Chimney Repair & Relining

Calgary's extreme climate is exceptionally hard on chimneys. The freeze-thaw cycle — where temperatures swing above and below zero regularly throughout winter, accelerated by chinook events that can take temperatures from -25°C to +10°C in hours — causes masonry to crack, mortar joints to deteriorate, and chimney crowns to split.

Water penetrates these cracks, freezes, expands, and causes further damage in a relentless cycle that can compromise a chimney's structural integrity within 10-15 years if left unaddressed. A damaged chimney liner is a serious fire and carbon monoxide hazard, and chimney deterioration is one of the most common findings on Calgary home inspections.

Chimney relining with a continuous stainless steel liner is the standard repair when the existing clay tile or masonry liner has cracked, separated at joints, or deteriorated beyond patching. A new stainless steel liner costs $1,500-$3,500 depending on chimney height and diameter, and it comes with a lifetime warranty from most manufacturers.

Crown repair — rebuilding the concrete cap at the top of the chimney that sheds water away from the flue — costs $500-$1,500 and is one of the most cost-effective repairs to prevent thousands of dollars in future masonry damage. Tuckpointing (repointing deteriorated mortar joints in the chimney's exterior masonry) runs $15-$30 per square foot and is critical for chimneys showing white efflorescence staining or visibly recessed mortar.

A stainless steel chimney cap ($200-$500 installed) keeps rain, snow, birds, and debris out of the flue year-round.