Flue replacement
The rebuilt section gets new flue tiles or a liner for safe venting.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Rebuilding Glenside, PA
A chimney mason in Glenside 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) 633-0161 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Some chimneys reach a point where patching costs more over time than rebuilding the damaged section. Long-term water damage and freeze-thaw are behind nearly every chimney that needs rebuilding. Foundation movement, lightning, high winds and chimney fires can do it too.
In most cases, only the part above the roofline needs to be rebuilt. The exposed top section breaks down fastest, so a rebuild from the roof deck up is usually enough. When the whole stack is cracked, leaning or sitting on a failed footing, a full rebuild is the safer route.
Starting fresh means the new chimney can be built to do its job better. The new chimney is built with a sound crown, correct flashing and a flue sized to the appliance. It can also be built to the right height, at least three feet above the roof where it passes through and two feet higher than anything within ten feet, the common rule for proper draft and fire safety.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney rebuilding in Glenside, PA can go hand in hand with chimney masonry repair and chimney tuckpointing.
Need chimney rebuilding in Glenside? Call (267) 633-0161 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a chimney rebuild
Here is how a chimney mason typically handles a rebuild.
Find sound masonry
The chimney is checked from the roof, attic and inside the flue to see how much needs to come down. The appliance the chimney serves is noted, since it shapes the new flue.
Set the scope
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.
Protect the house
Tarps, roof protection and scaffolding or roof brackets are set up before demolition. The firebox opening is covered to keep debris and dust contained.
Remove failing masonry
The damaged masonry is taken down brick by brick to a sound course. Reusable brick may be cleaned and saved to help the rebuild match.
Rebuild the chimney
New brick is laid with the flue liner installed course by course. Proper clearance between the masonry and combustible framing is maintained.
Top it off
A new crown with an overhang and drip edge is cast, new step and counter flashing is installed and a cap is set over the flue. 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 so the chimney stands straight again.
Partial rebuilds
The chimney is rebuilt from the roofline up which is the most common type of rebuild.
New flashing
New step and counter flashing is installed at the roof so the new chimney stays dry.
New crowns
The rebuilt chimney gets a proper crown to protect the new brick.
Related service
Chimney Removal Glenside, 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. Taking it out completely means demolition through every floor and repairing framing and finishes along the way.
In Glenside, the first step in chimney removal is making sure no appliance relies on it. A furnace, boiler or water heater may vent into the chimney, and those must be given a new, proper vent before the chimney comes down. Ask whether the chimney supports any framing and whether any old materials need testing, and check whether a permit is required.
Local help
Chimney Rebuilding Near Me
Around Glenside, the chimneys that need rebuilding are often the ones that went many years without a crown, cap or flashing repair. Across Glenside and nearby places including Wyncote, Jenkintown, Oreland and Roslyn, seasonal rain and freeze-thaw slowly loosen the top courses until rebuilding is the only lasting fix, and a well-built crown and cap protect the new work for years.
Searching for chimney rebuilding near me from Glenside or Wyncote, Jenkintown, Oreland and Roslyn? Call (267) 633-0161 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
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. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Glenside is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Glenside and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Rebuilding FAQ
Should I remove an unused chimney?
Removing a chimney is an option if you no longer use it. Make sure nothing still uses the flue, or carbon monoxide could back up into the house. Partial removal below the roofline is the most common choice, while full removal is a larger job involving the interior.
Can a rebuilt chimney match the original brick?
Matching the existing brick and mortar is part of a quality rebuild. Reusing sound original brick helps the new section blend in. Ask to see brick and mortar samples before the job begins.
Do I need a full chimney rebuild or just a partial one?
A partial rebuild takes the chimney down to sound masonry, usually at or near the roofline, and rebuilds from there. Full rebuilds start at the base. The partial option is far more common, and a full rebuild is reserved for chimneys that are unsound throughout.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
A chimney that leans can fall, and it can also crack the flue. Stay clear of the area under the chimney and stop using the fireplace until an inspection. A lean often means a foundation or footing problem, which usually calls for a full rebuild.
How do I know if my chimney needs to be rebuilt?
A chimney usually needs rebuilding when it leans, pulls away from the house, has loose bricks that lift out by hand or has widespread crumbling masonry. Smaller damage is better handled with repairs. Having the chimney inspected is the way to know for sure.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0161
Often needed together
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
Restoring the mortar joints that hold a chimney together, so rain stops getting in through the joints.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
Learn moreChimney Flashing Repair
Resealing or replacing the step flashing, counter flashing and cricket where the chimney meets the roof, to stop leaks at the roof line for good.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesGet chimney rebuilding help in Glenside
Call (267) 633-0161 for a local chimney sweep in Glenside and nearby towns.
(267) 633-0161
Free to call. No forms to fill out.