Chimney repair in Hawthorne CA - a chimney that keeps water out of the house
Water stain on the ceiling by the chimney, or loose brick up top? We find where the water gets in and fix that.
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry crew based in Hawthorne. Most of our calls are crumbling joints, leaky chimneys and walls that are starting to lean, and we're best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls. Chimney repair in Hawthorne and the cities around it gets the same approach as everything else we do, with the prep done first and no shortcuts on the slow parts.
- The owner writes your estimate
- Slow prep, no rushed patches
- Covered up, cleaned as we go
Chimney repair starts at the roof line
Chimney repair fixes the chimney and its flashing, the metal seal where it meets the roof, so water stays out of the house. The call usually comes after a brown stain shows up on the ceiling near the fireplace, or after bits of mortar land on the roof. Most of the leaks we see start where the chimney comes through the roof, so that's where I look first.
Then we talk through whether it needs a flashing fix or a bigger rebuild, and how much old masonry can stay. That decides most of the price, along with the chimney's height, the roof's pitch and how far the joints have gone. If only the mortar's tired, it's closer to tuckpointing. The schedule turns on the same scope plus dry days on the roof, and you get your price in writing after I've seen it.
- Flashing. We strip out failed flashing and set new pieces where the chimney meets the roof, lapped so water runs off instead of in.
- The crown. The crown on top often gets overlooked, but flashing and sealant there keep water out from between the chimney wall and the flue liner.
- Brick and joints. Cracked or flaking brick gets cut out and replaced, the same careful brick repair we do on walls, with mortar matched to the old.
- Rebuilding the top. When the top courses are loose, we take them down to solid brick and lay them back up instead of caulking over the problem.
The chimney work we take on
Chimney repair runs from resetting flashing to rebuilding everything above the roof line. These are the jobs homeowners around Hawthorne call us for most.
Roof leak repair
We trace where the water's getting in, which is usually the flashing, and fix that spot instead of just painting over the stain inside.
Repointing
Soft, sandy joints get ground out and packed with fresh mortar, so rain stops soaking into the brick and working it loose.
Rain caps
A cap over the flue keeps rain and critters out of the chimney, and we replace the ones that have rusted through or blown off.
Firebox repair
Cracked fire brick and loose joints where the fire sits get replaced with fire brick and mortar made to take the heat.
Got a chimney problem that isn't on this list? Call or send photos, and I'll tell you if it's work we take on.
Why chimney repair is worth doing right
A chimney repaired the right way keeps water out of your ceiling and holds its brick together through the rainy months. Done fast and cheap, you usually end up paying for the same chimney twice.
- Metal flashingMetal is the recommended flashing for chimneys, because it stands up to both the heat and the weather up there.
- Mortar that fitsWe match new mortar to the old brick, so the joints give before the brick face does.
- Sound brick keptWe keep the masonry that's still solid, so you're not paying to rebuild brick that's still doing its job.
- Real fixes, not caulkA bead of caulk over a gap is a garnish, not a fix, and it's what we tear out on a lot of chimneys.
How a chimney job goes
I come out and look
You call or send the form, and I come out to look at the chimney and what's around it, like the roof, gutters and downspouts.
You get a written estimate
The price comes in writing and spells out what we're replacing and what stays, so you can hold it up against other quotes.
Prep, work, walk-through
If you go ahead, we prep the site, cover what needs covering inside and out, and clean as we go. When it's done, I walk it with you.
Why Hawthorne calls us for chimneys
A chimney that looks great for a year and leaks the year after is a bad meal with nice plating. I'd rather do the slow prep right than save a day and hand you a problem.
Our own crew does the work
Me or our lead mason runs it. State law lets you ask any contractor for each subcontractor's name, contact information, license number and classification.
You see what I see
I show you photos of the flashing and crown from up top, so you know what's wrong before you decide anything.
A straight answer on the fix
If flashing fixes it, that's what we quote, and if the top needs rebuilding I'll show you why. Call (424) 307-8119 to set up a look.
Chimney repair in Hawthorne and nearby cities
Want fires this winter? The regional wood-burning rule says to stop on No-Burn days from the beginning of November through the end of February, and bans burning anything not meant as fuel. Tell me at the estimate when you want the fireplace back, and we'll plan the work around it.
We're based in Hawthorne and work in the cities around it, like Inglewood and Lawndale, where many of the brick chimneys we see sit on older houses. State earthquake guidance asks owners to look at their home's age and earthquake safety and consider retrofits like chimney bracing, so when we're rebuilding the top anyway, we talk about bracing too.
Tell us about your chimney
Use the form to send photos of the chimney top and roof line and note any leaks. We reply within one business day to book a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
Call (424) 307-8119Chimney repair questions we hear
Why does my chimney leak where it meets the roof?
Usually the flashing there has failed or is missing a piece. Brick industry guidance calls for both base flashing, which turns up from the roof against the brick, and counter flashing, set into the mortar and lapped over it. When you compare quotes for a leak, ask whether each one includes both.
How much of an old brick chimney can stay during a repair?
Anything from most of it to none of it, and one national chimney guide runs the options from capping the chimney at the roof or ceiling to replacing the firebox and chimney with a factory insert and metal flue. Its middle options rebuild above the shoulder, where the chimney narrows, and keep the masonry firebox or add a factory insert.
Who is licensed to repair a masonry chimney in California?
Masonry chimney work falls under California's C-29 Masonry Contractor classification, which covers installing baked clay products, natural and manufactured stone, and fire brick. The state licensing board sets out what that class covers. We're licensed and insured.
How much does chimney repair cost near Hawthorne?
Chimney repair in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $700 to $9,500 per project. Where yours lands turns mostly on whether it's a flashing fix or a rebuild, and how much old masonry stays. I look at it in person, you get your price in writing, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.