Crown work
A crown built to shed water tops the rebuild so water stays out of the new masonry.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Rebuilding Jenkintown, PA
A chimney mason in Jenkintown can rebuild a chimney that is leaning, loose or crumbling, either from the roofline up or from the foundation, with new brick, flue tiles, crown and flashing. Call (267) 633-0240 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Rebuilding is for chimneys where the damage has gone past what repointing and brick replacement can fix. The usual cause is years of water getting into the masonry, freezing and breaking the mortar and brick apart from the top down. A shifted footing or a severe chimney fire can also make a rebuild necessary.
A rebuild does not always mean starting from the ground. The section above the roof takes the most weather, so it usually fails first, and rebuilding from the roofline up leaves the sound masonry below untouched. Chimneys that lean or pull away from the house usually need to come down to the foundation.
A rebuild is also a chance to fix how the chimney was built. The new section can include a new flue liner, a crown with an overhang and drip edge, proper step and counter flashing and a cap. If the old chimney was too short to draft well, the rebuild can bring it up to the common three-foot, two-foot, ten-foot height rule.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Jenkintown chimney sweep may also recommend chimney masonry repair or chimney tuckpointing.
Dealing with this in Jenkintown, PA right now? Call (267) 633-0240 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney rebuilding process
A rebuild is a bigger project than a repair, so planning matters.
Assess the structure
The mason inspects the chimney to find where the masonry is still sound and how far down the damage goes. The flue is usually scanned with a camera too.
Design the new chimney
The plan covers where the rebuild starts, the brick to be used, the flue liner, crown design, flashing and chimney height. Ask whether the work needs a permit where you live.
Set up safely
Tarps, roof protection and scaffolding or roof brackets are set up before demolition. The fireplace is sealed off to keep dust out of the house.
Take it down
Failing brick is removed carefully until the mason reaches a solid base. Salvaged brick helps the new section blend in.
Lay new brick
The mason rebuilds the masonry around a new flue. The rebuild keeps the required air space to nearby wood.
Finish the top
A crown, flashing and cap complete the job. The new masonry can be treated with a vapor-permeable repellent after curing.
What is included
What chimney rebuilding covers
Full rebuilds
The whole chimney is taken down and built new when the entire structure is unsound.
Roofline rebuilds
The chimney is rebuilt from the roofline up while sound masonry below is kept.
New flashing
New step and counter flashing is installed at the roof instead of reusing old metal.
Flue replacement
The flue is replaced during the rebuild sized to the fireplace or appliance.
Related service
Chimney Removal Jenkintown, PA
Some homeowners choose to remove an unused chimney rather than rebuild it. The most common approach is removing the chimney down to below the roofline, then closing the roof deck and shingling over it. Full removal is a bigger project that involves the interior of the house as well as the roof.
A Jenkintown chimney removal starts by checking what the chimney still does. If a heating appliance or water heater uses the chimney, it has to be vented another way before removal. The chimney may also carry structural load, and older chimneys can contain materials that should be tested before demolition.
Local help
Chimney Rebuilding Near Me
Chimney rebuilds in Jenkintown usually come after years of water and frost working on the top of the chimney. Homes in Jenkintown and nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley include plenty of older brick chimneys where the exposed top has broken down while the lower section is still solid, so catching damage early can keep a rebuild partial instead of full.
For chimney rebuilding in Jenkintown, PA or nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, call (267) 633-0240 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Jenkintown, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Jenkintown
Chimney sweeps in Jenkintown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Rebuilding FAQ
When does a chimney need rebuilding instead of repair?
Rebuilding is typically needed when the masonry is loose, leaning or badly deteriorated over large areas. Smaller damage is better handled with repairs. An inspection shows where sound masonry starts and how much needs to come down.
Can a rebuilt chimney match the original brick?
Matching the existing brick and mortar is part of a quality rebuild. Reclaimed brick may be used to get a closer match. Exact matches can be hard with very old brick, so ask to see options before work starts.
Do I need a full chimney rebuild or just a partial one?
In a partial rebuild, only the damaged upper section is rebuilt, often from the roofline up. Full rebuilds start at the base. Leaning or separated chimneys usually need the full option.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
A leaning chimney is a real safety risk and should be inspected soon. Do not use anything that vents through it, and keep the ground below clear. A lean often means a foundation or footing problem, which usually calls for a full rebuild.
Can I remove my chimney instead of rebuilding it?
For an unused chimney, removal can be more practical than a major rebuild. First confirm that no furnace, boiler or water heater vents into it, since those need new venting before removal. Partial removal below the roofline is the most common choice, while full removal is a larger job involving the interior.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0240
Related services
Chimney Masonry Repair
Repairing spalled brick, crumbling mortar, cracks and loose courses on masonry chimneys, so the chimney stays solid and dry.
Learn moreChimney Tuckpointing
Replacing crumbling mortar between chimney bricks, before loose brick starts to shift.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Flashing Repair
Repairing the metal seal between the chimney and the roof, so rain runs off instead of into the attic.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (267) 633-0240 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Jenkintown, PA.
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