Directory
Chimney & Fireplace Companies in Virginia
Sweeps, inspections, repairs. What the trade covers, what it costs, how to hire, and pros by city.
A chimney and fireplace need looking after, both for the draft and for the fire safety of it. A chimney pro sweeps, inspects, and repairs so the smoke goes up and stays out of the house.
The work
What it covers
- Chimney sweeping and cleaning
- Inspections, including before a home sale
- Cap, crown, and flashing repair
- Masonry and repointing
- Liner installation and repair
- Fireplace and damper repair
The register
Chimney & Fireplace Companies on Virginia Trusted Pros
Ballpark
What it costs in Virginia
| Chimney sweep and cleaning | $150 to $400 |
| Level 1 or Level 2 inspection | $150 to $600 |
| New chimney cap | $150 to $850 |
| Crown repair or rebuild | $200 to $3,000 |
| Masonry repointing (tuckpointing) | $500 to $2,500 |
| New stainless flue liner installed | $900 to $4,000 |
These are rough ranges, not quotes. What you actually pay swings with how tall the chimney is, how steep the roof is and how hard it is to get a ladder or scaffold up there, and whether the mason is patching a few joints or rebuilding brick that freeze-thaw has chewed up over the winters. Get two or three written quotes before you decide.
Signs you might need to hire a pro
- A campfire or smoky smell in the room every time you run the fireplace
- A water stain on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after a hard rain
- White chalky staining or crumbling mortar on the brick outside
- Bits of brick or grit showing up in the firebox or on the roof
- The damper is stuck open or won't seal, and you feel a cold draft when no fire is going
Before you sign
Licensing in Virginia
Any contracting job of 1,000 dollars or more has to go to a business licensed with the Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors, and under that none is required. The class on that license is a dollar ceiling, not a grade of quality. Class C covers single jobs under about 10,000 dollars, Class B under about 120,000, and Class A has no ceiling, so a small Class C outfit is not worse than a Class A, it just takes smaller work.
Chimney and fireplace work can fall under more than one Virginia contractor classification, so a legitimate pro doing masonry or structural repair may hold a Residential or Commercial Building Contractor license (RBC or CBC), while anyone hooking up a gas log or gas fireplace may hold Gas Fitting (GFC) or HVAC (HVA). In Virginia any job of $1,000 or more needs a licensed contractor.
Verify it yourself. Look up any license at the Virginia DPOR lookup and ask for proof of insurance before you hire.
Facts on the table. You do the hiring. -M.H.
Good to know
Common questions
How much does it cost to clean and inspect a chimney?
A standard sweep with a basic look-over usually runs about $150 to $400. If they need to run a camera down the flue to check for cracks, that Level 2 inspection costs more.
How do I pick a chimney company?
Look for a CSIA certification and ask that the findings come back in writing with photos before you agree to any repair. On bigger masonry jobs get two or three quotes, because a reline or rebuild is a lot of money to hand over on a handshake.
Does a chimney pro need to be licensed in Virginia?
For a routine sweep or a small cap swap, no. Once a repair hits $1,000 or more, Virginia requires a licensed contractor, so ask for the license number and check it on the DPOR site.
How often should the chimney get swept?
If you burn wood regularly, once a year before the cold sets in. Even a gas or unused fireplace is worth a yearly look, since animals, rain and freeze-thaw cracking don't care whether you ever light a fire.
Do I really need the flue relined, or is someone upselling me?
If the clay tiles are cracked or the old liner is shot, a reline is real work, because a cracked flue lets heat and gases reach the wood framing behind the brick. A camera inspection is the only way to know for sure, so don't take a reline recommendation without seeing the footage yourself.
By city