Chimney repair in Lincoln NE - a dry chimney that holds up through freeze and thaw
Crumbling mortar, a cracked crown or a stain by the fireplace usually means water's getting in. We find where, and fix that first.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What does my chimney need when the mortar's crumbling or it leaks?
Chimney repair in Lincoln, NE comes down to finding where water gets into the chimney and stopping it there. That's usually repointing, where worn mortar is cut out of the joints and replaced with new, plus a new or coated crown on top, or a new liner inside. We're based in Lincoln and work in the cities around it, including Seward, Gretna and Crete.
Most calls start with sandy mortar, a brown stain on the ceiling near the chimney, or bits of brick on the roof. The price moves with how much of the chimney needs work, whether it's mortar alone or the crown and liner too, how tall it is and how hard the top is to reach. The schedule mostly depends on the weather, because mortar and crown work need dry, mild days, and on how big the job turns out to be. The written estimate after my visit tells you what your chimney needs and what it'll cost.
How we handle chimney repair
I start at the top, because water getting in at the crown, the concrete cap that sheds rain off the chimney, is behind a lot of the damage further down. Once the bricks soak up water from the top and sides, every freeze and thaw breaks them down a little more, so a leak up there is worth fixing early. From the crown I work down, checking the joints and the brick, and then I tell you plainly whether you need mortar work, a new crown or a liner, and which of those can wait. Our crew does the work top first, so new mortar lower down isn't taking water from above.
When the bricks are sound and only the joints are worn, it's a tuckpointing job. Where freezing has cracked bricks or popped their faces off, we replace them with brick repair before we repoint around them.
Mortar and brick work only
This suits a chimney whose crown is still sound but whose joints are worn or a few bricks are loose. It's the smaller job, and often it's all the chimney needs.
A new crown, coating or liner
This suits a chimney where water is coming in at the top or the flue lining inside is cracked. Fixing the source first means the mortar work below it lasts.
If you see water stains near the chimney or mortar crumbs on the roof, call (402) 202-7624 before the next freeze, not next spring.
What happens when you call about your chimney?
I handle the visit and the estimate myself, and our own crew does the work. Here's how a chimney job runs from your first call to the final walk-through.
Call or send the form
Call (402) 202-7624 or use the form and tell us what fuel your fireplace, stove or furnace burns. Mention any cracks, stains or loose mortar you've noticed, since that tells me where to look first.
I look at the chimney
I come out myself, check the chimney from the crown down, find what's causing the damage and walk you through what I'd do and why. You get a written estimate that says what needs doing now and what can wait, and I'd rather tell you a smaller job will do than sell you a bigger one.
Our crew does the work
If you go ahead, our own small crew of masons does the work, with me on the job. Liner work is sooty, so we'll ask you to clear rugs and furniture near the fireplace, as the liner maker advises.
We walk the finished job
I walk the finished chimney with you before we call it done, and we clean up the dust and debris we made. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a written estimate for your chimney
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at the chimney and give you a free written estimate. There's no pressure to book.
(402) 202-7624Hiring for chimney repair in Lincoln, NE
In Nebraska, contractors doing business in the state have to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor, and repairs count as construction, so anyone fixing a chimney on a house that isn't theirs should be registered. The department is clear that registration doesn't ensure the quality of the work or protect you from fraud, so treat it as a starting point and ask how the contractor plans to fix the cause. We're licensed and insured. When a job needs a permit, we handle the application with the right city or county office and set up the inspections, and if you're not sure whether yours does, we'll check with the office that covers your address.
Around Lincoln we work on a lot of older brick houses, and the chimneys we see most have crowns that were patched more than once and joints washed out near the top. We see the same thing on jobs in Seward and Gretna, and we fix it the same way, starting at the crown.
Chimney repair questions from Lincoln homeowners
How much does chimney tuckpointing cost in Lincoln, NE?
Tuckpointing a typical chimney across the US usually costs about $500 to $2,500 per job. That covers the mortar work alone, so a new crown or liner adds to it. Your own figure comes on the written estimate after I've seen the chimney.
How do I know if my chimney crown needs replacing?
Trade guidance is that a crown needs replacing when it's broken into pieces, has large pieces missing, or its surface can no longer hold a coating. At that point a coating won't do the job. If the crown, its surface and what holds it up are sound, with some cracks but nothing missing, a coating may be an option, and I'll tell you which one yours is.
Can a chimney crown be sealed in cold weather?
Sometimes, with the right product. Many crown coatings have to go on at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, while some newer ones are made to work below freezing. When a coating fits your crown, we'll match the product and the timing to the weather.
Does a new chimney liner need insulation?
Only if it vents an appliance that burns solid fuel, like wood. Liners for gas and oil appliances need no insulation to meet the makers' installation and warranty requirements, while liners for solid-fuel appliances do. That's why I ask what your fireplace, stove or furnace burns when you call.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
At least once a year. The national fire safety standard chimney professionals follow says chimneys, fireplaces and vents shall be inspected yearly, with repairs done if necessary. Plan on a yearly check and set a little money aside for whatever it turns up.
What is the best way to repoint an old brick chimney?
Use a mortar that suits the old brick, and on a historic house that often means lime mortar. Lime mortar is soft and porous and changes little in volume as temperatures swing, which is why it's a good choice for historic buildings. On a newer chimney, I'll tell you what I'd use once I've seen the brick.
Other repairs that often go with a chimney
If your house walls have the same worn, sandy joints as the chimney, new mortar there keeps water out before the brick starts cracking.
Cracked, loose or flaking bricks on a wall or step let water in behind them, and swapping out the bad ones stops the damage from spreading.
Get your chimney checked before the next freeze
We're open 6 AM to 11 PM every day, so call (402) 202-7624 the moment you spot a stain or loose mortar, or send the form.