How much does it cost to tear down and rebuild a chimney?

Depending on where you live, having a fireplace can be a luxury or an extreme necessity. When you own a fireplace, you would know that owners must exercise extreme caution when using one in order for them to keep their fireplaces functioning properly. After all, there are unfortunately too many incidents in the United States that are caused by an incorrectly maintained fireplace. 



Chimneys are one of the parts that need to be installed on your home when you are using a fireplace. If you already have one, there may come a time when you will need to have it rebuilt, especially if it is no longer working the way it is supposed to be, or if it has been too damaged over the years that it is way beyond repair. 

Is it expensive to have a chimney torn down?

Before rebuilding a chimney, you will need to have your current one taken down in most cases. The price that you will need to pay will of course vary depending on several factors, such as:


  1. The type of chimney removal.

There are two types of chimney removal. The first one is called a “partial removal” which would only include the removal of the stack – which is the part of the chimney where we see on the top of our roofs. The second type is the “full removal,” which includes the removal of both the stack and the chimney breast – which is the part that is placed in the interior of your home or building. 


The cost of a partial chimney removal is often computed to be around $500 to $2,000, while a full removal will absolutely be more expensive, which is around $4,000 to $6,000.

2. The size of your chimney.

When you are having your chimney taken down, no matter what type (partial removal or full removal), the size of your chimney will be one of the factors that will be considered in order for you to know how much you will have to pay. If you have a bigger chimney compared to the regular sizes, you should expect to shell out a bigger amount of money.   Taking down a chimney is often priced per linear or square foot. 


3. The material of your chimney.

There are many materials that are used in building a chimney. The most common ones are brick and concrete, but other materials such as stone can also be used. If you are wondering why the material of your chimney matters in the computation of the price you will have to pay for your chimney removal, this is because some materials are more difficult to take down compared to others. 


4. The location of your chimney.

Where exactly is your chimney placed? Is it several layers high? Is it hard to reach? If this is the case, expect to pay an extra amount when you decide to have it removed. This is because taking down a chimney requires expertise, and if it is difficult to reach, it will be a more complex job. This can also be very dangerous for your contractor, and this is exactly why it is only fair and just for them to be paid more. 


5. The current condition of your chimney.

Same as the reason above, a chimney that can be the cause of injury due to its condition would absolutely require a higher fee. This is often the case when the chimney is crumbling or has cracked to the point where it can fall at the slightest touch. 


6. The contractor you will hire.

If you talk to three contractors, it is highly possible to receive three different price quotations. This is why it is important to not rush in finding a good contractor, especially if you are on a tight budget. Of course, you will need to make sure that you do not hire one based ultimately on your budget if you are unsure on whether they will do a good job.


Before hiring one, make sure to ask about the services they offer, their experience, and to ask their past clients if the contractor did excellent work. Doing this will give you a better chance of hiring a contractor that you can absolutely trust.

When do you need to tear it down?

It would be wise to have your chimney taken down



  1. If you are no longer using your fireplace.
  2. If there are problems with leakage.
  3. If there are issues with debris entering your home from the chimney.
  4. If you are planning to rebuild your chimney. 

How much does it cost to rebuild one?

Chimney rebuilding is the process of “remaking” a part or the whole chimney to make it functional again. 


There are two types of chimney rebuilding:


a. Partial Rebuild

Partial rebuilding is the process you will need if you want to repair or remake certain parts of your chimney, such as its crown. In this case, you will not spend that much money, and will probably only need to pay around $200 to $500 depending on the material and damage. Partial rebuilding can only be done if the part of your chimney can still be repaired or fixed.


b. Complete or Total Chimney Rebuild

If your contractor recommended having a total chimney rebuild after their inspection, this would mean that the damage on your chimney has been very extensive to the point where it will need to be completely rebuilt. This is often the case when your chimney is suffering from structural flaws, as there is usually nothing more to be done except to rebuild it. 


Complete chimney rebuilding will include the replacement of the exterior brick of the chimney and also its crown, which can cost you around $1,000 to $3,000 for average-sized chimneys.



When will you need to tear rebuild your chimney?

Are you still unsure whether you will need to have your chimney rebuilt? If your current chimney is:

  1. Extremely damaged and is showing signs of structural issues.
  2. Too expensive to use and maintain.
  3. Too old.

What to know before taking it down and rebuilding it?

One of the mistakes that many homeowners commit is DIY-ing their chimney. This is extremely unwise and dangerous and can be the reason for fires and other unfortunate accidents. To avoid this, it would be best to contact a contractor for you to be sure that your chimney and fireplace will be safe to be used in your home. 

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