Chimney repair in El Dorado Hills CA - a crown and mortar that keep the rain out
Cracked crown, crumbling joints or a damp spot by the fireplace? We fix the masonry so water stays out and the chimney stands solid.
Get your chimney looked at before winter
Call (916) 260-2151 or use the form, because a crown crack that's a small fix in the fall can soak the brick all winter long.
Does my chimney need repair or just a checkup?
At P&J El Dorado Hills Concrete & Masonry, chimney repair in El Dorado Hills means the upkeep and masonry fixes that keep your chimney sound, free of buildup and spaced safely from the wood framing around it.
Most calls start with a brown stain on the ceiling by the fireplace or a chunk of mortar on the roof, and the cause is usually a cracked crown or joints that have worn sandy. The price turns on how much of the chimney is damaged, how tall it stands above the roof and whether the crown can be saved or has to come off. The schedule mostly waits on dry weather for roof work and on what we find once the old mortar is out. After I've looked it over with you, you get a written estimate that spells out the work.
Why El Dorado Hills homeowners call P&J for chimney repair
The owner looks at your chimney
I come out myself to look the job over with you, and I write the estimate. You hear what's wrong and why from the same person who checks on the crew later.
Based here since 2013
We've been based in El Dorado Hills since 2013 and work in many of the cities around it across El Dorado, Sacramento and Placer counties. That's 13 years of watching how chimneys around here wear.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured. That matters on chimney work, because there's a crew on your roof with heavy material, and you want the contractor up there to be covered.
On a chimney, what counts most is the crown and the mortar mix you'll never look at again, so that's where we spend our time. Call or send us a message and I'll come take a look.
How we handle chimney repair
We start with a close look at the crown, the concrete slab on top, along with the cap over the flue and the mortar all the way down to the roofline. If you're selling, have had a chimney fire or felt a good shake, I'll suggest a fuller inspection before we price any repairs, because those are the cases where chimney inspectors recommend what they call a Level 2, which checks the system from the roof and inside accessible attics, basements and crawl spaces. Once we know what's wrong, we protect your roof and yard, cut out the failed mortar, repair or rebuild the crown, set the cap and haul off the debris when we're done.
Plenty of chimney trouble is really mortar trouble, and when the whole stack needs its joints renewed, that's tuckpointing. If only a few bricks are cracked or flaking, brick repair swaps out the bad ones and leaves the good ones alone.
Crown and cap repair
This suits a chimney that's letting water in from the top. A hairline crack can be sealed, but once the crown is crumbling, patching it is throwing good money after bad, so I'll tell you to rebuild it, and a new cap keeps rain, leaves and critters out of the flue.
Mortar and brick above the roof
This suits a chimney with sandy joints or flaking brick where it sticks up through the roof and takes the weather. We grind out the worn mortar and repoint with a mix softer than the brick, so the joints wear instead of the brick faces.
How can you tell your chimney needs work?
A cracked or crumbling crown
The concrete slab on top shows cracks or loose chunks. Water gets into those cracks and works down into the brick, so a crack you could seal now can turn into a rebuild later.
Sandy or missing mortar
Joints you can scratch out with a key, or gaps where mortar used to be. Once water gets behind the brick, the bricks loosen, and a repointing job turns into rebuilding the top of the stack.
Flaking brick faces
The face of the brick pops off in flakes, usually on the side that takes the most weather. That's water working into the brick, and each flake leaves the next layer softer and quicker to go.
A stain near the fireplace
Brown water marks on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney, or a musty smell when it rains. Water is getting in from the top, and it can rot whatever framing it reaches.
What happens when you call us about your chimney?
Call or send a message
I come out myself to look the chimney over and talk it through with you. Afterward you get a written estimate that spells out the work.
Our crew does the repair
Our lead mason and crew do the work while I stop by to check on it. Any change gets written up plainly with your right to cancel, as state contractor rules require.
Walk the finished job together
When the crew's done, we walk the finished job together. I'll point out the new crown and joints so you know what to look for next year.
Chimney questions we hear a lot
Here are straight answers to what El Dorado Hills homeowners ask most about chimney repair. If your chimney isn't covered here, call or send a message and ask about yours.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
Chimney safety guidance says at least once a year, with repairs done if the inspection finds they're needed. Book it like any yearly checkup and leave a little room in the budget for cleaning or repairs it turns up. A small crack caught on a yearly look is a much smaller bill than one found after a wet winter.
How much does chimney repair cost in El Dorado Hills?
Common chimney fixes like replacing a cap or a crown usually run about $200 to $800 per job across the US, and that's a national figure, not our price. What yours costs depends on how much damage there is, how tall the chimney stands and whether the crown can be saved. I'll look it over with you and follow up with a written estimate.
What happens before a chimney is relined?
The chimney gets cleaned and inspected first, so the mortar and masonry can be checked before a new liner goes in. One liner maker's guide says a certified chimney sweep should do that cleaning and inspection, and the fuller inspection I mentioned above is also recommended before any lining job. If your fireplace or stove burns wood, plan on an insulated liner, because liners for solid fuel need insulation.
Who licenses masonry contractors in California?
The Contractors State License Board licenses home improvement contractors in California, whether they work full time or part time. The board's masonry classification covers stone, brick and other baked clay, and fire brick, plus the clear waterproofing, cleaning and caulking that go with masonry work. You can also ask any contractor to name their subcontractors with each one's license number and classification, and the main contractor stays responsible for the job.
What causes a chimney crown to crack?
Most crowns crack because water sits on them and works into the concrete, and a crown poured too thin or skimmed on with leftover mortar gives out first. A good crown is a proper concrete mix, thick enough, sloped to shed water and hanging past the brick so drips fall clear. When we rebuild one, that's how we pour it.
How do I get my house ready for chimney work?
Clear the area around the fireplace, because chimney work kicks up soot and dust. One liner maker advises moving or covering furniture and rugs during cleaning and liner work, since chimneys are usually very sooty, and soot has no respect for a nice rug. Keep pets and kids out of that room and leave us a clear path to the yard and the roof.
Get a written chimney repair estimate
Tell us what you're seeing and whether you're selling, had a chimney fire or felt a quake, and we'll reply within 1 business day. I'll come out for a free estimate at your property, no pressure, no obligation.
What good chimney masonry looks like
Other work your chimney may need
Tuckpointing
When the mortar between your bricks has gone soft or sandy but the bricks themselves are fine, fresh joints keep water out without rebuilding anything.
Learn moreBrick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks let water into a wall or chimney, and replacing just the bad ones can stop the damage before a section needs rebuilding.
Learn more