What fireplace and chimney work costs in Seattle

Start with the free inspection

Many chimney companies charge for the first look. Ours costs nothing. We check the chimney from the roof and from inside, photograph what we find and write down a price before anything is touched, so you can compare it with any other quote.

Three Seattle budgets we see every winter

• The leak budget. Rain is the common thread here: Sea-Tac logs about 39 inches over roughly 156 wet days a year. Most leaks we trace come from a cracked crown, a rusted or missing cap, or tired flashing, and fixing the entry point usually costs far less than the ceiling, drywall and framing repairs that follow if it is left.
• The earthquake budget. Unreinforced brick above the roofline is what failed in the 2001 Nisqually quake. Options run from rebuilding the top courses to bracing, a metal flue in a framed chase, or taking an unused chimney down below the roof. In Seattle, Director's Rule 5-2004 shapes what a repair must include; confirm current requirements with SDCI.
• The burn-ban budget. During a Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Stage 2 ban no wood may be burned at all, but gas and propane fireplaces and inserts can still run. Gas logs, a gas insert or an EPA-certified wood insert are the usual answers for homeowners who want a fire on ban days.

Gas fireplaces and appliance flues

Service	Usual reason	Typical Seattle range
Wood Stove Installation	Old stove, new heat, or a remodel	$3,000 – $8,000
Fireplace Insert Installation	Drafty, inefficient open fireplace	$3,000 – $7,000
Gas Fireplace Repair & Service	Pilot, thermocouple or valve parts	$150 – $1,000
Gas Inserts & Gas Logs	Wanting a fire that works on ban days	$2,000 – $8,000
Wood-to-Gas Conversion	Burn bans and the work of wood fires	$1,500 – $8,000
Burn-Ban Ready Fireplace Upgrade	Wood fireplaces banned on bad-air days	$500 – $8,000
Old Wood Stove & Selling Your Home	Uncertified stove found before listing	Free inspection

Liners, caps and dampers

Service	Usual reason	Typical Seattle range
Chimney Liners & Relining	Cracked, missing or wrong-size flue	$1,500 – $5,000
Chimney Caps & Chase Covers	Open flue taking in rain and animals	$250 – $850
Damper Repair	Rust from rain down the flue	$150 – $450
Firebox & Smoke Chamber	Heat, age and water on old mortar	$300 – $2,500

In a wet climate the cap and crown do most of the work of keeping water out, so they are the parts we replace most.

Masonry, leaks and rebuilds

Service	Usual reason	Typical Seattle range
Chimney Repair	Water, moss and freeze-thaw	$300 – $3,500
Chimney Rebuild	Decades of water, frost and quakes	$1,000 – $15,000+
Repointing & Spalled Brick	Rain-soaked joints and hard mortar	$500 – $2,500
Chimney Crown Repair	Thin mortar caps and frost	$600 – $2,200
Chimney Flashing Repair	Old sealant, moss and roof work	$300 – $1,800
Chimney Leak Repair	Crown, cap, flashing or wet brick	$300 – $2,500
Chimney Waterproofing	Brick soaking up months of rain	$300 – $800
Chimney Removal	Unused, cracked brick over the roof	$1,000 – $10,000
Earthquake-Damaged Chimney Repair	Unreinforced brick above the roof	$1,000 – $15,000+

Cleaning, inspections and smoke problems

Service	Usual reason	Typical Seattle range
Chimney Sweep & Cleaning	Creosote, soot and blown-in debris	After free inspection
Free Chimney Inspection	Yearly check, home sale or a problem	Free
Creosote Removal	Damp wood and cool, smoky fires	$400 – $900+
Wood & Pellet Stove Cleaning	Steady winter use and slow burns	After free inspection
Animal Removal	An open flue with no cap	$300 – $750
Smoky Fireplace & Draft	Draft, flue size or a blockage	$150 – $1,500

Why the same job costs more in some houses

• Height and roof. A steep Queen Anne or Capitol Hill roof takes staging that a rambler in Kent doesn't.
• Water damage. The longer a leak has run, the more brick and mortar need replacing.
• Old unlined flues. Many pre-1940 chimneys need a liner before a new stove, insert or heating appliance is connected.
• Permits. New stoves, inserts and structural rebuilds usually need a permit from the city or county.
• Historic districts. Exterior work on Seattle landmarks and in its historic districts may need review before it starts.

Have a quote in hand and not sure it's fair? Our blog explains what drives the price of the most common Seattle-area jobs. Read the blog