Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
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After
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AfterHow Much Does Chimney Repair Cost in St. Louis?
Chimney repair in St. Louis typically runs $250-$1,200 for most common jobs, with a masonry crown rebuild or a small flue crack fix sitting at the low end and a partial reline or firebox rebuild pushing toward the middle. Full stainless liner replacement usually lands between $2,500 and $5,500 depending on flue height and liner diameter, while a full chimney rebuild from the roofline up generally starts around $6,000. The written estimate is what sets your final price, and getting that estimate costs nothing.
Those ranges cover the work most St. Louis homeowners actually need: sealing a cracked crown, repairing spalled brick, closing a gap at the flashing, resurfacing a deteriorating flue liner, or relining the whole flue. What you’ll pay depends far more on what’s behind the brick than on the brick itself. A hairline crown crack and a failed liner with heavy creosote can look similar from the driveway and be thousands of dollars apart on paper.
Key Takeaways
- Most St. Louis chimney repairs fall between $250 and $1,200.
- Full liner replacement typically runs $2,500-$5,500; a full rebuild starts near $6,000.
- Inspection comes first. You can’t price a repair you haven’t diagnosed.
- Free estimates, and the written estimate sets the final price.
- Our technicians have up to 12 years of experience with flue systems.
Chimney Repair Cost Breakdown (2026)
The line items below reflect typical St. Louis pricing for the kinds of repair work we see on wood-burning fireplaces, gas inserts, and solid-fuel stoves across the metro. All figures are estimates for planning. The written estimate you receive after inspection is the number that applies.
| Repair | Typical St. Louis Range | What’s Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Crown repair or rebuild | $350-$900 | Patching hairline cracks versus pouring a new crown with proper slope and overhang |
| Flashing repair (roof/chimney seam) | $300-$750 | Resealing, reweaving, or replacing flashing where water gets in |
| Brick and mortar repointing | $400-$1,500 | Cutting out failed mortar joints and tuckpointing, priced by area |
| Firebox repair (brick or panel) | $500-$2,000 | Replacing firebrick, mortar joints, or prefabricated firebox panels |
| Damper repair or replacement | $250-$650 | New damper, hardware, or top-mount damper work |
| Liner resurfacing (HeatShield) | $1,200-$2,800 | Resurfacing a cracked or spalling clay flue liner back to a smooth, sealed surface |
| Partial liner repair | $1,200-$2,500 | Addressing a section of damaged liner rather than the full run |
| Full flexible liner installation (DuraFlex) | $2,500-$5,500 | A new stainless flexible liner sized to the appliance and flue |
| Chimney cap and chase cover | $250-$700 | Replacement cap or custom chase cover to keep water and animals out |
| Chimney rebuild (roofline up) | From $6,000 | Tearing down and rebuilding the above-roof section, brick by brick |
What pushes a job toward the top of its range? Height and access come first. A flue that runs two stories needs more liner, more scaffold work, and more time than a single-story run. Material failure comes second: a few cracked bricks repoint cheaply, but a section that’s been absorbing water for years can mean removing and rebuilding rather than patching. Third is what the flue is hiding. A liner that looks intact from the firebox often turns out to have cracked flue tiles higher up, and that changes a $250 repair into a resurfacing or relining job. The Hawk inspection standard walks the full flue from cap to firebox before we quote, so the number you get in the estimate is the number the job actually needs.
What Affects Chimney Repair Pricing in St. Louis
St. Louis sits in a climate that’s hard on masonry. Wet-freeze-thaw cycles over the winter push water into brick, mortar, and clay flue tile, then the freeze expands and opens the crack further. That pattern is why so much St. Louis chimney repair work ends up being about water and freeze damage rather than fire damage. The region’s clay soils also shift with moisture, and that movement shows up in flashings and crowns. Here’s what drives the price on your particular chimney:
- How much water damage has already happened. A crown crack caught early is a $350-$500 seal. Left through a couple of winters, the crack feeds water into the flue and the fix moves into the four figures. St. Louis’s freeze-thaw winters accelerate this faster than homeowners expect.
- Your neighborhood’s housing stock. Homes in older parts of the city – Tower Grove, Shaw, Benton Park, Soulard, and the Central West End – often have tall brick chimneys with clay flue tile that’s been through decades of freeze-thaw. That construction calls for repointing and liner work more often than the newer builds in the county, and the height adds to labor. A chimney in Kirkwood or Webster Groves may read differently than a ranch house out toward Fenton or Arnold.
- Liner condition and diameter. A clay flue tile liner that’s cracked or spalling can sometimes be resurfaced rather than replaced, which is cheaper. If the flue is under-sized for the appliance or the liner is a total failure, a new flexible liner is the correct fix.
- Appliance type. A wood-burning fireplace, a gas insert, and a solid-fuel stove all have different venting requirements. Liner sizing, insulation, and termination all change with the appliance, and that changes the material cost.
- Access and height. A chimney on a steep-pitch roof, a chimney behind a roofline, or one that needs scaffolding to reach safely takes longer and costs more than a straight shot from a flat access point.
- Whether the repair is isolated or systemic. A single failed flashing is one line item. A chimney that’s leaking, spalling, and has a compromised liner is a project. Fixing one piece without the others just moves the failure.
The honest version: two houses on the same block can get very different quotes because what’s under the cap differs. That’s why we look before we price. It’s also why a phone estimate without an inspection is worth very little – a fair price depends on a real look at your flue.
How to Save on Chimney Repair
Most of the money in chimney repair is spent on damage that could have been prevented or caught smaller. A few practical ways to keep the bill down:
- Catch it at the crown and flashing. Water is the leading cause of masonry failure in St. Louis, and both of those areas are cheap to fix early and expensive to fix late. Have the cap and crown looked at before winter, not after.
- Fix the liner before it spreads. A hairline flue crack can often be resurfaced with HeatShield for a fraction of what a full reline costs. Waiting until the flue tile has spalled through usually means a new DuraFlex liner instead.
- Repoint failed mortar joints before they become loose brick. Tuckpointing a section of chimney costs hundreds. Rebuilding it after the brick goes loose costs thousands.
- Address the flashing at the roofline. Every fall and spring in St. Louis brings the wet-dry cycle that opens up the roof-to-chimney seam. Resealing it early is a few hundred dollars; repairing rotted roof decking underneath is not.
- Get a real inspection, not a quick sweep. A thorough inspection surfaces the small problems while they’re still small. That’s the single best way to keep repair costs down over time.
- Take the free estimate seriously. We’ll look, quote, and put it in writing. You’re under no obligation to book. Call (866) 596-7310 for a free estimate.
When Should You Repair vs. Replace a Chimney Liner?
Resurface the liner when the damage is cracked or spalling but the flue tile itself is still structurally intact; replace it when the tile is missing, collapsed, or the wrong size for the appliance. Resurfacing with HeatShield typically runs $1,200-$2,800 in St. Louis, while a full DuraFlex reline runs $2,500-$5,500. The deciding factor is whether there’s enough sound flue tile left to bond to. If there is, resurfacing gets you a code-compliant, sealed flue at a lower price. If the liner has failed entirely, resurfacing won’t hold, and a new flexible liner is the correct fix.
Is Chimney Repair Worth It?
Yes – and skipping it is the more expensive path. A compromised flue liner that lets heat and creosote through to surrounding framing is a fire risk, and a blocked or cracked flue can let carbon monoxide back into the house. Those are not abstract concerns; they’re the exact failures that chimney inspection is designed to catch. Beyond safety, a $500 crown repair today prevents a $6,000 rebuild in a few winters. In a climate with St. Louis’s freeze-thaw pattern, deferred chimney repair compounds. It is one of the few home maintenance items where fixing it early is genuinely the cheaper option, not just the safer one.
What’s Included in a Hawk Chimney Repair Estimate?
Every estimate starts with an inspection. We walk the full flue system – cap, crown, brick, mortar, liner, damper, firebox – before quoting anything. That top-to-bottom look is what catches the hidden issues most quotes miss: creosote buildup in a bend, a liner crack above the smoke chamber, a flashing gap that’s been quietly letting water in. Once we know what’s there, the estimate lists each repair, the reason it’s needed, and the price for it. Where possible, we’ll tell you what happens if you defer a repair so you can make the call yourself.
For parts and materials, we work with a defined portfolio of professional-grade chimney brands: DuraFlex for flexible liner systems, HeatShield for flue resurfacing, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. These are trade products, not the general-purpose masonry materials sold at a box store. The reason that matters is durability: a chimney liner or crown that’s spec’d for the job lasts, and the one that’s improvised often doesn’t. That’s also why we handle sweep, inspection, and repair under one roof – if the inspection finds something, the same company does the repair. There’s no contractor handoff, no “the sweep told me to call someone else.”
If you want a second look at work another company quoted, we’re happy to inspect and give you a straight comparison. Call (866) 596-7310. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Repair Cost in St. Louis
How much does chimney repair cost in St. Louis?
Most chimney repairs in St. Louis cost between $250 and $1,200. Crown repair runs $350-$900, flashing repair $300-$750, repointing $400-$1,500, and firebox repair $500-$2,000. Liner resurfacing runs $1,200-$2,800 and a full reline $2,500-$5,500. Call (866) 596-7310 for an exact quote – estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a chimney liner?
Repairing is usually cheaper: HeatShield resurfacing at $1,200-$2,800 versus a full DuraFlex reline at $2,500-$5,500. Whether resurfacing is the right call depends on how much sound flue tile remains. If the liner has failed structurally, replacement is the only durable fix. Call (866) 596-7310 and we’ll inspect and tell you which applies.
Can you fix my chimney the same day?
Sometimes. Small repairs like crown sealing, flashing repair, or a damper fix can often be handled the same day as the inspection. Larger jobs – relining, rebuilds, firebox work – usually need to be scheduled. Same-day service is available. Call (866) 596-7310. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
Do I really need an inspection before getting a repair quote?
Yes. A quote without an inspection is a guess. The whole point of the Hawk inspection standard is to walk the full flue system from cap to firebox before quoting, so the estimate reflects what’s actually there. You can’t price a liner crack you haven’t seen. Call (866) 596-7310 for a free estimate.
How much does a chimney rebuild cost in St. Louis?
A chimney rebuild from the roofline up generally starts around $6,000 in St. Louis, and the final figure depends on height, access, and how far down the damage goes. It’s the most expensive repair on the list, and the one most preventable through early crown and mortar work. Call (866) 596-7310 for a free estimate.
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover chimney repair?
Sometimes, depending on the cause. Sudden damage from a lightning strike or a storm is often covered; gradual water damage or deferred maintenance usually isn’t. We can document what we find and work with your insurer on the scope, but coverage is your carrier’s call. Call (866) 596-7310 to schedule an inspection.
Why Homeowners Call Hawk Chimney Sweep for Chimney Repair in St. Louis
We do three things: sweep, inspect, and repair. That’s the whole service – and handling all three means the person who finds the problem is the person who fixes it. A Hawk inspection is a methodical, top-to-bottom look at the full flue system, not a quick pass before the brush goes in. What we find, we document. What needs fixing, we quote in writing before we start. Our technicians have up to 12 years of experience with chimney systems, and we install and work with professional-grade products from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield – not generic substitutes.
Chimney repair in St. Louis starts with a conversation and an inspection. For a closer look at what we do across the full system, see our Hawk Chimney Sweep services or our dedicated chimney repair page. If you’re ready to schedule, call (866) 596-7310 for a free estimate.
Contact Us for a Free Chimney Repair Estimate in St. Louis
Don’t sit on a chimney problem through another St. Louis winter. Call Hawk Chimney Sweep at (866) 596-7310 for a free estimate. We answer 24/7, and we dispatch Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. Every estimate starts with a full inspection and ends with a written price you can plan around. One call, complete chimney care – from cap to firebox.
Pricing reflects the St. Louis market as of 2026. Hawk Chimney Sweep offers free estimates – call (866) 596-7310.
Written by the team at Hawk Chimney Sweep.
What Our Customers Say
"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
- Nathan Schaefer"Work is good and the price was fair. The scheduling was a little loose, the window they gave me was pretty wide and he showed up at the back end of it. Once he was here he was quick and knew what he was doing."
- Jodi Quinn"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
- Danielle Hayes