Chimney & fireplace
Chimney Repair Cost Calculator
Prices chimney repair, where water is the cause of almost everything.
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. Chimney repairs are mostly water damage in different forms: spalling brick where water froze inside it, deteriorated mortar joints needing tuckpointing, a cracked crown letting water into the structure, failed flashing at the roof, and damaged flue tiles. Scope depends on how far the deterioration has gone, and because a chimney is exposed on all sides and above the roof it weathers harder than any other masonry on the building.
What moves the number
- Extent of masonry deterioration, from pointing to partial rebuild.
- Height and access, since work above the roof needs staging.
- Whether the flue itself is damaged, which is a safety matter rather than cosmetic.
- Whether the crown, cap and flashing are being addressed at the same time.
Where this one goes wrong
Fixing masonry without fixing why it is wet means repeating the work. Water enters through a cracked crown, a missing cap, failed flashing or open mortar joints, and freeze-thaw then breaks the brick apart from inside, so repointing without addressing the water source buys a few seasons. Deal with the top and the flashing as part of any repair. On waterproofing, use a vapour-permeable masonry product rather than a sealer that blocks drying: a chimney that cannot dry outward traps moisture in the masonry and accelerates the damage, which is the opposite of the intention. Cracked flue tiles are a safety finding and need reporting, not just noting.
Before you quote
- Find and fix the water entry before repairing the masonry.
- Use a vapour-permeable water repellent, not a sealer.
- Report cracked or displaced flue tiles as a safety matter.
Where the rules come from
Questions
About this calculator
Why is my chimney brickwork crumbling?
Almost always water and freeze-thaw. Water enters through a cracked crown, missing cap, failed flashing or open joints, then freezes inside the brick and breaks it apart. A chimney is exposed on all sides and above the roof, so it weathers harder than any other masonry on the house.
Should a chimney be sealed to keep water out?
With a vapour-permeable water repellent, not a film-forming sealer. Masonry needs to dry outward, and a sealer that blocks that traps moisture inside and accelerates the damage. It is a common and counterproductive choice, so the product type matters as much as applying something.
Can repointing be done without fixing the crown?
It can, and it will fail. The crown and the flashing are where water gets in, so repointing while leaving the source means the new mortar deteriorates the same way. Addressing the top and the roof junction is part of a repair that lasts rather than an upsell.
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.