- Licensed & Insured
- Free Estimates
- Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 6 PM
Serving Yonkers & Southern Westchester, NY
Chimney Rebuilding in Yonkers, NY for Leaning and Crumbling Chimneys
Brick Pointing Yonkers, NY rebuilds chimneys that lean, crumble or have pulled away from the house. We take the failed brick down by hand to sound masonry, save what can be reused, and lay the chimney back up with matched brick, new flashing, a concrete crown and a cap, at the height the code requires.
- Licensed & insured
- 10+ years in Yonkers
- Free estimates · Mon–Fri 8–6
Built to the 3-2-10 rule
New height set to clear nearby ridges and walls
Fix It or Take It Down? How We Decide on a Chimney Rebuild
Most chimneys we look at can be repaired. A rebuild is for the ones that cannot, and the signs are usually clear once someone is on the roof.
Fixing in place works when…
- The chimney stands straight
- Only the crown, cap or flashing has failed
- A few bricks are spalled
- Joints are worn but the brick is bonded
- The chimney is tight to the house
Rebuilding is needed when…
- The chimney leans or twists
- The top courses are loose and can be lifted by hand
- Many bricks crumble or have lost their faces
- Mortar is gone deep into the stack
- A gap has opened between the chimney and the wall
When the left column fits, our chimney repair service is the better, cheaper route. We tell you honestly which side you are on.
Signs a Chimney in Yonkers Needs Rebuilding
Leaning or bowed stack: visible when you line the chimney up with a corner of the house.
Gap at the house wall: an exterior chimney pulling away, often from settlement at its base.
Loose top courses: bricks at the top that rock or have already fallen onto the roof.
Crumbling brick: soft brick that breaks in your hand, usually after years of water through a missing crown.
Storm or impact damage: a chimney hit by a tree limb or shaken loose by high winds.
Layers of failed patches: tar, foam and mismatched mortar stacked over old damage.
Safety first: a leaning chimney can fall onto a roof or walkway. If yours is moving, keep people clear of it and call us.
How Much of the Chimney Comes Down in a Rebuild
Rebuilding does not always mean the whole chimney. We take down only as far as the damage goes.
Top rebuild
The crown and the top few courses come off and go back up. Common where a missing crown let water into the top of the stack.
Rebuild above the roofline
Everything above the roof is taken down and relaid, with new flashing and crown. The most common chimney rebuild.
Full rebuild
The chimney comes down to the firebox, the base or the footing. Used for exterior chimneys that have separated from the house or settled.
Rebuilt to New York’s Chimney Height Rule
A rebuild is the moment to correct a chimney that was built too short. New York’s residential code is based on the 2018 International Residential Code (NY Department of State). That model code requires a masonry chimney to stand at least 3 feet above where it passes through the roof, and at least 2 feet higher than any part of the building within 10 feet (IRC text, Rumford). Builders call this the 3-2-10 rule.
A chimney that is too short draws poorly and can push smoke back into the house. When we rebuild, we measure nearby ridges, dormers and walls, and set the new height to clear them.
The 3-2-10 rule
3 ft
minimum height
above the point where the chimney passes through the roof
2 ft
higher than
than any part of the building within 10 feet
10 ft
measured
horizontally from the chimney to nearby roofs, dormers and walls
Our Chimney Rebuilding Process in Yonkers
Nine steps, in this order, on every chimney we rebuild.
1
Survey and photograph
We count courses, record the bond pattern and corbel details, and measure the height rule.
2
Check the flue
We recommend a chimney sweep inspects the flue first, so any liner needs are known up front.
3
Protect the house
Roofs, gutters and plantings are covered, and the fireplace opening is sealed inside against dust.
4
Take down by hand
Brick comes off course by course and is lowered, never thrown or dropped down the flue.
5
Save good brick
Sound bricks are cleaned for reuse; the shortfall is matched with reclaimed brick.
6
Relay the chimney
Brick goes back in the original pattern, with flue tiles set as the sweep recommends.
7
Flash it properly
New step flashing and counterflashing are tied into the roofing.
8
Crown and cap
A concrete crown with an overhang and drip edge, then a cap on each flue.
9
Clean up and hand over
Debris removed, roof checked, and before and after photos shared.
Matching the Original Chimney in Yonkers
A rebuilt chimney should look like it was always there. We keep the original brick wherever it is sound, find reclaimed brick for the rest, and copy details such as corbelled tops and decorative courses.
Mortar is matched in color and mixed to suit the brick, softer for old brick, as covered on our brick replacement page. The result is a chimney that matches the house from the street and lasts on the roof.
- Original brick reused where sound
- Corbels and decorative courses copied
- Mortar matched in color and strength
Taking Down an Unused Chimney Instead of Rebuilding
Some owners do not need the chimney anymore. If the flue is no longer used, we can take the chimney down below the roofline, close the roof deck for your roofer, and cap what remains.
It removes a maintenance item for good. We confirm with you first that no appliance still vents through it.
Chimney Rebuilding With Your Roofer and Chimney Sweep
Chimney rebuilding touches three trades. The sweep checks and lines the flue. We rebuild the masonry and install the chimney flashing. Your roofer handles the roof covering around it.
We set the order of work with them so the roof is opened once and closed once. Some rebuilds need a permit; see brick wall rebuilding for how Yonkers permits work.
What Affects the Scope of a Chimney Rebuild in Yonkers
We price after inspecting the chimney, and the estimate is free. These six things decide the size of the job.
Rebuild level: top, above the roofline or full
Chimney size and number of flues
Roof pitch, height and access
Brick that can be reused vs brick to match
Extra height needed to meet the 3-2-10 rule
Flue liner work by the sweep and roofing around the chimney
Chimney Rebuilding for Yonkers Homes, Multifamily Buildings and Storefronts
Homes
Fireplace chimneys above sloped roofs and exterior chimneys on side walls, rebuilt with the yard and plantings protected.
Multifamily buildings
Tall boiler stacks on flat roofs, rebuilt with roof protection, safe staging and notice to tenants.
Storefronts
Chimneys on mixed-use buildings, rebuilt in stages with the shop below kept open.
Chimneys that rise near a roof edge often share problems with it; see parapet wall repair. We also cover Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Bronxville, Hastings-on-Hudson and Scarsdale.
Related Masonry Services in Yonkers
Services that often come before, after or alongside a chimney rebuild.
Crowns, caps, flashing and joints on a chimney that still stands straight.
Wall sections that bulge or lean, and how Yonkers permits work.
Chimney Rebuilding FAQs for Yonkers Property Owners
What owners ask us before a chimney comes down.
Can you rebuild only the part of the chimney above the roof?
Yes, and it is the most common rebuild. If the chimney below the roof is sound, we take down and relay only the part above it.
Can my old bricks be reused?
Usually some can. We take them down by hand and reuse the sound ones. Any shortfall is made up with reclaimed brick matched to the original.
Will my rebuilt chimney need to be taller?
It might. A rebuilt chimney should meet the height rule: 3 feet above the roof where it passes through, and 2 feet higher than anything within 10 feet. Older chimneys sometimes fall short.
Can an unused chimney be taken down instead?
Yes. If nothing vents through it, we can remove it below the roofline and prepare the roof to be closed. We check with you that no appliance still uses it.
Do I need a new flue liner when the chimney is rebuilt?
That is for your chimney sweep to decide after inspecting the flue. A rebuild is the easiest time to install one, so we plan the work together.
What happens to my roof and fireplace during the rebuild?
We protect the roof around the chimney and seal the fireplace opening inside. Do not use the fireplace until the rebuild, crown and cap are finished and the flue has been checked.
Get a Free Chimney Rebuilding Estimate in Yonkers
Is your chimney leaning or falling apart at the top? Call us or send photos, and we will tell you how far it needs to come down.