09/09/2026
You’ve heard the old saying, “It’s what’s on the inside that matters most.” Well, as it turns out, that’s just as true for chimneys, as it is for people.
This particular chimney (11-1/2 ft x 2 ft) was previously rebuilt last year by a local masonry company boasting 25 years of experience. They built it using those ultra-thin wooden slats you find on pallets of brick as the main supports (they were rotten), garbage, cigarette butts, dry-laid bricks, and a chimney cap that consisted of more than 6-inches worth of mortar (not concrete), essentially hovering over a large, empty void. No wonder it all cracked!
Additionally, the joints were all failing, the walls were laid crooked and uneven, and the resultant water damage seeped all the way into the house causing serious damage to the ceiling and walls throughout the living room and dining room areas. To add insult to injury, when the homeowner contacted the mason, he accused her of causing the damage herself, stating, “It wasn’t like that when we left it.”
To fix it, we completely gutted it down to the roofline, rebuilt half the existing exterior stonework, filled it solid with brick and mortar, added a flue extension with a brand new rain cap (courtesy of H&S Fireplaces), added two new faux flues, and topped it off with a shiney new concrete cap with parged edging for that smooth, clean look.
When quality matters, trust a professional.
