Chimney repair in Madison AL - a sound crown and tight joints that keep water out
Crumbling joints, a cracked crown or a water stain near the chimney? We find what's letting water in and fix that part right.
Repointing worn joints
We cut out crumbling mortar and pack in fresh mortar.
Crown coating or replacement
We coat a sound crown and replace one that's breaking up.
Flashing at the roof
We check and redo the metal seal where chimney meets roof.
Mortar matched to brick
Mixed to suit your chimney's brick in strength and color.
What does chimney repair in Madison involve?
Chimney repair in Madison, AL fixes the parts of a chimney that wear out first, usually the mortar joints, the concrete crown on top and the flashing at the roof, so water stays out of the brick and out of your house. Repointing a few joints or coating a crown moves faster than a new crown, because new concrete needs time to cure.
The most common job is repointing, the chimney version of tuckpointing. We cut the worn mortar out of the joints and pack in new mortar mixed to match your brick. The crown is the concrete cap that sheds rain off the top, and its condition decides whether you pay for a coating or a new one.
Price moves with how many joints need cutting out, whether the crown gets coated or replaced, how tall the chimney stands and whether flashing or a liner is part of it. The schedule turns on materials, on what the city or county asks for and on cure time if there's new concrete. I look it over in person and give you the price in writing.
- Joints packed solid with matched mortar
- A straight answer on coat or replace
- Flashing sealed where chimney meets roof
- A written price before work starts
How do you know your chimney needs repair?
It's worth a closer look when something changes, because most chimney trouble starts with water getting into the mortar, the crown or the roof line.
Crumbling or sandy mortar
If you can scrape the joints with a key or see gaps between bricks, water is getting into the chimney.
Cracks across the crown
The concrete cap on top cracks with age, and the rain that gets through works its way down into the brick.
Pieces missing up top
Chunks of crown or brick in the gutter or on the roof mean the cap is breaking up, not just cracked.
A stain on the ceiling or wall
A water mark inside near the chimney usually points to the flashing at the roof line or a crown that's letting go.
White streaks on the brick
Chalky white streaks on the outside mean water is moving through the brick and leaving salts behind as it dries.
Loose or flaking bricks
Brick faces that flake off, or bricks that shift under your hand, need brick repair before the damage spreads to their neighbors.
Ask for a chimney estimate
Tell us what your chimney serves and any crown cracks you've seen. We reply within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation.
What I check on a chimney repair visit
I get up close on the crown, the mortar joints and the flashing before I recommend anything, because the right fix is the one that matches the actual damage.
The crown
I check whether it's cracked but whole or breaking up with pieces gone. If it can be saved I'll say so, and if it can't, just as straight.
Mortar joints
I scrape and tap the joints from top to bottom to see how deep the wear goes and how much has to come out.
Flashing at the roof
The metal where the chimney passes through the roof keeps water out of your house, so I check that it's tight and sealed into the brick.
What the flue serves
Wood, gas and a newer furnace each ask something different of a flue, so I ask what yours vents before we talk about liners.
What a chimney repair job looks like with us
We plan the work around your house and your schedule, so you know what's being fixed, what it costs and what the city wants before anyone sets up a ladder.
You call or write
Call (256) 289-8018 or send a note through the form, and we'll set a time for me to come see the chimney.
I look it over
I come out myself, get up close on the chimney and tell you what I see and what I'd do about it.
Price in writing
You get the price in writing, and the contract spells out the scope and price before anything gets filed.
We do the work
Once you say go, we check what the city or county office asks for, line up materials and do the masonry ourselves.
We walk it together
When the work's done, we go over the finished job with you and show you what we fixed up top.
Why Madison homeowners call Advanced Madison Concrete and Masonry for chimney repair
I learned masonry under a boss who made me tear out any course that wasn't right and lay it again. That's still how we run chimney jobs.
The owner comes out
I look at your chimney myself and work on the crew alongside our masons, so whoever quoted it is on the job.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to show you the paperwork before you sign anything.
The smaller fix when it works
If coating the crown or repointing a few courses solves it, that's what I'll tell you instead of selling a rebuild.
Running jobs since 2023
I started this business in 2023 to do the work the way I was trained, and my name goes on every chimney.
Chimney repair in Madison and the cities around it
Madison requires permits for all mechanical and gas work and most alterations, and its list names new roofs, siding and windows but not chimney repair, so we ask the City of Madison about your job before work starts. When a permit's needed, we handle the paperwork, which starts with you signing a contract that states the scope and the price.
In Alabama, the Home Builders Licensure Board covers home repair where labor and materials together run over $10,000, and homeowners who claim the owner's exemption risk losing the board's complaint process and its recovery fund. We're based in Madison and do the same chimney work in Huntsville, Decatur, Athens and the cities around them, much of it on older brick.
Got a chimney in Madison that needs a closer look?
(256) 289-8018Chimney repair questions we hear
How much does chimney repair cost near Madison, AL?
Chimney repair in the Huntsville area usually costs about $500 to $6,000 per project. Where yours lands depends on how much mortar comes out, whether the crown is coated or replaced and whether flashing or a liner is involved. I'll give you your own price in writing after I've seen it.
Can a cracked chimney crown be coated instead of replaced?
Yes, if the crown has some cracking but no missing pieces and solid support underneath, chimney trade guidance says it can take a coating. If it's broken into pieces, has big chunks gone or won't hold a coating anymore, it needs replacing. Crack patches made with tar or silicone sealant fail, so ask any crew what product they plan to use.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
At least once a year, according to the national fire safety standard, with cleaning, maintenance and repairs as needed. That goes for gas furnace chimneys too, because bird nests and other debris can block the flue.
Do I need a permit for chimney repair in Madison?
The city's permit list doesn't name chimney repair, so we check with the city on your job before we start, as covered above. If one's needed, we take care of the paperwork once you've signed a contract with the scope and price.
What causes a chimney to leak into the house?
Most leaks come in through the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, a cracked crown or worn mortar joints. Mason trade guidance calls for base and counter flashing at the roof, which are two layers of metal that overlap so water can't get behind them. I check all three before saying which one is your problem.
How do I pick a liner when relining a wood-burning chimney?
Plan on an insulated liner, because chimney safety guidance says liners for wood stoves and other solid-fuel appliances need insulation. If you've got a newer furnace on an old flue, ask whether that flue suits it, since modern furnaces can have trouble venting through flues built for older ones.
Get your Madison chimney looked at
Call or use the form, tell us what your chimney burns and what you've seen up top, and know the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.