Chimney & fireplace
Chimney Rebuild Cost Calculator
Prices a rebuild, where how far down you go is the whole question.
Result
A planning estimate, not a quote. Access, the age of the equipment, what is found once it is opened up and local labour rates all move the real figure, sometimes a long way.
Get a Free Business AuditHow the calculation works
Hours times crew times rate, plus materials and the call-out, driven by how much of the stack comes down. A rebuild above the roofline is the common case: take the masonry down to sound material, rebuild in matching brick, form a new crown and reflash. A rebuild from the roofline down, or from the firebox up, is substantially more because it involves working inside the building, supporting the structure and often rebuilding the flue as well.
What moves the number
- How far down the deterioration goes, which sets the scope.
- Whether the work is above or below the roofline.
- Brick matching, which on an older building may mean reclaimed material.
- Whether the flue is being rebuilt or relined at the same time.
Where this one goes wrong
Decide the stopping point from sound masonry rather than from the budget. Rebuilding down to material that is itself deteriorating means the new work sits on a failing base and the joint between them becomes the next failure. Probe below the obvious damage. Scaffolding is the cost people underestimate: safe access to a chimney above a roof is staging rather than a ladder, and on a steep or tall roof it can be a significant share of the job, which is also an argument for doing the crown, cap and flashing in the same visit while the access exists. Matching brick on an older house is worth discussing before starting.
Before you quote
- Probe below the visible damage to find genuinely sound masonry.
- Price proper staging rather than assuming ladder access.
- Do crown, cap and flashing while the access is up.
- Agree brick matching with the owner before ordering.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
How far down does a chimney rebuild go?
To sound masonry, which has to be found by probing rather than assumed from what is visible. Rebuilding onto material that is itself deteriorating means the junction becomes the next failure. Above the roofline is the common scope; going below it is substantially more work.
Why is scaffolding such a large part of the cost?
Because safe work on a chimney above a roof needs staging rather than a ladder, and erecting it on a tall or steep roof is real work. It is also why doing the crown, cap and flashing during the same visit is good value, since the access is already paid for.
Will the new brick match?
Closely at best, and rarely exactly on an older house, because brick colour and texture have changed and the existing masonry has weathered. Reclaimed brick is sometimes available and costs more. It is worth agreeing expectations before the work rather than after.
The formula
total = hours x people x rate + parts + call-out, then sales tax
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How to use this calculator
- Hours on site (h). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 2 h.
- People needed. Enter your own figure; the page starts at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $125.
- Parts and materials ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $65.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $95.
- Sales tax (%). Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to estimated total, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours on site | 2 h |
| People needed | 1 |
| Labour rate charged | $125 |
| Parts and materials | $65 |
| Call-out or diagnostic fee | $95 |
| Sales tax | 0% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated total main result | $410 |
| Labour | $250 |
| Before tax | $410 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
About $410: $250 of labour, $65 of parts and a $95 call-out.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only labour rate charged, this is what happens to estimated total. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Labour rate charged ($) | Estimated total |
|---|---|
| $63 | $286 |
| $94 | $348 |
| $125 example above | $410 |
| $188 | $536 |
| $250 | $660 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- Hours on site (h)
- Measured in h, between 0 and 400, starting at 2 h.
- People needed
- A number, between 0 and 40, starting at 1.
- Labour rate charged ($)
- A money amount, starting at $125.
- Parts and materials ($)
- A money amount, starting at $65.
- Call-out or diagnostic fee ($)
- A money amount, starting at $95.
- Sales tax (%)
- Leave at zero if you are quoting before tax.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Estimated total | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Labour | A money figure. |
| Before tax | A money figure. |
| Sales tax | A money figure. |
Estimating is the easy part
The jobs you never hear about cost more than the ones you mis-measure. BDEVY builds the marketing, systems and automation that bring them in.