Estimate sweep, cap, crown, tuckpointing, reline, flashing, or full above-roofline rebuild. 2026 data; not a contractor bid.
| Item | Quantity | Estimated range |
|---|
Got a contractor quote? Compare it to the planning range.
What this is: a planning-range chimney calculator informed by CSIA / NFI certified-sweep pricing, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse, and licensed cost-estimating references.
Labor is modeled from per-unit installed rates with a crew-rate sanity check ($75-$140/crew-hr loaded billing rate), informed by BLS OEWS 47-2021 (Brickmasons / Blockmasons).
Last updated: May 2026. Full methodology →
| Scope | Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Annual sweep + level-1 inspection | $200-$500 | 1-2 hours |
| Cap + crown patch + waterproof | $1,200-$3,500 | 1 day |
| Tuckpointing (full chimney) | $1,500-$4,500 | 2-3 days |
| Stainless reline (25 LF) | $1,800-$4,500 | 1-2 days |
| Above-roofline rebuild | $5,000-$15,000 | 3-5 days |
| Full chimney rebuild (top to footing) | $10,000-$30,000+ | 1-2 weeks |
"Chimney work" spans a 100x price range, so matching the fix to the problem matters:
Most chimney problems are water problems — a $400 cap and sealer now prevents a $10,000 rebuild later.
The liner is what keeps heat and combustion gases off the masonry — a cracked or missing one is a chimney-fire and carbon-monoxide risk, not a cosmetic issue:
A routine level-1 sweep ($200–$500) covers a chimney in normal annual use. Pay for a level-2 video inspection ($352–$600) at the moments that actually matter: after a chimney fire, when buying or selling a home, or when you change appliances (say, adding a wood stove). The camera finds cracked flue tiles and hidden gaps a flashlight sweep misses — exactly the defects that cause fires. While the masonry is exposed, a water-repellent sealer ($470–$800) is cheap insurance against the freeze-thaw cracking that drives most rebuilds.
Annual sweep + level-1 inspection: $200-$500. Stainless cap install: $300-$1,000. Crown patch: $400-$1,500. Tuckpointing: $15-$40 per square foot of mortar. Stainless reline (25 LF): $1,500-$4,500. Above-roofline rebuild: $5,000-$15,000+.
Reline if: switching fuel (e.g. wood-burning to gas), liner is cracked or missing tiles, you've had a chimney fire, or the inspection shows breaches. Stainless flex liner is the modern standard ($30-$80/LF + install). Clay tile is the traditional masonry option. Cast-in-place is premium long-life.
Wood-burning fireplaces and stoves: annually, before the heating season, or after every cord burned. Gas: every 1-3 years. Pellet stoves: annually plus mid-season ash cleaning. Always pair the sweep with a level-1 inspection.
Wood: annually before heating season. Gas: every 1-3 yr. Always pair with level-1 inspection.
Always cap a chimney. $300-$1k all-in keeps animals out, prevents downdrafts, blocks rain entry.
No, except for a basic cleaning swept by a CSIA-certified sweep. All structural / liner / flashing work is pro work for code and safety.
An annual sweep is $200-$500. Cap, crown, and waterproofing run $1,200-$3,500; full tuckpointing $1,500-$4,500; a stainless reline about $1,800-$4,500. A major rebuild is $5,000-$30,000+ depending on how much is taken down.
Yes if the liner is cracked, deteriorated, or missing - it is a fire and carbon-monoxide safeguard, not optional. A stainless steel reline runs about $1,800-$4,500 for a typical 25-foot run and works with gas, wood, or oil.
At least once a year if you use it regularly, at $200-$500 for a sweep plus a level-1 inspection. Get a more thorough level-2 video inspection ($352-$600) after a chimney fire, before buying a home, or when changing appliances.
