Repointing & masonry repair
Cutting out failed mortar and repointing joints so water stops getting into the brickwork.
Most chimney leaks do not start where the water shows up inside. They start at a cracked crown, failed flashing, or open mortar joints, then travel. A repair that only seals the visible spot rarely lasts. We trace the water path first, then repair the source.
Worth a closer look if you notice…
- Mortar joints that are soft, crumbling, or missing chunks
- Bricks that are spalling — faces flaking or popping off
- A crown with visible cracks, or pieces of concrete on the roof or ground
- Water stains inside near the fireplace, especially after rain or snowmelt
- Flashing that is lifted, rusted, or sealed with a thick bead of caulk instead of proper metalwork
If any of that sounds familiar, a call or a form message is the right next step — tell us what you are seeing and we will talk through what to check first.
Call (857) 403-9943Not sure what you are looking at?
A quick call is the fastest way to sort it — tell us what you are seeing and where, and we will talk through what to check first.
Call (857) 403-9943Request a quoteWhat we do
Crown repair & rebuild
Fixing cracked crowns, or rebuilding a crown that has broken apart, so water sheds instead of soaking in.
Flashing repair
Resealing or replacing the metal flashing at the roofline — one of the most common leak sources, and one of the most often misdiagnosed.
Liner repair & replacement
Dealing with cracked, collapsed, or undersized liners that hurt draft and put masonry at risk.
Chimney cap & damper replacement
Replacing missing, rusted, or damaged caps and dampers that let in rain, animals, and cold air.
Partial & full rebuilds
When the top courses are too far gone to patch, rebuilding them properly rather than stacking quick fixes.
How it works
- Tell us what is going on. Call or send the form below with what you are seeing, where, and how long it has been happening.
- We take a proper look. We assess the system in person, take photos where it helps, and explain what we found in plain language.
- You get a clear plan. What needs doing now, what can wait, and what it will involve — before any work starts.
What this kind of work looks like
Photos showing the kinds of places and details involved — not a single job, just what to look for around the house.
Tips & tricks from the trade
Stuff worth knowing whether you hire us or not — the kind of things that save homeowners money and headaches when they are caught early.
Trace the leak before you seal it
Water inside near a chimney can come from the crown, the flashing, the masonry, or the roof around it. Sealing the first thing you see usually misses the real entry point.
Repointing is not just new mortar on top
Good repointing means grinding out the failed joint to a proper depth and packing in new mortar. Smearing a thin coat over bad joints peels off in a season or two.
Caulk is not flashing
A bead of caulk around a chimney base is a temporary patch, not a repair. Proper flashing is bent metal, layered so water runs off the roof, not under it.
Watch spalling after winter
Bricks that flake after a hard winter have been soaking up water. It is a sign the crown, cap, or mortar is letting water in, and it gets worse with each freeze.
Do not paint a damaged chimney to hide it
Paint traps moisture inside brick that is already wet, which speeds up spalling. Fix the water entry first, then worry about how it looks.
Small crown cracks are cheap; ignored ones are not
A hairline crack sealed early is a small job. Left alone, water gets in, freezes, and turns a crack into a rebuild.
Ask what the repair is supposed to stop
A good repair has a clear job: stop water here, restore draft there, stabilize this section. If nobody can say what the repair fixes, it is probably not the right one.
Questions people actually ask
Can you just patch a cracked chimney?
Sometimes, yes — a small mortar or crown crack can be repaired cleanly. But if the masonry is soft, spalling, or leaning, patching over it hides the problem rather than fixing it. An honest assessment will say which one yours is.
Why does the leak only show up in heavy rain?
Light rain may not reach the failed joint or get past the flashing. Heavy, wind-driven rain finds every gap. That is why a leak that seems intermittent is still a real leak.
How long does a repointing job last?
Properly done repointing should last many years. How long depends on the mortar mix, the condition of the brick, and whether the water source — crown, cap, flashing — was fixed at the same time.
Is a rebuild ever really necessary?
When the top of the chimney is structurally unsound — bricks loose, mortar gone, sections shifting — rebuilding those courses is safer and, in the long run, cheaper than repeated patching.
Will repairs change how the fireplace drafts?
Repairs to the crown, cap, and liner can improve draft, especially if a blockage or a damaged liner was part of the problem. If draft is your main complaint, say so up front so it gets checked, not just the masonry.
Service area
We serve Quincy, MA and nearby South Shore communities. If you are just outside that area, call anyway and ask — we will tell you straight whether we cover your town.
Prefer to talk it through first?
Call before you fill in the form and we will take the details directly.
Call (857) 403-9943Request a quote
Call (857) 403-9943, or use the form and we will call you back. Tell us as much as you can about the job — location in the house, what you are seeing, and anything you have already tried.