Chimney Rebuild & Restoration in St. Louis, MO
A chimney rebuild means taking the chimney down to sound masonry and rebuilding it. Most chimneys we are called out to look at need only the section above the roofline rebuilt, not the whole structure — and we will tell you that rather than sell you the bigger job.
A rebuild is the right answer when repair has run out of road — when the masonry has deteriorated past the point where repointing helps, or when the structure itself is no longer safe. It is the biggest job we do, and it is also the one most often sold to people who do not need it.
How this gets priced
Starts with the $69 inspection
Depends on how far down the sound masonry starts, chimney height, roof access, whether the brick has to be matched to a historic home, and whether the flue is being replaced at the same time. The $69 inspection settles all of it into one fixed price, and the $69 comes off the work.
How do I know I need rebuild?
If any of these describe your situation, it is worth having someone look. Most are cheap to fix early and expensive to fix late.
- The chimney is leaning, bowing, or pulling away from the house
- Large sections of brick are missing or have fallen
- You can see daylight through the chimney structure
- Mortar has failed across most of the chimney rather than in patches
- Previous tuckpointing has already failed
- The chimney was damaged by fire, lightning, or a fallen tree
- A structural engineer or home inspector flagged it as unsafe
Why it matters
A failing chimney is a masonry structure several feet tall, weighing hundreds or thousands of pounds, sitting above your roof. When one comes down it takes the roof with it. This is the one item on a house where waiting is genuinely dangerous.
Call (314) 887-7250What’s included
Exactly what happens when we come out, step by step.
- 1
Honest assessment first
We determine how far down the sound masonry starts. Very often only the section above the roofline needs rebuilding, which is a fraction of the cost of a full rebuild. We would rather sell you the smaller job and keep you as a customer.
- 2
Brick matching
On older St. Louis homes we source reclaimed or closely matched brick so the rebuilt section does not stand out. On a historic home this is the difference between a repair and an eyesore.
- 3
Rebuild to current code
Proper flue liner, correct clearances to combustibles, correct height above the roofline per code, and a properly formed crown with an overhang and drip edge — which is the part almost every old chimney was missing in the first place.
- 4
New crown, cap and flashing
A rebuild that reuses the old crown and flashing is not finished. These go on new, because they are what determines whether the new masonry lasts.
- 5
Cleanup and final walkthrough
Full site cleanup, and we walk the finished work with you with photos of what is now behind the brick.
Chimney Rebuild: common questions
How much does it cost to rebuild a chimney in St. Louis?
A partial rebuild above the roofline and a full rebuild from the foundation are very different jobs, and quoting either one without seeing your chimney would be guessing. We inspect it, show you photographs of where the sound masonry actually starts, and give you a fixed price for the smallest job that genuinely solves the problem.
Do I need a full rebuild or will a repair work?
Most chimneys we are called out to look at do not need a full rebuild. If the masonry below the roofline is sound, a partial rebuild of the exposed section usually solves it. The deciding factors are how deep the deterioration goes and whether the structure is still plumb and stable. If a repair will get you there, we will say so.
How long does a chimney rebuild take?
A partial rebuild is typically two to four days. A full rebuild runs one to two weeks. Both are weather-dependent, because mortar cannot cure in freezing temperatures or heavy rain.
Can you match the brick on my old house?
Usually yes. St. Louis has a deep supply of reclaimed brick from the same era as most of the housing stock, and for common historic brick we can generally get a very close match. We show you the brick before we build with it.
Do I need a permit to rebuild a chimney in St. Louis?
Usually yes, and requirements differ between St. Louis City, St. Louis County and each municipality. We handle permitting as part of the job so the work is inspected and on record — which matters when you sell the house.
Chimney Rebuild across the St. Louis metro
We cover the full metro from University City. Chimney problems differ by neighborhood because the housing stock differs — here is what we see where.
Rebuild in St. Louis
Predominantly 1890–1930 brick
Rebuild in University City
Largely 1920s–1940s brick, Tudor and Colonial
Rebuild in Clayton
1920s–1940s masonry, plus newer infill
Rebuild in Kirkwood
Victorian through 1950s, wide mix
Rebuild in Webster Groves
Victorian, Craftsman and 1920s bungalows
Rebuild in Chesterfield
Mostly 1980s–2000s construction
Also serving Ladue, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Maplewood, Brentwood, Florissant, St. Charles, Des Peres.
Related services
Chimney Masonry & Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing is the process of grinding out failed mortar joints and packing in fresh mortar. Done properly, with mortar matched to the original, it buys a St. Louis chimney decades before the masonry needs attention again.
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair covers everything from a cracked crown or leaking flashing to a damaged flue liner. We start with a $69 inspection so you get photographs and one fixed price for exactly what your chimney needs — and the $69 comes off that price.
Chimney Inspection
A full chimney inspection with Total Chimney Services costs $69 anywhere in the St. Louis metro, and the entire $69 is credited back to you if you book a repair with us.
Need chimney rebuild in St. Louis?
Start with a $69 inspection and a photo report. Credited back in full when you book the work. Call (314) 887-7250.
Open 24/7 · Emergency service, day or night.