Chimney repair and rebuilding in Moncton

This page covers the masonry of the chimney: the crown, brick, mortar joints and flashing. The flue and the appliance connected to it are checked by a WETT inspector (see below). For brick problems lower on the house, see brick repair.

The parts of a chimney that fail

Crown

The concrete or mortar slab on top of the chimney that sheds water away from the brick. Many crowns are just a thin layer of mortar sloped by hand, and they crack within a few winters. Once cracked, water runs straight down into the chimney.

Cap

The metal cover over the flue opening that keeps rain, snow and animals out. A missing cap lets water straight into the flue and liner.

Mortar joints

Chimney joints wear faster than any other on the house because the chimney is exposed on all four sides.

Brick

Brick near the top of the chimney takes the most water and the most freeze–thaw, and is often the first to spall.

Flashing

The metal where the chimney meets the roof. Failed flashing is the most common cause of a leak at the ceiling beside a chimney, and is often mistaken for a roof leak.

Flue liner

The clay tile or stainless steel liner inside the chimney that contains smoke and gases. Liner condition is checked during a chimney inspection.

Signs your chimney needs repair

• Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney, or water in the firebox
• Pieces of brick, mortar or crown on the roof, in the gutters or on the ground
• Cracks across the top of the crown
• Brick faces flaking or crumbling, usually worst near the top
• White staining (efflorescence) on the outside of the chimney
• A chimney that leans or is visibly out of plumb
• Gaps between the chimney and the roof flashing
• Rust on the cap, damper or firebox, a sign of water coming down the flue

Chimney repairs we do

Crown repair and replacement

Hairline cracks in an otherwise sound crown can be cleaned out and sealed with a crown repair product. A crown that is broken up, too thin or flat is better replaced. A proper crown is cast in concrete, slopes away from the flue, overhangs the brick with a drip edge so water falls clear of the face, and has a gap around the flue liner so the liner can expand with heat without cracking the crown.

Repointing

Worn chimney joints are raked out and repointed, often from the roofline up. Because chimneys are so exposed, joint wear is often the first repair they need.

Brick replacement and partial rebuild

Spalled bricks are replaced. When the damage is concentrated at the top, which is common, the chimney is taken down to sound brick and rebuilt from there with a new crown.

Full rebuild above the roofline

When most of the brick above the roof is damaged, or the chimney leans, the best value is often to take it down to the roofline and rebuild it with new brick, new flashing and a new crown.

Flashing

Step and counter flashing is replaced or resealed, with the counter flashing set into a cut in the mortar joint, not just glued or caulked to the face of the brick.

Unused chimneys

If a chimney is no longer used, it can be capped and vented, or taken down below the roofline and the roof closed in. That removes a maintenance item for good.

Chimney masonry and WETT inspections

Masonry repair and chimney safety inspection are related but different jobs. A WETT-certified inspector (Wood Energy Technology Transfer, the Canadian program for wood-burning safety) checks the flue, liner, clearances and appliance. Many insurers in New Brunswick ask for a WETT inspection on homes with wood stoves or fireplaces. If the inspector notes masonry problems, such as a cracked crown, missing brick or failed joints, that’s the work we do. If your chimney hasn’t been inspected in a while, we can point you to booking one before or after repairs.

Chimneys in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview and Shediac

Brick chimneys are mostly found on older houses here. Newer homes in Dieppe and Riverview often have no masonry chimney at all, or a framed chase with a metal flue inside. Many older Moncton homes have switched from oil or wood heat to heat pumps, which leaves a chimney that is no longer used. An unused chimney never warms up, so it stays damp and the freeze–thaw damage can speed up. If yours isn’t being used, it may be worth capping it or taking it down below the roofline rather than repairing it.

Cottages and older homes around Shediac, Pointe-du-Chêne and Cap-Pelé take wind and salt air off the Northumberland Strait, and their chimneys are often the first masonry to go. Seasonal places are also easy to overlook, because nobody is there in spring to notice the stain on the ceiling.

What affects the cost

• Roof pitch and height: a steep roof or a tall chimney needs more safety setup and staging
• Extent of damage: crown only, top few courses, or the whole stack above the roofline
• Number of flues and the chimney’s size
• Flashing: resealing versus full replacement
• Brick matching for partial rebuilds
• Season: work below about 4 °C needs heated enclosures or covers to protect new mortar

Chimney repair questions