Chimney Rebuilds
Chimney Rebuilds
Above the roofline is where chimneys die.
Chimney Rebuilds and Crown Repair in Lexington, KY
Chimneys fail from the top down. The section above the roofline is exposed on all four sides, takes the full freeze-thaw cycle, and has a concrete crown on top that cracks long before anyone thinks to look at it. By the time a chimney is visibly leaning, water has usually been getting in for years.
The crown is the roof of the chimney
A proper crown is a cast concrete slab that overhangs the brick with a drip edge, sloped so water runs off and away. What many Lexington houses have instead is a thin skim of mortar troweled flush to the brick edge — which cracks within a few years and then funnels water straight down into the masonry.
Rebuilding a crown correctly is one of the highest-value small masonry repairs there is, because it stops the process that destroys everything below it.
When a rebuild beats a repair
- Brick spalling — faces popping off — over a significant area
- Joints open enough to see daylight or push mortar out by hand
- A visible lean or a stepped crack running down the stack
- Crown cracked through, with staining down the brick beneath it
- Interior damage on the ceiling or wall where the chimney passes through
Rebuild to the roofline, or all the way down
Most rebuilds we do are from the roofline up, because that is the section taking the weather. The masonry below is protected by the house and is often perfectly sound.
A full-height rebuild is a much larger job and is warranted where there is structural movement, a failed foundation under the stack, or damage running the whole height.
Flashing is where chimney leaks actually come from
A great many “chimney leaks” are not masonry problems at all — they are failed step flashing and counterflashing where the chimney passes through the roof. Sealing that joint with roof cement is a temporary fix that hardens, cracks, and leaks again.
Proper counterflashing is let into a cut reglet in the mortar joint rather than caulked to the brick face. We coordinate that with the roofing rather than smearing sealant on it.
Common questions
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government publishes local government services and contact information for the area.
How do I know if my crown is bad?
From the ground with binoculars you can often see cracking or a crown that sits flush with the brick instead of overhanging it. Staining running down the brick just below the crown is the other giveaway.
Can a leaning chimney be straightened?
Generally not — a leaning stack is rebuilt rather than pushed back. The lean means the masonry or its support has already failed.
Do you handle the flashing too?
We handle the masonry side and coordinate the flashing detail so the counterflashing is properly let into the joint rather than surface-sealed.
My chimney is unused. Can it just be removed?
Yes, and it is a common request. It can be taken down to the roofline and capped, or removed entirely, which involves framing and roofing work where it passed through.
Wondering whether your chimney’s offset is normal? See our guide: do chimneys have to go straight up?
Related: storm & hail damage · chimney repair · repointing · cost guide · the 3-2-10 height rule. Back to Lexington Masonry Pros.
Lexington Masonry Pros · Serving Lexington, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Versailles & Fayette County, KY · Call or text (859) 310-1209
Last updated August 2026
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