Chimney repair in Davis CA - a chimney that keeps the rain out of your house
Water stain by the fireplace or brick cracking up top? We find where the water gets in and fix that, not just the stain.
Chimney repair keeps water out. It also keeps brick in place.
At Advantage Davis Concrete and Masonry, chimney repair in Davis means sealing and restoring a chimney so water stays out of your house. The first place I look is where the roof meets the brick. That joint needs base flashing turned up the side of the chimney and counter flashing set into the mortar and lapped down over it.
Most people call when there's a water stain near the fireplace, mortar crumbling out of the joints or bricks cracked near the top. Left alone, water works into the brick and the wood around it, and a loose chimney is a safety problem, too. Cracked or crumbling brick gets the same care as our brick repair work.
The price turns on how much of the chimney needs work, from a new crown and flashing up to rebuilding the top or bracing the whole stack, plus how tall it is and how steep your roof is. The schedule turns on any permit and on dry weather. The written estimate after my visit gives you your own figure.
Chimney repair starts up top. That's where water usually gets in.
When a chimney leaks, we check the crown and the flashing first, since water often gets in up top. If the mortar has washed out of the joints, we grind out the old mortar and pack in new, which is what tuckpointing is. And if a repair can wait, I'll tell you so.
If the chimney is loose or cracked higher up, we talk through bracing it along with the other repairs. The state licensing board counts brick, block, stone and the firebrick that lines fireboxes as a masonry contractor's work, and we're licensed and fully insured for it.
Chimney repair is more than caulk. Here's the work it covers.
Crown repair and rebuilds
The crown is the concrete cap on top of the chimney, so we seal small cracks or pour a new one when it's breaking up.
Flashing at the roof
We reset or replace the base and counter flashing where the roof meets the brick, so rain runs off instead of in behind it.
Mortar joints
We grind out cracked or sandy mortar and pack in new mortar mixed to suit your brick, so the joints shed water again.
Cracked and spalled brick
Brick that's lost its face, which masons call spalling, gets cut out and replaced with brick that matches the color and size of what's there.
Rebuilding the top
When the top rows of brick are loose or leaning, we take them down to sound brick and lay them back up with fresh mortar.
Earthquake bracing
For an older brick chimney with no steel inside, we talk through bracing it to the house as part of the same job.
Good chimney and brick work pays off. Shortcuts cost more later.
A chimney patched with a tube of sealant, or a smear of mortar over a cracked crown, looks fine for a season. Then water finds its way back in, the brick and joints break down faster, and the next repair is bigger, often with a stained ceiling and soft wood around the chimney to deal with too.
We plan the job to last by fixing what let the water in and using mortar that suits the age of your brick. A lead mason and I run the crew on site, and I check the work as it goes, so it looks like it belongs on your house.
From the first call to the final walk. Here's how it runs.
Call or write us
Call (530) 298-0279 or use the form, and tell us where the water shows and what you burn. We get back to you to set up a visit.
I come look
I come out myself, look at the chimney with you, check the crown, flashing and joints, and tell you what I think right there.
Your written estimate
I follow up with a written estimate that lays out the repairs. If any of it can wait, I'll say so plainly.
Permit, work and clean-up
Once you say go, we pull any permit the job needs, and the city's review usually takes 20 to 35 business days. Then we work, clean up and walk it with you.
Tell us about your chimney. We'll come take a look.
Send photos of the chimney, any leak spots and the fuel you burn. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
(530) 298-0279Based in Davis. Working the cities around it.
- Davis, CA
- Vacaville, CA
- Woodland, CA
- West Sacramento, CA
- Dixon, CA
- Winters, CA
- Elk Grove, CA
- Fairfield, CA
- Roseville, CA
- Rancho Cordova, CA
- Florin, CA
- Arden-Arcade, CA
We're based in Davis and do chimney work in the cities around it, from Winters over to Elk Grove. If your city isn't listed, call and ask.
Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Chimney repair questions. Straight answers before you call.
Read the answers below. If your question isn't here, call us and I'll tell you straight what your chimney needs.
What does chimney repair cost near Davis?
Chimney repair in the Sacramento area usually costs about $600 to $8,000 per project. That's the going range around here, not a quote. Where yours lands depends on how much brick has to come down and go back up and whether bracing is part of it. Our written estimate gives you the real figure, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Why does my chimney leak when it rains?
Usually because water is getting in up top, at the crown, the flashing or the sealant, and running down between the chimney wall and the flue liner, the pipe inside that carries smoke out. The crown is the part people tend to overlook, so we check it along with the roof line before we fix anything.
Can my brick chimney fall in an earthquake?
Yes. An older brick chimney with no steel inside can fall outside, where it can hit someone walking by, or into the house onto the people inside. FEMA says retrofitting those weak points minimizes the risk of earthquake damage, so if your chimney is already getting repaired, it's a good time to talk about bracing it.
Who issues permits for chimney work in Davis, and how long do they take?
The City of Davis Building Division reviews and issues all permit types, so it decides what your chimney job needs. When a permit is needed, we pull it, set up the inspections and keep you posted, and the review wait is the one in our steps above. If you'd rather file it yourself, we'll give you what you need.
Can I still burn wood in my fireplace in Davis?
The city prohibits visible smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves that aren't EPA Phase II certified when that smoke harms or annoys others. So if you're fixing the chimney to keep burning wood, find out whether your fireplace is certified. Keep the flue cleaned too, since soot and creosote build up in any chimney and raise the risk of a fire.
There's more we do. Brick, stone and concrete work around Davis.
Chimney or brick giving you trouble? Call for a free estimate.
A leak caught early is usually a smaller fix, so call or use the form, tell us where the water shows, and we'll set a time to come look.
(530) 298-0279