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Serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island & New Hampshire
Masonry Chimney Repair & Rebuild
Repointing, crown repair and rebuilding brick and stone chimneys above the roofline, done by masons who keep your roof and yard clean.
The short answer
A chimney takes more weather than any other part of a house. It sits above the roof, catches wind-driven rain and snow, and goes through freeze and thaw dozens of times every winter. In older homes around Marlborough and MetroWest, it is common to see crumbling mortar joints, a cracked crown on top, loose or spalling bricks, and a chimney that has started to lean.
We focus on the masonry: the brick or stone, the mortar and the concrete crown. That includes repointing (grinding out failed mortar and packing in new mortar), repairing or recasting the crown, replacing damaged brick, and taking the chimney down and rebuilding it above the roofline when the top section is too far gone to repair. We do not do chimney sweeping and we do not sell chimney caps. If we see an issue inside the flue, such as a damaged flue liner, we will tell you, because that kind of work may need a chimney specialist.
Machado Landscaping & Construction Inc is family-owned, based in Marlborough, MA, and has over 25 years of hands-on construction experience. We work for homeowners and for builders and general contractors across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Repointing fits a chimney where the bricks are still sound but the mortar joints are crumbling, recessed or missing. We grind out the failed mortar to a consistent depth and pack new mortar that matches the joint style, which closes the gaps where water gets in.
The crown is the concrete or mortar cap that covers the top of the chimney around the flue. A cracked crown sends water straight down into the brick. Small cracks can sometimes be repaired; a crown that is broken up or was built too thin usually needs to be recast.
A rebuild above the roofline is for chimneys where the top section is leaning, has many loose or broken bricks, or has deteriorated past what repointing can fix. We take it down brick by brick to solid masonry and rebuild it plumb, with a new crown on top.
Freeze and thaw is the main cause. Brick and mortar absorb water, the water freezes and expands, and small cracks grow a little every winter. That is why chimney damage often looks like it appeared all at once after a hard winter: it was building for years.
Water entry from the top is the other cause. A failed crown or open joints let water soak the chimney from the inside out, which can lead to stains in the attic or around the fireplace. Fixing the masonry early usually costs much less than waiting until a rebuild is the only option.
Chimney work happens on your roof, over your lawn and garden. We protect shingles and plantings where material and debris come down, keep mortar off the siding, and clean up every day. At the end we clear all debris and walk the finished work with you.
Call or text (508) 663-9401 with a few photos of the area and a short note about what you have in mind. We reply within 1 hour during business hours, Mon-Sat, 8am to 6pm.
We look at the mortar, bricks and crown, tell you honestly whether repointing, crown repair or a rebuild above the roofline makes sense, and give you a clear written estimate. No visit fee.
We protect the roof and yard, repoint, repair or rebuild the masonry and finish the crown. Then we clean up all mortar and debris and walk the finished chimney with you.
Something else? Call (508) 663-9401. We reply within 1 hour during business hours.
It depends on the height, roof pitch, access and how much masonry is damaged. As a rough market reference, repointing often runs from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, crown repair typically from a few hundred dollars up, and a rebuild above the roofline often several thousand dollars or more. Your free estimate gives the real number.
If the bricks are solid and only the mortar is crumbling, repointing is usually enough. If the chimney leans, many bricks are loose or broken, or the top is falling apart, a rebuild above the roofline is often the better long-term fix. We will tell you which one we see.
No. We focus on masonry repair and rebuilds: mortar, brick, stone and the crown. We do not do chimney sweeping or sell caps. If we notice a problem inside the flue, such as the flue liner, we will let you know so you can bring in a chimney specialist.
Spring through fall, when mortar can cure properly. Fixing the masonry before winter stops water from getting in and freezing, which is what makes damage spread. Call before the cold sets in if you see crumbling joints or a cracked crown.
Yes. We are based in Marlborough, MA, and we do masonry chimney repair across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Send photos of the chimney and your town to (508) 663-9401.
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