Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
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.
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AfterHow Much Does Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in San Antonio?
Chimney liner and rebuild work in San Antonio typically costs between $2,800 and $9,500, with most homeowners paying around $5,200 for a full stainless steel liner replacement with moderate masonry rebuild. A standalone chimney liner install runs $1,800 to $4,200, while a partial chimney rebuild above the roofline usually lands between $2,500 and $6,000 depending on how many courses of brick need to be reset. These figures reflect what we’ve actually quoted and completed across San Antonio neighborhoods like Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, and Helotes over the past several years.
If you’re seeing flaking brick, a rusted-out damper, or smoke backing into the house, call us at (903) 515-5079 for a free estimate. We’ll give you a written price before any work starts, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s a straight answer for the San Antonio market. These are the line items we quote from every week, with real dollar ranges based on current material and labor costs in Bexar County.
| Service | Typical Cost Range (San Antonio, 2026) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel chimney liner (DuraFlex or equivalent) | $1,800 – $4,200 | Liner, insulation, top plate, rain cap, connection to appliance |
| Chimney liner + full flue cleaning first | $2,100 – $4,500 | Pre-liner sweep, liner install, cap, inspection after |
| Partial chimney rebuild (top 10-20 courses of brick) | $2,500 – $6,000 | Brick removal and reset, new mortar, crown repair, flashing replacement |
| Full chimney rebuild from roofline up | $5,000 – $12,000 | Complete teardown and reconstruction to code, new crown, new flashing |
| Chimney crown repair or replacement | $450 – $1,400 | Sealant or full poured concrete crown |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $900 | Remove old flashing, install new step and counter flashing |
| Combined liner + partial rebuild (most common job) | $4,500 – $9,500 | Full liner system plus brick reset above the roof line |
These numbers include labor, materials, and our written guarantee on every repair. If a repair fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free. That’s not a promotional gimmick, it’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise we’ve been honoring since 2002.
Ruben Castellano has seen plenty of chimneys in this market where the liner and the masonry failed at the same time, which is why so many of our jobs combine both. The cost driver is almost always how much brick needs to be torn out and reset versus how much of the chimney is still structurally sound.
What Affects Chimney Liner & Rebuild Pricing in San Antonio
Every chimney is different, and San Antonio’s climate throws its own variables into the mix. Here’s what actually moves the number on your quote:
- How many courses of brick are compromised. A chimney that needs 8 courses reset costs far less than one needing 25. In neighborhoods like Terrell Heights and Monticello Park, older homes from the 1940s and 1950s often have deeper spalling because the original mortar has been absorbing San Antonio’s heavy spring rains for decades.
- Chimney height and roof pitch. A two-story chimney on a steep roof in The Dominion or Shavano Park means more scaffolding, more safety rigging, and more labor hours than a single-story ranch in Windcrest. Height is one of the biggest silent cost multipliers.
- Liner material and diameter. DuraFlex stainless steel liners come in different diameters and flexibility grades. A 6-inch round liner for a gas fireplace costs less than an 8-inch insulated liner for a wood-burning firebox. We specify exactly what your appliance needs, never a one-size-fits-all solution.
- Condition of the crown and flashing. If the crown is cracked and the flashing is pulling away, those get added to the rebuild scope. That’s usually another $500 to $1,500, but skipping them means water keeps getting in and you’re back in the same spot within two years.
- Access to the chimney. Tight lot lines in older San Antonio neighborhoods like King William or Alta Vista can mean working from lifts or setting up scaffolding in narrower spaces. Harder access equals more time on site.
- Whether a flue cleaning comes first. You can’t properly install a liner into a flue packed with creosote, the tar-like buildup that causes chimney fires. We always scope a sweep beforehand if the flue hasn’t been cleaned recently. That adds $200 to $400 but it’s mandatory for a safe, code-compliant install.
San Antonio-Specific Factors Worth Knowing
San Antonio’s freeze-thaw cycles are mild compared to the Midwest, but our summer heat and occasional hard freezes, like the February 2021 storm, do real damage to brick and mortar. Thermal expansion in 100-degree August heat opens hairline cracks, then a sudden cold snap freezes any trapped moisture and pops the brick face. We regularly see chimneys in Castle Hills and Olmos Park where the south-facing side, exposed to full sun all day, deteriorates faster than the shaded side. That’s not something generic chimney articles tell you, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that changes a repair quote.
Also, Bexar County doesn’t require a separate chimney permit for liner replacements on existing chimneys, but if the rebuild involves structural work beyond a certain point, your contractor may need to pull a general building permit. We handle that conversation for you and tell you upfront if your job triggers it.
How to Save on Chimney Liner & Rebuild
Chimney work isn’t cheap, but there are legitimate ways to keep the bill from ballooning without cutting corners that come back to bite you.
- Don’t wait until water is pouring through the ceiling. A $450 crown repair caught early prevents a $6,000 rebuild later. The single most expensive mistake San Antonio homeowners make is ignoring a small leak for two winters. By the time you see water stains on the ceiling, the damage inside the chimney chase is done.
- Bundle the liner with a rebuild if both are needed. Since scaffolding and roof access are already set up, combining jobs saves you $400 to $800 in duplicated labor compared to scheduling them separately.
- Get a written, line-item quote before any work starts. At Alcott Chimney Sweep, every job gets a written price delivered before a single brick is touched. That means no surprise charges when the crew is packing up at the end of the day. You’d be surprised how many chimney companies in San Antonio can’t say that.
- Ask about the guarantee before you sign. Our guarantee is written and covers every repair for a full year. If the repair fails in that window, the second visit is free. Some companies charge extra for that kind of coverage or bury a vague promise in fine print. Get it in writing.
- Use professional trade materials. Box-store liners and generic mortar mixes don’t hold up to San Antonio’s climate swings the way products from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield do. These are the brands chimney professionals specify. Cheap materials almost always mean a second repair inside of five years, which makes them the most expensive option.
Call (903) 515-5079 and we’ll give you a free estimate with a written price. No pressure, no obligation, just a straight number you can plan around.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs Compared: Repair vs. Replace vs. Rebuild
One of the most common questions we get from San Antonio homeowners is whether it’s cheaper to repair, reline, or rebuild. Here’s how that decision actually shakes out in our market.
- Chimney repairs (crown, flashing, minor brick reset): $450 – $2,500. This is the right call when the structure is sound and the liner is intact, but water is entering through failed mortar or flashing.
- Chimney liner replacement: $1,800 – $4,200. This is the fix for a cracked or deteriorated flue that’s venting carbon monoxide into the house, which is a serious safety issue. In older San Antonio homes built before modern liner standards, this is one of the most common jobs we do.
- Partial chimney rebuild: $2,500 – $6,000. Needed when the brick above the roofline is spalling, the mortar joints are failing, or the chimney is visibly leaning. We see this constantly after hard freezes.
- Full rebuild from roofline up: $5,000 – $12,000. When more than half the exposed chimney is compromised, tearing down and rebuilding is more cost-effective than patching forever.
- Complete demolition and removal: $1,800 – $3,500. If you’re converting to a ventless fireplace or removing a chimney entirely, this is the cheapest option, but it eliminates the masonry fireplace feature.
Ruben Castellano’s rule of thumb after 20-plus years in San Antonio: if you can see more than 25% of the brick face flaking or missing above the roof line, start planning for at least a partial rebuild. If the liner is original to a house built before 1980, it almost certainly needs replacement, not patch work.
Signs You Need a Chimney Liner or Rebuild
Here’s what we tell homeowners who aren’t sure whether they have a problem worth addressing:
- Smoke backing into the house even when the damper is fully open, which usually means a cracked liner or a blocked flue.
- Flaking brick or crumbling mortar visible on the chimney above the roof line, commonly called spalling, and a progressive problem in San Antonio’s climate.
- Rust on the damper or firebox, indicating water is getting into the flue and pooling where it shouldn’t.
- White staining (efflorescence) on the brick exterior, which means water is moving through the masonry and depositing salts on the surface.
- A musty smell from the fireplace after heavy rain, which tells you the crown or flashing has failed.
- Chimney leaning visibly from the ground, which is a structural concern that needs immediate evaluation, not a “watch it for another season” situation.
If any of these sound familiar, call (903) 515-5079. A live person answers 24/7, and we’ll schedule an inspection with a technician you’ll know by name and photo before they arrive.
Why Our Pricing Model Works Differently
Most chimney companies give you a verbal estimate that quietly grows once the crew gets on the roof. Alcott Chimney Sweep works on a different principle: you get a written price before any work begins, and that price is what you pay. No change orders for things that should have been spotted during the estimate. No surprise line items at the end of the day.
Ruben Castellano built the company on this approach in 2002, and it’s the reason homeowners across San Antonio, from Leon Valley to Converse to Fair Oaks Ranch, keep calling us back. We also send you the technician’s name and photo before the visit, and that technician is required to show a photo ID badge at the door. Every time. No exceptions. You’re not opening your door to a stranger; you’re opening it to a background-checked, identity-verified professional whose name you already know.
That’s the Threshold Standard, and it applies to every technician who works under the Threshold Group family of home-service companies.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild: What to Ask Any Contractor in San Antonio
Before you sign with any chimney company, here are the questions that separate a legitimate professional from a pickup truck with a ladder:
- “Will I get a written price before work starts?” If the answer is anything but yes, walk away. Verbal estimates have a way of growing by 40% once the brick starts coming off.
- “Is your guarantee written, and what exactly does it cover?” Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every repair for a full year. If it fails, the second visit is free. That language should be in writing, not implied.
- “What materials are you using?” If they can’t name the brand, they’re buying whatever is cheapest at the home center. We install DuraFlex liner systems, HeatShield resurfacing, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products, professional trade materials specified by chimney experts.
- “Who is coming to my house?” You should know the technician’s name and see their photo before they arrive. If a company won’t tell you who’s showing up, that’s a red flag.
- “Is the flue going to be cleaned before the liner goes in?” Installing a liner into a creosote-coated flue is a shortcut that compromises the whole system. The answer should be yes.
FAQs – Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost
How much does a chimney liner cost in San Antonio?
A stainless steel chimney liner in San Antonio runs $1,800 to $4,200 installed, including the liner, insulation, top plate, rain cap, and connection to the appliance. The price varies based on liner diameter, flexibility grade, chimney height, and roof access. Call (903) 515-5079 for an exact quote, and we’ll give you a written price before any work starts.
Is it cheaper to repair or rebuild a chimney?
Repairs like crown replacement ($450 to $1,400) and flashing work ($350 to $900) are far cheaper than a rebuild ($2,500 to $12,000), and they’re the right call when the structure is still sound. But if more than 25% of the brick above the roof line is spalling or the chimney is leaning, patching becomes throwing money at a doomed structure. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in before we quote anything, and the estimate is free.
How long does a chimney liner last in San Antonio’s climate?
A properly installed stainless steel liner from a brand like DuraFlex typically lasts 20 to 30 years in San Antonio’s climate, though the crown, flashing, and masonry around it need regular maintenance. Heat, humidity, and occasional hard freezes take their toll on the exterior brick far faster than the liner itself.
Can you install a chimney liner and rebuild the chimney the same day?
Most liner-only jobs are completed in one day. A combined liner and partial rebuild usually takes two to three days depending on how many courses of brick need to be reset and what the weather allows. We’re realistic about timelines because rushing mortar cure times in Texas heat is exactly how you end up scheduling a second visit.
How much does a full chimney rebuild cost in San Antonio?
A full chimney rebuild from the roofline up runs $5,000 to $12,000 in the San Antonio market. That includes complete teardown and reconstruction to current code, a new poured crown, new flashing, and a written one-year guarantee. For a more precise number based on your chimney’s height and condition, call (903) 515-5079 for a free estimate.
Do you offer free estimates for chimney liner and rebuild work?
Yes. Every estimate at Alcott Chimney Sweep is free, and you’ll receive a written price before any work starts. Our phones are answered by a live person 24/7, so if you call (903) 515-5079 at 11 p.m. because something smells like smoke, you’ll talk to a human being, not a voicemail.
Call Alcott Chimney Sweep for a Free Estimate in San Antonio
If your chimney needs a new liner, a rebuild, or both, get a straight answer and a written price from a company that’s been serving San Antonio since 2002. You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive, and every job is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. Call (903) 515-5079 today for a free estimate. For more about how we handle Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Antonio, visit our service page, or head back to our home page to see everything we do.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney San Antonio, serving San Antonio since 2002.
Pricing reflects the San Antonio market as of 2026. Alcott Chimney San Antonio offers free estimates – call (903) 515-5079.
What Our Customers Say
"Sweep arrived in a clean uniform with a photo ID and walked me through what he'd check. Creosote buildup was heavy on the flue, and he cleared it and put down drop cloths first."
- Harold B."The report he wrote up had pictures and clear notes for the insurance. That alone was worth it."
- Garrett I."We'd had a bird nest in the flue for a year. Removed it, installed a new cap, and we finally got a draft that works. No smoke smell in the house."
- Eric Q.