Chimney Repair Above Philadelphia Roofs
The part of a chimney above the roof takes more weather than any other masonry on the house. We repair the crown, repoint the brick and rebuild what has failed, then flash it back into the roof.
Most chimney repairs on Philadelphia houses involve the crown, the concrete or mortar cap on top, and the mortar joints of the stack above the roofline. Published Philadelphia figures put crown repair at $300 to $1,500. We repair crowns, repoint with mortar suited to old brick, and rebuild stacks that have loosened, then reflash the chimney into the roof.
What Fails on a Chimney First
Water gets into a chimney from the top and the sides. A cracked crown lets rain into the brick and the flue; open mortar joints let wind-driven rain soak the stack. Each winter the trapped water freezes and widens the cracks, which is why a small crown crack becomes a crumbling top course within a few seasons.
Chimney leaks are often blamed on flashing, and sometimes rightly. We check the crown, the brick and the flashing together, because repairing the wrong one leaves the leak in place. Flashing work is covered on our chimney flashing repair page.
What Sets the Price of Chimney Repair
- Scope of damageCrown sealing, repointing and rebuilds differ widely.
- Chimney heightTall stacks need more setup and material.
- Roof accessSteep or slate roofs need staging and roof brackets.
- Brick matchingOld brick sizes and colors take sourcing.
- FlashingRebuilds include new flashing into the roof.
Published Philadelphia figures put typical chimney repairs at $117 to $822 and crown repair at $300 to $1,500. Rebuilds cost more. These are planning ranges, not our quote.
Repair, Rebuild or Remove?
The condition of the stack decides which one makes sense.
| Option | When it fits | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Repoint and recrown | Stack plumb, bricks mostly sound | Joints refilled, crown recast or sealed |
| Rebuild from the roofline | Leaning top, loose or spalled bricks | Stack rebuilt, new crown, cap and flashing |
| Remove below the roof | Chimney no longer used | Stack taken down and the roof closed over |
Chimney Crown Repair
The crown is the sloped cap that sheds water off the top of the chimney around the flue. Hairline cracks can be sealed with a crown repair coating; a crown that is broken, flat or crumbling is removed and recast with a proper slope and a drip edge that throws water clear of the brick. Published Philadelphia figures put crown repair at $300 to $1,500. A metal chimney cap over the flue is often added at the same time to keep rain and animals out.
Chimney Repointing
Repointing is the most common chimney repair in Philadelphia, because old lime mortar breaks down faster than the brick around it. Sandy or missing joints on the stack are raked out to sound depth and refilled with a mortar compatible with the old brick, not a hard cement that would crack it. Spalled or cracked bricks are carefully cut out and replaced as we go. Repointing a stack while it is still plumb and solid is far cheaper than rebuilding it later.
Chimney Rebuild From the Roofline
When the top of a chimney leans, has loose bricks, or has been patched with layers of tar and cement, repointing is no longer enough. We take the stack down to sound brick, usually at or just above the roofline, and rebuild it with matching brick, new mortar, a new crown and a cap. The roof around it is reflashed with new step and counterflashing. For chimneys no longer in use, removing the stack below the roofline and roofing over it is sometimes the better answer.
Bricks loose on top of the chimney?
Call and we check the stack before a piece comes down.
What We See on Philadelphia Roofs
Repointing is the chimney repair Philadelphia houses need most often, because the aging lime mortar in older stacks breaks down faster than the brick, and most crowns show surface cracks within ten to fifteen years. The City's rowhouse guide recommends a chimney sweep's inspection every year and a professional check of flashing and chimney caps, which is often when crown cracks are first caught.
How a Chimney Repair Runs
- 1
Inspect from the roof
Crown, joints, bricks, cap and flashing checked.
- 2
Photos and options
Repair, rebuild or remove, with prices.
- 3
Set up safely
Roof protected and staging set around the stack.
- 4
Masonry work
Repointing, brick replacement or rebuild.
- 5
Crown and cap
Crown recast or sealed, cap fitted.
- 6
Reflash and clean up
Flashing checked or renewed, debris removed.
Chimney Repair Questions
Our work is the masonry above the roof and the flashing. Flue cleaning and lining are done by a chimney sweep.
Hairline cracks, yes. A broken or flat crown needs recasting.
It can be. Loose bricks at the top should be checked promptly.
Often that is cheaper over time than repeated repairs, if nothing vents through it.
We source the closest match, often salvaged brick for older houses.
More Masonry & Rowhome Details Work in Philadelphia
From our guides: Roof Certification When Selling a Philadelphia Home
Fix the Chimney Before It Leaks Again
Call and we check the crown, the brick and the flashing together.