Chimney repair in Santa Maria CA - a chimney that keeps the rain out of your house
A stain by the fireplace or loose bricks up top? We find where water gets in and fix the cause, not just the stain.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
The chimney repair work we do
Flashing at the roof line
We reseal the joint where the roof meets the chimney, with base flashing under the shingles and counter flashing set into the brick, so rain runs off instead of in.
Crown repair up top
The crown is the cap of concrete or mortar on top of the chimney. When it cracks, rain soaks down into the chimney, so we repair or reseal it.
Why is my chimney leaking, and what will it take to fix?
Chimney repair in Santa Maria usually means finding where water gets into your chimney and sealing it there, most often at the flashing where the roof meets the brick or at the crown on top, so the water stops reaching your ceiling, walls and fireplace.
Most people call us after they spot a stain near the fireplace, smell damp brick after a rain, or see the mortar up top going soft. The price turns on how far the water has gotten, whether the flashing only needs resealing or the crown needs real repair, and how many bricks and joints have worn out along the way. The schedule turns on what we find once the old flashing comes off and whether the job needs a permit. I look at it myself, and you get a written outline of the work, so you know what you're paying for before we start.
Chimney repair, from the roof line up
Most chimney trouble we see is water, so I check the flashing at the roof line and the crown up top, not just the spot that's leaking, before I say what the job needs.
Tracing the water
We follow the stain back up through the attic and onto the roof, because water often gets in well above where it shows.
Worn joints and bricks
We rake out sandy joints and pack in new mortar with tuckpointing, and cracked or flaking bricks get brick repair before anything is sealed.
Flashing and crown
We reseal or replace the flashing at the roof line and repair the crown, since that's where most of the leaks we see start.
Cleanup
We clear old mortar, flashing scraps and dust off your roof and out of your yard before we call the job done.
Why homeowners pick Keystone in Santa Maria
I grew up on a family farm where broken things got fixed that week and a quick patch rarely held. I learned masonry on other crews, and I run ours the same way. We fix the cause, not just the part you can see.
I look at every chimney myself
The person who sizes up your chimney is the one who answers for the work. I come out to every job, and I'm on site with our crew while it gets done.
Licensed and insured for every job
We're licensed and insured. Ask about it when I come out, and I'll show you the details before anyone from our crew climbs onto your roof.
We tell you when it can wait
We started here in 2023 on a rule from the farm. If your chimney only needs resealing, or a small crack can wait, I'll say so instead of selling you more.
What happens after you call about your chimney?
We plan the job around your house and what the chimney actually needs. Once you say go, our crew does the work with me on site, and I walk the finished chimney with you.
or call (805) 268-7499
Call or send the form
Call (805) 268-7499 or use the form on this page, and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a stain, a drip or loose brick up top.
I come out and look
I come out myself, check the flashing, the crown and the brick, and tell you plainly what I see and what I'd do about it.
Your written estimate
You get a written outline of the work. If a permit is needed we handle it, and the city's review time varies with the job, the plans and its workload.
A free written estimate for your chimney and flashing
Tell us the chimney's age, where you've seen water and any sale or relining you're planning, or call (805) 268-7499. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
Chimney repair questions we hear
How much does chimney repair cost in Santa Maria?
Chimney repair in Santa Barbara, California usually costs about $650 to $9,000 per project. That spread is mostly scope, since resealing flashing sits near the low end and rebuilding much of a chimney sits near the top. Your estimate gives you a written outline of what yours needs.
What causes a chimney to leak into the house?
Most chimney leaks start at the flashing where the roof meets the chimney or at the crown on top, and the crown is the spot people overlook most. Water that gets past the crown runs into the gap between the brick wall and the flue liner, the inner pipe that carries smoke, so it can show up far from where it got in. If you have a stain near the fireplace, ask to have the crown checked too.
When should I get a Level 2 chimney inspection?
A chimney sweeps' trade group recommends a Level 2 inspection when a home is sold, before relining, or after a chimney fire or a bad storm. It includes a video scan or a similar look inside the chimney, past what anyone can see from the roof. If you're selling or relining, book that inspection before the repair so the work matches what's inside.
How do I get my chimney ready for a new liner?
One liner maker recommends having a certified chimney sweep clean and inspect the chimney first, so the mortar and masonry get checked before relining. Another maker's guide warns that chimneys are usually very sooty and dusty and advises removing or covering furniture and rugs. If the sweep finds worn joints or brick, we can repair those before the liner goes in.
Who issues building permits in Santa Maria?
The City of Santa Maria's Building Division issues building permits, and its permit counter is at 110 S. Pine St., Room 101. You can call the city's Building office when you're planning your schedule around a permit.
What does a masonry contractor license cover in California?
California's contractor board describes a masonry class that installs stone and fire brick, and it covers the waterproofing, cleaning and caulking that come with that masonry work. Once you hire someone, state rules say any change to a home improvement contract has to be in writing, easy to read, and tell you about your right to cancel.
Other work around your chimney
Tuckpointing
If the mortar between your bricks rubs out like sand, fresh joints stop water from soaking into the wall and the house behind it.
Explore TuckpointingBrick repair
Bricks that crack, chip or flake on the face let water in fast, and swapping out the bad ones keeps the wall around them sound.
Explore Brick repairMasonry restoration
When an older chimney, wall or fireplace front has worn all over, restoration brings back the brick, stone and joints together instead of one patch at a time.
Explore Masonry restoration
Chimney repair in Santa Maria and nearby
The city's permit list covers work involving electrical, mechanical, plumbing or putting up walls, and it names roofing but not chimney repair, so that list alone doesn't settle whether your chimney job needs a permit. When a job does need one, we handle it with the building office for your address and build to the approved plans. If it isn't clear, we check with that office before we start.
We're based in Santa Maria and work in the cities around it, and older brick chimneys here take a lot of fog and wind off the coast. We see the same worn crowns and loose flashing on jobs in Orcutt and Nipomo.