain and snowmelt but does not trap moisture
Contact UsBrick is full of tiny holes, so it soaks up water like a sponge. In a Rochester winter that water freezes, expands and pops the faces off the brick, and the freeze-thaw cycles repeat all season. A waterproofer fills in the problem before it starts. We use Chimney Saver, which lets vapor out of the brick but turns liquid water away. That matters, because a plain paint-on sealer traps moisture and makes spalling worse. The product is guaranteed for 10 years, and our crew usually needs 2 to 3 hours on a small chimney.
Chimney Waterproofing Options
Brick treatment alone, or paired with the repair that has to come first
Breathable Brick Waterproofing
A spray-on repellent that soaks into the brick and lines the pores. Water beads up and rolls off, and the vapor inside still gets out. We cover the whole chimney from the crown down to the roof line.
Waterproofing After Repointing
New mortar needs time to cure, and the brick beside it is still thirsty. We treat the whole stack after a repoint, so the fresh joints and the old brick get the same protection.
Waterproofing With a New Crown
A new crown plus a waterproofed stack is the best way to protect an older chimney. The crown sheds water off the top, and the repellent looks after what is left.
Chimney Waterproofing Prices
- Waterproofing a small chimney: $350 to $550
- Waterproofing a tall or wide chimney: $550 to $900
- Added to a repointing or crown job: often $100 less
- Guarantee on the repellent: 10 years
You get a firm number after we look at the brick.
Every Waterproofing Job Includes
- Brick cleaned so the repellent can soak in
- Cracks, joints and the crown checked first
- Chimney Saver sprayed on, top to roof line
- A dry-day schedule, never in rain or frost
- The 10 year guarantee on paper
- Photos of the finished chimney
How Much Does Chimney Waterproofing Cost in Rochester?
Chimney waterproofing in Rochester costs $350 to $900 in 2026, depending on the height and width of the chimney and how much it needs cleaning first. A small single-flue chimney sits at the low end. The price drops a little when we add it to a repointing or crown job.
Waterproofing is cheap next to what it protects. But it is not a repair. Repellent does not close a gap, so any open mortar joint and a cracked crown come first. We tell people that straight, even though it means a smaller job for us. Joe, our lead mason, has sprayed Chimney Saver on dozens of our customers' chimneys.
Does Chimney Waterproofing Really Work?
Yes, on sound brick it slows water getting in, which cuts freeze-thaw damage. It will not fix cracks, open joints or a broken crown. A breathable product like Chimney Saver turns away liquid water while letting vapor escape, so moisture is not trapped inside. Ours is guaranteed for 10 years.
What It Does and What It Does Not
Waterproofing helps with damp brick, white powder on the surface, called efflorescence, and early flaking. It does not stop a leak caused by a crack. If you see water coming through the ceiling, we look at the crown and the joints first. A bad chimney crown is the usual cause, and repellent on top of it just hides the problem.
Why Breathable Matters
Paint-on sealers form a film. Moisture from inside the wall gets stuck behind the film and pushes the brick faces off from the inside. A breathable repellent soaks in instead of sitting on top, so vapor still moves out. From the roof it looks like nothing happened, which is exactly the point.
Which Chimneys Need Waterproofing
Older brick takes on the most water, so 1920s to 1950s homes in Irondequoit and Brighton are the usual candidates. Chimneys on the north side of a house, and ones close to the lake, get wet and stay wet, since lake-effect snow melts onto them all winter. We work all over Monroe County. If you see white powder or flaking, call us. We can combine it with chimney repointing for a lower total.
Questions we hear
Chimney Waterproofing FAQs
How long does chimney waterproofing last?
Chimney Saver is guaranteed for 10 years. In our experience a coat on sound brick keeps beading water well beyond that on a sheltered chimney, and less on a lake-side one. We look at the beading during later visits and tell you when it is time to recoat.
Will waterproofing change how my brick looks?
No. A breathable repellent soaks in and dries clear, so the brick keeps its color. Some brick looks slightly darker for a day while it cures. If the surface gets a sheen, we stop and check. You will see water bead and roll off on the first rain.
Can you waterproof a chimney in winter?
Not in the cold or the wet. The product needs dry brick and temperatures above freezing to soak in properly, so we schedule it for a dry stretch in spring, summer or early fall. If a chimney is leaking in January, we look at the cause first and plan the coat for later.
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
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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 Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds to the roof line for chimneys that lean, crumble or have come apart.
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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