Chimney repair in Corona, CA - a chimney that keeps water out and stays put
Water stains by the fireplace, loose brick up top or a cracked crown? We find where water gets in and fix that spot properly.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does chimney repair in Corona involve?
Chimney repair in Corona means finding where water or age is getting into your chimney, usually at the crown on top, the flashing along the roof line or the base, and fixing that spot so the brick and mortar stop breaking down.
At Keystone Corona Masonry and Concrete, most chimney calls start with a water stain on a ceiling near the fireplace or a crumbling joint someone spots from the yard. The price turns on how far the damage has gone, whether it's a crown and flashing fix or loose brick that has to come down and be relaid, and whether you want an earthquake retrofit on an older chimney. The schedule turns on the same things plus any permit and inspection, and once I've looked the chimney over, the written estimate spells out exactly what the work includes.
How do you know your chimney needs repair?
Stains near the fireplace
Brown marks on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney usually mean water is getting past the flashing where the chimney meets the roof. The longer it runs, the more drywall and framing it soaks, and a small flashing job turns into an inside repair too.
Cracked or crumbling crown
If the slab on top of the chimney is cracked or you find pieces of it on the roof, rain is dropping straight down into the brick. Every storm after that soaks the masonry below and washes out more mortar.
Loose or leaning brick up top
Bricks you can wiggle, gaps in the joints near the top or a chimney that looks out of line with the house mean the mortar has let go. That's something I'd want to see soon, because loose brick only gets looser and costs more to relay the longer it sits.
Our chimney repair work, from flashing to a quake retrofit
I start on the roof and look over the crown, the base and the flashing along the roof line, since that's where water usually gets in. Then our crew works from the top down. We patch or recast the crown so it sheds water, cut out failed mortar, reset or replace the flashing, and relay any loose brick, matching the brick and mortar color to what's already there so the repair fits your house. On an older brick chimney I'll also talk through with you whether a quake retrofit is worth doing, because that's a bigger decision than a leak fix and I'd rather you make it with the facts in front of you.
Chimney trouble often shows up on the rest of the house too. When the joints are worn but the brick is sound, tuckpointing brings the mortar back without taking anything apart, and when bricks are cracked or flaking, brick repair replaces them with ones that match.
Flashing and crown repair
This suits a chimney that's solid but leaks at the roof line or has a cracked slab on top. We fix the spot that's letting water in, which is usually the simplest way to stop the damage before it reaches the brick.
Earthquake retrofit for older brick
This suits an older brick chimney built without steel inside, where a quake is a bigger worry than a leak. FEMA's chimney retrofit plans range from capping the chimney at the roof or ceiling to rebuilding it above the shoulder, where it narrows, and the choice turns on whether you keep the brick firebox that holds the fire or move to a factory-built insert and metal flue.
Your chimney, looked over and priced in writing
Send us a message and we'll reply within one business day, by phone or by message, whichever way you reached us. I'll come out, look the chimney over with you and give you a free written estimate of what the work includes. There's no obligation to go ahead.
(951) 393-1203Chimney repair in Corona, and what changes the job here
Whether your chimney repair needs a permit depends on the work, and I won't guess at it. When one's needed, we pull it through the city's eTRAKiT site, where applications and fees are handled online without a trip to City Hall, then set up the inspections and meet the inspector on site. If it isn't clear what applies to your chimney, we ask the city before we start.
Winter is when most people here light the fireplace, and it's also when the South Coast air district curtails wood burning on No-Burn days, from the start of November through the end of February, when fine-particle pollution is forecast to run high. That's one reason spring through fall is a good time to get chimney work done. The district has also proposed letting owners rebuild wood-burning fireplaces damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, though for now that's only a proposal. We're based in Corona and work across the cities around it, and we see the same older brick chimneys on jobs in Riverside and Norco.
What happens after you call about your chimney in Corona?
Call or send a message
Call (951) 393-1203 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a stain, a leak or loose brick. We'll set a time that works for you.
I look at the chimney
I come out, check the crown, the flashing and the base, and go over what I find with you. You get a written estimate that lists the work and the price, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We handle permits and work
If a permit is needed we take care of it, and our crew does the work while I check it as it goes. Corona's Building Division books inspections online for Monday through Thursday, and a Friday inspection takes a phone call and is only for an unusual situation or hardship, so we plan the work around those days.
Walk the finished chimney together
Before we pack up, we walk the finished job with you, outside at the roof line and inside by the fireplace. We clean up the mortar and brick dust we made.
Frequently asked questions
How much does chimney repair cost near Corona?
Chimney repair in nearby Riverside usually costs about $550 to $7,800 per project. That's the area's going rate, not our price, and the low end is usually a smaller fix like a crown or flashing while the high end is work that takes brick down and rebuilds it. Your own figure comes from the written estimate after I've seen the chimney.
Can my old brick chimney fall in an earthquake?
Yes, an unreinforced masonry chimney, one built without steel inside, can fall in an earthquake onto people outside or onto people inside the house. A retrofit lowers that risk, so if your chimney is older brick, it's worth treating the repair as a safety choice and not only a leak fix.
Which flashing is best for a brick chimney?
Metal flashing, because masonry trade guidance recommends it for chimneys for how well it stands up to heat and weather. Aluminum shouldn't be used as flashing in brick, because the alkalis in fresh mortar attack it. It's fair to ask any crew which metal they plan to use.
How do I get a permit for chimney repair in Corona?
When your job needs one, we get it for you through the city's online system, so you don't have to apply yourself. If it isn't clear whether your repair needs a permit, the City of Corona is the office to ask, and we check with them before we start.
How long does chimney repair take?
It mostly comes down to how much brick has to come off. A crown and flashing fix is a much shorter job than rebuilding the top of a chimney, and if a permit is involved, the city's inspection days set part of the schedule.
How do I get my room ready for chimney work?
Move or cover the furniture and rugs near the fireplace, because chimneys are usually very sooty and dusty inside. One liner maker advises exactly that before a chimney is cleaned or relined, and I'd rather you clear the room than find soot on a rug later.
Corona, CA
Request your chimney repair estimate today
Take a few photos of your chimney before you call (951) 393-1203 or fill out the form, since they help me plan the visit and may help the city's building review if a permit is needed.