Chimney repair in Wichita Falls TX - a chimney that keeps water out of your house
Seeing water stains on the ceiling by the chimney, or cracks on top? We seal the roof joint and the crown so rain stays outside.
What does chimney repair involve on a Wichita Falls house?
Chimney repair in Wichita Falls, TX fixes the base of the chimney, the joint where it meets your roof and the crown on top, because those are the main places water gets into a house. At Bedrock Wichita Falls Concrete & Masonry, we seal those spots and rebuild the masonry around them so rain stays out of your ceiling and walls.
Most folks call me after they find a stain on the ceiling or a damp patch on the wall beside the fireplace, and the chimney is usually the reason. The price moves with how many weak spots we find, whether the flashing and crown need patching or replacing, and how much brick or mortar is involved, while the schedule mostly turns on how steep and tall the roof is and whether a city permit is part of it. If the bricks themselves are cracked or the joints are washing out, the job may pull in brick repair or tuckpointing too, and your written estimate spells out what your chimney really needs.
How can you tell your chimney needs repair?
A leaking chimney usually shows itself inside the house before you notice anything up on the roof. These are the things homeowners tell me they saw before they called, and what each one tends to point to.
A brown stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney usually means water is getting past the roof joint.
Metal along the chimney that's bent, loose or pulling away from the brick lets rain run straight in.
Cracks or missing chunks on the concrete top of the chimney let water soak down inside it.
Mortar joints that look sandy, sunken or washed out mean the chimney is soaking up more water than it should.
White chalky streaks on the brick usually show water moving through the masonry and drying on the face.
Bits of brick or mortar in the yard, on the roof or in the firebox mean pieces are coming loose.
When water is already showing up inside, call rather than wait, because every rain soaks the brick and the framing behind it a little more.
What happens when you call about chimney repair in Wichita Falls?
I come out to every job myself, give the estimate and then work alongside our crew while it gets done. Here's how a chimney repair runs from your first call to the final walk-through.
Call or send the form
Call (940) 298-1133 or send the form, and I'll set up a time to come look at the chimney with you. It helps to know where the water shows up, what fuel the chimney serves and when it was last inspected.
Look it over together
I start where the chimney meets the roof, then climb up to check the crown, and talk you through what I find. You get a written estimate and a plain answer on what the job really needs, so you know the cost before anything starts.
Paperwork first, then the work
Once you say go, we take care of any city paperwork the job calls for, then our crew and I fix every weak spot we found, not just the one you can see from the yard.
Walk the finished job
Before we call it finished, I walk the work with you and show you each spot we fixed. We clean up the roof, the yard and any room we worked from.
Get a written estimate for your chimney repair
Send the form and we'll reply within 1 business day to set up a time. I'll come out for a free estimate at your property, and there's no pressure to book.
- Call
- (940) 298-1133
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
Flashing, liners and permits for your chimney
Most chimney repairs come down to the metal flashing that seals the roof joint and the masonry around it, and the metal itself matters. Brick industry guidance doesn't recommend galvanized steel, and it says aluminum shouldn't go into brick at all because fresh mortar attacks it, so ask any contractor which metal they plan to use. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
If you burn wood, the liner, the tube inside that carries smoke up and out, matters as much as the brick. The Chimney Safety Institute of America says liners used with solid fuel-burning appliances need to be insulated, so ask whether a new liner includes insulation. That kind of work is sooty, and one liner maker's guide advises moving or covering furniture and rugs near the fireplace before it starts.
In Wichita Falls, the city says construction work has to follow city codes and carry the right permits and licenses, and Wichita Falls Building Inspections issues those permits and inspects the work. When your chimney job calls for a permit, we file the application, line up the inspections and go over it with you at the estimate. That office also licenses and registers contractors, so ask anyone you hire about theirs. We're fully licensed and insured.
Chimney repair questions from Wichita Falls homeowners
How much does chimney repair cost in Wichita Falls?
Chimney flashing, cap and crown repair across the US usually costs about $200 to $2,300 per job, so treat that as a national planning range and not our price. Where yours lands depends on how many spots need work and whether the flashing or crown gets patched or replaced. The estimate I write up at your house gives you the number for your chimney, whether you're in Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park or another city nearby.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
A chimney should be inspected at least once a year, according to the national fire safety standard chimney professionals work from. That check looks at whether the chimney is sound, what's built up inside and the gap to anything that can burn. Cleaning and repairs then happen when the check turns something up, so a yearly look is a good habit even when nothing seems wrong.
What causes a chimney to leak at the roof?
Most chimney leaks start at the joint where the chimney passes through the roof, and brick industry guidance says that joint needs two layers of flashing, one piece along the roof and a second set into the brick that laps over it. The crown on top gets overlooked a lot, even though it keeps rain out of the gap between the chimney wall and the liner. That's why I check both spots on every leak call.
Does a chimney for a gas fireplace or furnace need to be checked?
Yes, a gas chimney still needs regular checks, because gas burns clean but bird nests or other debris can block the flue, the passage the exhaust goes up, and stop the chimney from working. Let us know at the estimate what fuel your chimney serves so we know what to look for.
What is the best way to fix a cracked chimney crown?
For a crown that's cracked through or crumbling, older brick industry guidance favors a precast cap made ahead of time over one poured in place on the chimney, because it holds up better and is easier to make water-resistant. Small surface cracks can sometimes be sealed instead, and I'll tell you plainly which one your chimney needs.
Can new brick and mortar on my chimney match the old?
Yes, in most cases we can get new brick and mortar close enough to the old that the repair blends into what's already there, and that's the part of the job I care about most. We look for brick of the same size and color and mix mortar to match the shade and the shape of the old joints. Older brick can take some hunting, and I'll show you what we found before we start.
Other masonry work chimneys often need
Tuckpointing
When mortar joints have worn back on the chimney or the walls below it, tuckpointing grinds out the weak mortar and packs in new that matches.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks on a chimney let water in on their own, so we replace them with brick that matches the rest of your house.
Get your chimney looked at before the next leak
Call (940) 298-1133 or send the form, because a chimney caught early is often a smaller job than you fear, and I'd rather tell you that than sell you more.
Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM