Level 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.
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AfterTrusted Chimney Liner & Rebuild for Brentwood Homeowners
A chimney liner replacement or rebuild in Brentwood typically runs $2,800 to $7,500 depending on whether you need a straightforward stainless steel liner dropped in or a full masonry rebuild from the roofline up. Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Brentwood pricing varies by scope. Most liner jobs take one day; a partial rebuild usually takes two to three. Wendell Pike and his crew at Top Hat Chimney have done this work across Brentwood, Hauppauge, and Central Islip since 1999, and every job gets a camera inspection, a written quote before any tool comes off the truck, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If your liner is cracked, your flue tiles are spalling, or your chimney is leaning, call (934) 935-3847 and we’ll come look at it, no trip charge if you’re inside the county.
What Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service Includes
Liner and rebuild work covers a range of jobs, and the right fix depends on what the camera shows. Here’s what each one actually involves and when it makes sense.
Stainless Steel Liner
A stainless steel liner is a rigid or flexible metal tube we drop down through the flue and connect to the appliance at the bottom and the cap at the top. It’s the standard fix when the original clay tile liner is cracked, separated, or missing sections, because it gives combustion gases one continuous, sealed path to daylight. The liner we install is sized to the appliance and to the flue dimensions, not just whatever happens to be on the truck. You get a smooth-walled 316L alloy liner rated for wood, gas, or oil, depending on what you burn.
Flexible Liner
Flexible liners are continuous coils of stainless steel that bend around offsets and corbels without cutting into the masonry. They’re the practical choice for older Brentwood chimneys with curves or narrow flues, and for oil-to-gas conversions where the existing flue is oversized and condensing. We install flexible liners with an insulating wrap where the clearances or the appliance calls for it, and we pull a camera the full length afterward to confirm there are no kinks or gaps. It heats up, expands, and moves with the chimney as the seasons shift out here on Long Island.
Liner Replacement
A liner replacement means taking out the old, failed liner, whether it’s rusted metal, cracked clay, or a cast-in-place liner that has separated from the flue walls, and putting a correctly sized new one in. We also do this when an unlined chimney gets a new insert or stove added, because an appliance that didn’t need a liner before often does now. Wendell starts every replacement with a full camera scan and a draft test, so we know whether you need a simple swap or whether there’s water damage, creosote glazing, or failing mortar behind it that changes the scope. The price you get after that inspection is the price on the invoice, no surprises at the door.
Partial Rebuild
A partial rebuild fixes the section of chimney that’s actually failing, usually from the roofline up or from the firebox shelf up, without tearing down the whole structure. Common triggers in Brentwood are spalled brick from freeze-thaw cycles, a crumbling crown, or a leaning section above the roof deck where the mortar has washed out over thirty or forty winters. We remove the bad courses, match the brick and mortar color as close as the original allows, rebuild the section, and run a new crown if the old one is gone. The result is a chimney that’s stable again and blended well enough that only you will know where the repair line is.
Full Chimney Rebuild
A full rebuild is exactly what it sounds like: taking the chimney down to the roofline or the foundation, then laying it back course by course. It’s called for when the structure itself has failed, often from decades of water entry, a house fire, or a bad original build that left the mortar bed weak. We set up scaffolding, protect the roof and the yard, and rebuild with new flue liners, new crown, and new flashing at the roof line. It’s the most expensive option, but when the chimney is leaning or the brick is coming apart in your hand, it’s the only one that actually fixes the problem for good.
Liner Repair
Not every liner problem means a full replacement. When a clay liner has minor cracks but is still structurally sound, a HeatShield repair can restore the flue by filling and sealing those gaps from the inside, which costs far less than a new liner and keeps the original masonry in place. We also handle liner repairs at the top few courses, where freeze damage and missing caps let water in and crack the tile. The camera tells us which repair is honest and which is a band-aid, and Wendell will tell you straight if the repair is not worth doing.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Liner & Rebuild
We install DuraFlex liners on a regular basis and have been using their 316L stainless systems for years across Suffolk County. The product holds up to the condensation and acidic flue gases that eat cheaper liners, and we stock the connectors, top plates, and caps in the common sizes so we don’t have to order parts mid-job. When a DuraFlex installation is done right, it carries a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, and our crew knows the installation requirements cold.
For chimneys where a full liner isn’t warranted, we use HeatShield’s cerfractory sealant system to restore cracked clay flues in place, and we’ve pulled cameras through enough HeatShield repairs to know what it can and can’t save. We also install Copperfield stainless liners on the oil-to-gas conversion work that’s common in the older Brentwood and Bay Shore homes. Whether you’ve got DuraFlex, Copperfield, HeatShield, or any other brand in your chimney, we can service it, match it, or tell you honestly when it’s time to change it out.
Signs You Need Chimney Liner & Rebuild Right Now
- Flue tiles falling into the firebox. If you find pieces of terra cotta tile or sandy debris in the firebox, your liner is failing from the inside. Those gaps let heat and gas reach the brick and framing, and at high temperature, that’s how chimney fires start.
- White staining on the exterior brick. Called efflorescence, it means water is moving through the masonry and leaving salts behind. Water inside the flue cracks liners on the next freeze cycle, and on Long Island, we get plenty of those.
- A smell like a campfire or damp basement when it rains. That odor means creosote and water are trapped inside the chimney instead of venting out. It usually points to a cracked liner or a failed crown, and it gets worse every season.
- Smoke rolling back into the room when the fire burns low. A liner partially filled with debris, glazed creosote, or collapsed tiles reduces draft. When the chimney can’t pull, smoke follows the path of least resistance, which is often your living room.
- Rust on the damper or the appliance flue collar. Rust means condensation is forming inside the flue, a sign the liner is oversized, leaking, or missing. That acidic condensation eats the mortar joints and the metal parts, and a new liner usually fixes both.
None of these signs are a reason to panic tonight. But they are a reason to call (934) 935-3847 before the next long burn. A camera scan takes about an hour and tells us exactly what you’re dealing with, and if it turns out to be nothing, that’s what we’ll tell you.
Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process - Step by Step
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Call and set the appointment. A live person answers, any time of day. We schedule a specific arrival window, and if Wendell or the crew is running behind, you get a call before the window closes, not after.
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Inspection and camera scan. The sweep who shows up is background-checked and in uniform. He runs a camera down the full length of the flue, checks the firebox, crown, and flashing, and runs a draft test if an appliance is involved. You see the footage with your own eyes.
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Written estimate, plain English. Wendell walks you through what the camera showed, explains what actually needs doing, and gives you the number in writing. You get $40 off any repair over $200 and a free second opinion on any competing written estimate, so there’s no pressure to decide on the spot.
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The work. We protect the roof and the house, set up scaffolding for rebuilds, and install the liner or lay the brick with the same attention we’d give our own chimneys. You’ll know the arrival window, what’s happening, and when it’ll be done.
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Final camera scan and a written promise. Before we leave, we run the camera again so you can see the finished flue from top to bottom. Every job carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing: if it’s not right, one call brings Wendell back at no additional cost.
How Much Does Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in Brentwood?
A stainless steel liner replacement in Brentwood typically runs $2,800 to $4,500 for a single-story flue with easy roof access. See how much Chimney Liner & Rebuild costs for other job types. A flexible liner for a gas conversion is often $2,200 to $3,200. A partial rebuild from the roofline up usually lands between $3,500 and $6,000, and a full chimney rebuild starts around $7,000 and can reach $12,000 or more depending on height, brick matching, and scaffolding. Liner repairs with HeatShield sealant are the most affordable option, often $1,500 to $2,800, when the existing tile is worth saving.
What moves the price is the flue height, roof pitch, the condition of the crown and flashing, and whether we’re doing this in January on a frozen roof or in May with a clear deck. The way to avoid overpaying is to get a camera inspection first and a written quote, then compare it honestly. Our estimate includes the inspection, the labor, the materials, the final camera scan, and the written promise, with no trip charge inside the county and a 10% discount always for seniors and veterans. No add-ons at the door, no “found something” surprises, no games.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Near Brentwood - Our Service Area
We run liner and rebuild jobs throughout central Suffolk County, from Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Brentwood out to Hauppauge, Nesconset, Baywood, and Brightwaters. Most inspections happen within a few days of your call; rebuilds are scheduled on the calendar we set together, not a vague “sometime next month.” If you’re in Islip, East Islip, North Bay Shore, or Islandia, we’re close, and you can read more about the work we do in Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Hauppauge and our Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Central Islip pages. We’ve been running into our neighbors at the hardware store since 1999, and we answer the phone like it.
Serving Brentwood, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Brentwood area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Brentwood
A chimney liner is the inner passage that carries smoke and exhaust gases safely out of your house, and a rebuild is the structural repair of the brick, mortar, crown, and flashing that hold the chimney together. When the liner fails, the chimney can leak gases into the house or heat into the framing, and when the brick fails, the chimney can lean or collapse. Wendell and his crew inspect both on every call, then tell you which one needs the fix.
A straightforward stainless steel liner replacement is usually a one-day job for a single-story flue, and a flexible liner for a gas conversion is often done in half a day. A partial rebuild takes two to three days depending on the weather and the height, and a full rebuild can run a week with masonry, scaffolding, and flashing work. We’ll give you the timeline in writing when we quote, and if the schedule slips, we call you first, not after.
A liner replacement typically runs $2,800 to $4,500, a HeatShield repair is often $1,500 to $2,800, a partial rebuild sits between $3,500 and $6,000, and a full rebuild starts around $7,000. The exact number depends on flue height, roof access, the liner material and size, and what the camera reveals. Call (934) 935-3847 for a free, written estimate before you commit to anything, and remember we give a free second opinion on any competing written estimate.
Yes, we install DuraFlex stainless steel liner systems regularly and stock their common connectors and caps, and we also install Copperfield liners on the oil-to-gas conversions we see throughout Brentwood and Bay Shore. We’ll service any brand already in your chimney, and if the existing liner can’t be repaired, Wendell will explain exactly why and what he recommends instead. The camera footage is yours to see either way.
If your chimney is actively smoking into the house or you see flames in the flue, call 911 first, then call us at (934) 935-3847. We answer the phone twenty-four hours a day and we’ll talk you through shutting down the fire and what to do next. For liners that failed during the off-season and chimneys that leaked through the last storm, we’ll typically have a sweep there within a few days, and we’ll tell you what to do in the meantime.
Every job comes with our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing: if the work is not right, one call brings Wendell back at no additional cost. Manufacturer warranties on the liner itself vary by brand, with DuraFlex offering lifetime coverage on properly installed systems, and we’ll put the scope of that coverage in your quote. If something fails later, you know exactly who to call and exactly what your remedy is.
Clear a path from the door to the fireplace or stove, and move anything you don’t want dusty at least six feet back from the hearth. If you have pets, put them in a room away from the work area. We’ll protect the floor, the roof, and the yard, and we’ll walk you through what we found before any work begins, so there’s nothing to prep on the technical side. Just be home, or have a way to reach you, and we’ll handle the rest.
Schedule Your Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service in Brentwood Today
If your liner is cracked or your chimney is leaning, you don’t need to guess. We offer our Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Islip and across Suffolk County. You need a camera, a straight answer, and a written number from a local who has done this thousands of times since 1999. Call (934) 935-3847 for a free estimate, no trip charge inside the county. Wendell will tell you what needs fixing, what can wait, and what it’ll cost before a single tool comes off the truck.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Brentwood since 1999.