Masonry repair
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Repair Across Alamo Heights
If you’re searching for chimney repair in Alamo Heights, TX, you’re likely dealing with spalling brick, a cracked crown, or a flue liner that’s seen better decades. Most repairs we handle across Alamo Heights run between $350 and $2,800 depending on what’s actually wrong, and we’ll give you a written price before anyone picks up a brush. Hadley Chimney San Antonio works on the 1920s bungalows and 1950s ranch homes that define Alamo Heights, where original clay tile liners and unlined masonry chimneys need a more careful eye than newer construction. Call (254) 276-4116 and a live person answers, day or night.
Why Hadley Chimney San Antonio Is Alamo Heights’s Preferred Chimney Repair Company
Alamo Heights homeowners call us because we show up when we say we will, with a live arrival window you can track from your phone. Founded in 2003, Hadley Chimney Sweep is led by Cory Mitchell and operates under The Relay Visibility Guarantee, which means every job includes before-and-after photo documentation, a written price before work starts, and a digital invoice you can pay from a link. That level of transparency isn’t common in chimney work, and it’s why so many calls come from neighborhoods around Broadway, Patterson Avenue, and the tree-lined streets near Olmos Park.
Our technicians know Alamo Heights chimneys specifically. We’ve worked on enough 1940s and 1950s masonry fireplaces here to recognize the failure patterns quickly: seized original dampers from humid air, acidic mortar erosion that spalls brick, and clay tile liners cracked by thermal shock. Every technician is background-checked, uniformed, and equipped with tools and materials from brands like DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Copperfield. When we recommend a repair, you’ll see photos of exactly what the technician saw. No vague diagnoses, no upsells. And every repair carries a 365-Day Done Right Promise: a written guarantee, plus a free second visit if the repair fails.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Masonry Repair in Alamo Heights
Chimney Masonry Repair in Alamo Heights typically means addressing the brick-and-mortar structure of the chimney itself: cracked or spalled bricks, eroded mortar joints, failing crowns, and damaged fireboxes. On Alamo Heights homes built between the 1920s and 1950s, masonry chimneys took decades of wood smoke combined with humid subtropical air, and the result is often crumbling mortar and bricks that flake apart in layers. The good news is that most masonry damage is repairable without a full rebuild, especially when caught before water has been allowed to sit inside the structure for another season.
Pricing for masonry work in Alamo Heights depends on the extent of damage. Mortar repointing and tuckpointing typically runs $400 to $1,200 depending on the size of the affected area. Spalling brick repair, where individual bricks are cut out and replaced, usually falls between $600 and $1,800 for a typical section. A full chimney crown replacement with a proper drip edge runs $800 to $1,600. We use materials chimney pros actually rely on, including Gelco CrownSeal for crown waterproofing and HeatShield for firebox and smoke chamber repair. If you’re seeing brick flakes on your patio or roof, don’t wait until the firebox itself starts letting smoke into the house. Call (254) 276-4116 for a written estimate.
When Tuckpointing Becomes Urgent
On the older, tree-lined streets of Alamo Heights, chimneys often suffer from acidic mortar erosion caused by decades of wood smoke mixed with South Texas humidity. Tuckpointing removes the decayed mortar and replaces it with fresh material matched to your existing brick. If you can scrape out mortar with a screwdriver, it’s time.
Spalling Brick Repair and What It Costs
Spalling is what happens when moisture gets into the brick and the face of the brick pops off. On Alamo Heights homes with original clay tile liners, any crack in the crown or missing cap lets water in, and spalling follows. Individual brick replacement with matched mortar usually runs $35 to $60 per brick installed, and a typical repair area costs between $600 and $1,800.
Chimney Cap Installation in Alamo Heights
Chimney Cap Installation in Alamo Heights is one of the most cost-effective repairs we do, because a good cap stops most moisture problems before they start. A stainless steel or copper chimney cap covers the flue opening, keeps rain and birds out, and prevents water from running down into the smoke chamber and firebox. On Alamo Heights homes with original clay tile liners from the 1940s and 1950s, a missing or rusted cap is the single most common cause of liner deterioration and spalling brick you’ll see inside the firebox.
Cap installation in Alamo Heights typically runs $250 to $650 including the cap and labor, depending on flue size and whether mounting hardware needs repair. We stock Copperfield stainless steel caps locally, and our techs can usually complete the install in a single visit. When the cap goes on, you get photos of the finished work, not just a receipt.
Custom-Fit Caps for Wonky Old Flues
Alamo Heights chimneys from the 1920s and 1930s often have irregular flue dimensions that don’t fit an off-the-shelf cap. We measure, order, and install custom-fit caps that seal correctly. A properly fitted cap also keeps rain from pooling inside the flue during humid summer months when condensation is already working against you.
Stop the Water, Stop the Spalling
A chimney cap is the first line of defense against the spalling bricks so common on Alamo Heights masonry chimneys. If you’re seeing brick flakes in the firebox or on the roof, a cap plus a waterproofing treatment like Gelco might be all you need. It’s a lot cheaper than rebuilding a chimney that’s rotted from the inside.
Trusted Brands We Service in Alamo Heights
Hadley Chimney San Antonio works with brands chimney professionals actually rely on, including DuraFlex flexible liner systems, HeatShield ceramic repair compound, and Copperfield chimney accessories. We stock common parts and materials for Alamo Heights jobs locally, which means faster turnaround and no week-long waits for a liner or cap. Whether you’re lining an original clay tile flue with a DuraFlex stainless steel system or sealing a firebox with HeatShield, you’ll get materials built to last, not whatever is cheapest on the truck.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Repair Problems We See in Alamo Heights Homes
- Original 1950s dampers seized by humid air. The original cast-iron dampers in many Alamo Heights ranch homes rust and lock in place after decades of humid off-seasons. When they refuse to open or close, repair or replacement is often needed before the first cold snap of the year.
- Clay tile flue liners cracked by thermal shock. The rapid temperature change of a hot fire against a cold humid flue cracks old clay tiles, allowing creosote to seep into the masonry and accelerate spalling. A cracked liner is a fire hazard and should be assessed with a Level 2 camera inspection.
- Chimney crowns without proper drip edges. A crown without an overhang lets water run directly down the brick face, behind the flashing, and into the roof decking. This is chronic in Alamo Heights and leads to both masonry damage and roof rot.
- Third-degree creosote glaze inside flues. The humid subtropical climate causes condensation inside chimneys, which hardens creosote into a tar-like glaze. This flammable material requires rotary whip removal and is the main reason annual sweeping is more than just a suggestion in Alamo Heights.
Pricing for Chimney Repair in Alamo Heights, TX
Here’s what you can expect to pay for common chimney repairs in Alamo Heights: a standard Level 2 camera inspection runs $199 to $350. Mortar repointing and tuckpointing typically falls between $400 and $1,200. Spalling brick repair runs $600 to $1,800 for a typical section. Chimney cap installation, including materials and labor, is $250 to $650. A stainless steel flue liner replacement usually runs $1,800 to $3,500 depending on flue height and accessibility. A full chimney rebuild on a single-story Alamo Heights home can start around $4,000 and go up from there, though rebuilds are less common when damage is caught early. We offer free estimates on all repair work, and every written price is honored before the job starts. Call (254) 276-4116 to schedule.
We Also Serve Cities Near Alamo Heights
If you’re in Alamo Heights or just outside it, we cover the surrounding area too. Hadley Chimney San Antonio serves Alamo Heights along with San Antonio, Selma, Timberwood Park, and Kirby. Our Chimney Repair team coordinates from the San Antonio office and dispatches locally, so you’re not waiting on a crew from across the state. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Serving Alamo Heights, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Alamo Heights area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Repair in Alamo Heights
Because humid subtropical air keeps masonry damp for longer stretches, and decades of wood smoke have left mortar joints acidic and crumbly. The moisture in Alamo Heights air prevents mortar from drying fully, which accelerates decay and means joints on older chimneys in this area often need attention every 5 to 10 years rather than every 15 to 20. If you can see gaps or crumbling mortar between bricks, that’s tuckpointing territory. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll assess the condition with a camera and photos.
Without a camera inspection, you don’t. Original clay tile liners from the 1940s and 1950s often look fine from the outside while being cracked, spalled, or separated inside. A cracked liner allows creosote to reach the brickwork, and in a humid climate like Alamo Heights that creosote hardens into a tar-like glaze that’s a fire risk. We recommend a Level 2 camera inspection ($199 to $350) before connecting any wood stove to an original masonry flue. Call (254) 276-4116 to schedule one.
If you burn wood every winter, sweep the chimney once per year, inspect the crown and flashing each fall before burning season, and get a Level 2 camera inspection every 2 to 3 years. The combination of daily hot fires and humid off-seasons in Alamo Heights accelerates creosote buildup and mortar decay faster than in drier parts of Texas. Tuckpointing as needed, typically every 5 to 10 years, keeps small repairs from becoming rebuilds. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll help you keep a schedule, not an emergency.
Yes, and it’s usually the cheapest effective repair we recommend. Spalling happens when water gets into brick and the face pops off, and a missing or rusted cap is the main way water enters. A stainless steel or copper cap keeps rain out of the flue and smoke chamber, which allows the masonry to dry. On Alamo Heights chimneys with original clay tile liners, a properly fitted cap is the first thing we’d install before any brick repair. Cap installation typically runs $250 to $650. Call (254) 276-4116 for a written estimate.
That tar-like glaze is third-degree creosote, and it can often be removed without replacing the liner, but the flue needs assessment afterward. Our techs use a rotary whip to break up hardened creosote, and then we camera the flue to check for cracks behind the glaze. If the original clay tile liner is intact, the chimney can go back into service after cleaning. If the liner is cracked or spalled, a DuraFlex stainless steel reline or HeatShield resurfacing may be needed. Either way, you’ll see photos of the condition before any recommendation. Call (254) 276-4116 for an exact quote.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, serving Alamo Heights since 2003.