Trusted Chimney Liner & Rebuild for San Francisco Homeowners
Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Francisco typically costs between $2,800 for a stainless steel liner installation and $12,000+ for a full chimney rebuild, with most projects completed in one to two days. Hearthstone Chimney Co. has been serving San Francisco homeowners since 1984, and our background-checked, uniformed technicians complete most liner and rebuild jobs in a single visit with no-hassle upfront pricing. If your chimney is leaking smoke, showing cracked flue tiles, or your inspector flagged liner damage in a Noe Valley Victorian or a Visitacion Valley ranch, call (855) 408-5567 - a live person answers 24 hours a day, and we’ll be there when we say.
San Francisco’s marine climate, with its salt-laden fog rolling through the Outer Sunset and the constant expansion-contraction cycles in neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Mission District, punishes chimney systems harder than inland Bay Area cities. We’ve rebuilt fireboxes in Pacific Heights homes where decades of moisture intrusion spalled the brick, and we’ve installed flexible stainless liners in tight San Francisco flues where rigid pipe simply won’t fit - that’s why we’re known for the Best Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Francisco, CA. Warren Eckhart started this company on the principle that a chimney job done right should last longer than the contractor’s memory of it - that’s why we document every inspection with photos you can see and back every liner and rebuild with our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing, no arguing.
What Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service Includes
Stainless Steel Liner
A stainless steel liner is a continuous metal flue pipe dropped down your chimney to contain combustion gases and protect masonry from corrosive byproducts. In San Francisco, we install stainless liners most often in homes built before 1940 where the original clay flue tiles have cracked from earthquake stress or thermal cycling - common in the Marina District and older parts of Oakland we also serve. Our technicians measure with a level-2 camera inspection first, then fabricate the liner from DuraFlex or Olympia Chimney stock to fit your exact flue dimensions, not a close-enough kit from a hardware store.
Flexible Liner
Flexible liners are corrugated stainless steel tubes that navigate offsets, bends, and narrow flues where rigid pipe cannot pass. We use flexible liners regularly in San Francisco’s hillside homes in Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights, where chimneys often jog around structural elements and a straight drop is impossible. Hearthstone Chimney Co. sources flexible liners from DuraFlex and Gelco in the precise diameter and length your appliance requires, and we insulate according to NFPA 211 standards so your installation passes municipal inspection the first time.
Liner Replacement
Liner replacement removes a failed or outdated liner - whether clay tile, aluminum, or deteriorated stainless - and installs a new system sized for your current heating appliance. We perform liner replacements across San Francisco when homeowners convert from oil to gas, install a new insert, or discover their existing liner has separated at the seams, which we catch during our level-2 camera inspection. The replacement includes a full cleaning, video documentation of the flue condition before and after, and a written warranty backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise.
Partial Rebuild
A partial rebuild addresses specific failed sections of your chimney - the firebox, smoke chamber, or above-the-roof stack - while preserving sound masonry elsewhere. In San Francisco, we partial rebuild most often where the top courses of brick have succumbed to freeze-thaw damage from fog saturation, or where the firebox floor has cracked from overfiring, which we see regularly in older homes in the Richmond District. Our masons match existing mortar color and brick texture where possible, and we use professional-grade materials from Copperfield and Famco for flashing, crowns, and sealants so the repair blends and performs.
Full Chimney Rebuild
A full chimney rebuild dismantles the existing structure to the roofline or foundation and constructs a new system to current California Building Code and San Francisco fire safety standards. We recommend full rebuilds when structural integrity is compromised - extensive spalling, leaning, or internal collapse that threatens the roof or occupants - and we see this most in pre-1906 earthquake cottages in Bernal Heights and Bayview where the original chimney was never properly reinforced. Warren Eckhart oversees our rebuild estimates personally, and every full rebuild includes engineered drawings, permit coordination with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, and a final level-2 inspection with photos you can see.
Liner Repair
Liner repair is targeted restoration of a sound liner system with localized cracks, gaps, or joint failures, often using HeatShield cerfractory sealant or stainless steel sleeves. We pursue repair over replacement when the liner’s overall condition permits, which saves San Francisco homeowners significant cost and disruption - particularly in historic homes in Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights where full liner removal risks damaging irreplaceable masonry. Our technicians test the repair with a smoke test and camera verification before calling the job complete, and we document the work with dated photos for your records and insurance.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Liner & Rebuild
We’ve installed and repaired hundreds of Gelco liner systems in San Francisco homes, particularly their rigid stainless models for straight flues in newer construction from Daly City to South San Francisco. Gelco’s precise manufacturing tolerances mean the liner fits the flue with minimal annular space, which reduces creosote accumulation and improves draft - we stock their common diameters and termination caps so most Gelco jobs need no special-order delays.
Olympia Chimney’s flexible and rigid liners are our go-to for tight San Francisco flues and high-efficiency appliance connections, especially in the compact chimney systems common in Chinatown and the Mission District where space is at a premium. We’ve also serviced and rebuilt chimneys with Famco termination fittings and Copperfield flashing and sealant products for over two decades - whether you have Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, Copperfield, or any other make, we can help. Our trucks carry the parts and our technicians carry the training to work on what you actually have installed, not what a sales sheet says you should buy.
Signs You Need Chimney Liner & Rebuild Right Now
- White staining or efflorescence on exterior brick: This indicates moisture migrating through the masonry, which in San Francisco’s fog-heavy climate accelerates freeze-thaw damage and can collapse a flue from the outside in. We see this pattern frequently on west-facing chimneys in the Sunset District where the afternoon marine layer sits longest, and it demands prompt liner inspection to determine if water has compromised the flue’s integrity.
- Smoke entering your living space during fireplace use: Smoke rollout means combustion gases are not being contained and directed up the flue, which can indicate a cracked liner, blocked flue, or negative pressure issue common in tightly sealed modern San Francisco homes. This is not a nuisance - it is a carbon monoxide exposure risk, and we treat these calls as priority responses with same-day availability when possible.
- Chunks of clay tile in your firebox or at the cleanout: Pieces of flue tile mean the liner is literally disintegrating, exposing combustible framing to high temperatures and creating a direct path for chimney fires to spread to the structure. In San Francisco’s wood-frame housing stock, from Victorians in the Haight to bungalows in Visitacion Valley, this condition is a documented fire hazard that requires immediate liner replacement or rebuild.
- Deteriorated mortar joints between bricks above the roofline: Missing or crumbling mortar allows water straight into the chimney core, where it destroys liners from the outside and undermines the structural stability of the stack. We rebuild chimney crowns and repoint stacks throughout San Francisco, and we always inspect the liner condition from the interior before closing up - water damage is never only skin deep.
- Your home inspection flagged the chimney for sale or refinance: A flagged chimney can derail a San Francisco real estate transaction in a market where timing matters, and we provide documented level-2 inspections with photos and written verdicts that satisfy lenders, insurers, and buyers. We also offer free second opinions on any written estimate - bring us another company’s scope and we’ll tell you straight what is necessary, what is optional, and what we would do if it were our own home.
Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process - Step by Step
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Schedule and confirm: Call (855) 408-5567 and a live person will answer, 24 hours a day. We book your appointment for a specific two-hour window, not an all-day wait, and we call 30 minutes before arrival so you are not trapped at home. Most San Francisco addresses from Sausalito to Emeryville qualify for next-day or same-day scheduling.
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Level-2 camera inspection and documentation: Our technician arrives in uniform, introduces themselves, and runs a high-resolution camera through your flue from top to bottom. You see the footage in real time on a tablet, and we explain what we are seeing in plain English - cracked tiles, gaps at joints, creosote buildup, or structural concerns. The inspection produces dated photos and a written verdict you can keep for insurance, real estate, or your own records.
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Upfront estimate with no pressure: Based on the inspection, we present a written estimate with line-item pricing for the recommended work - liner repair, replacement, or rebuild - and we explain what each item addresses and why. The number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. We do not upsell in the home, and we do not begin work until you approve the scope in writing.
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Professional execution with quality materials: Our technicians complete most liner installations and partial rebuilds in a single visit using professional-grade materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. For full rebuilds requiring permits and weather windows, we coordinate with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection and schedule around forecasted dry periods - marine layer or rain halts masonry work, and we will not shortcut cure times.
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Final test, documentation, and warranty: We verify every liner installation with a smoke test or draft measurement, and we run the camera again to confirm the repair or rebuild is sound. You receive a final report with photos, a copy of your paid invoice, and our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing - if it is not right, we come back, no paperwork, no arguing. Warren Eckhart stands behind this personally.
How Much Does Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in San Francisco?
Our Affordable Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Francisco, CA means a typical stainless steel liner installation runs $2,800-$4,500 depending on flue height, diameter, and whether your chimney requires insulation wrap or a new top-sealing damper. Flexible liner installations in tight or offset flues range $3,200-$5,000, while liner replacement where we must first remove failed material adds $400-$800 for extraction and disposal. Partial rebuilds - firebox floor, smoke chamber parging, or above-roof stack repointing - generally fall between $3,500 and $7,500 in San Francisco’s labor market. A full chimney rebuild, including permit fees, engineered drawings, and professional-grade materials, typically starts at $8,000 and can exceed $15,000 for tall or architecturally complex stacks on hillside homes in Tiburon or Pacific Heights.
Several factors move these numbers. Accessibility matters: a chimney on a flat roof in the Mission District is simpler to scaffold than a three-story stack on a Telegraph Hill slope. The condition of existing masonry determines whether we can preserve portions or must start fresh. And San Francisco’s permit and inspection requirements add both cost and time that unpermitted operators skip - we do not skip them, because an unpermitted rebuild can void your homeowner’s insurance and create liability at sale.
To avoid overpaying, get a written estimate that specifies materials by brand and model, includes permit costs explicitly, and defines what happens if hidden damage appears mid-project. Our estimates do all three. We also offer $50 off any repair over $250, a permanent 5% senior and veteran discount, and free second opinions on any competitor’s written estimate - bring us their number and we’ll tell you if it is fair, inflated, or missing necessary work. Call (855) 408-5567 for an exact quote; estimates are free and carry no obligation.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Near San Francisco - Our Service Area
We serve San Francisco homeowners from the Presidio to Visitacion Valley, with routine response times of same-day or next-day throughout the city. Our service radius extends to Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Mission District and Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Chinatown without additional trip charges, and we regularly travel to Noe Valley, Daly City, South San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiburon, Emeryville, Oakland, and Alameda for liner and rebuild projects. Most jobs in these surrounding communities schedule within 48 hours. Whether you are on a hillside in Sausalito with a wind-damaged stack or in a flatland Alameda bungalow with a failed clay liner, we will be there when we say.
Serving San Francisco, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Francisco area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Francisco
Chimney liner and rebuild service restores or replaces the internal flue system and structural masonry that contains and vents combustion gases from your fireplace, stove, or furnace. A liner is the protective channel inside your chimney; a rebuild addresses the brick, block, or stone structure itself when it has deteriorated beyond repair. Hearthstone Chimney Co. performs both, from targeted liner repairs with HeatShield cerfractory sealant to full structural rebuilds with permit coordination through the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection.
Most stainless steel or flexible liner installations are completed in one day; partial rebuilds typically require one to two days depending on mortar cure requirements. Full chimney rebuilds in San Francisco generally take three to five days of active work plus permit scheduling and inspection waits, which we coordinate for you. Our technicians arrive with the materials and tools to finish most jobs in a single visit, and we do not leave you with a half-repaired chimney overnight unless weather or permit inspection requires it.
Chimney liner installation in San Francisco typically costs $2,800-$5,000, partial rebuilds run $3,500-$7,500, and full rebuilds start around $8,000 and can exceed $15,000 for complex hillside structures. The final price depends on flue dimensions, accessibility, permit requirements, and whether hidden damage appears during demolition. Call (855) 408-5567 for a free, written estimate with line-item pricing - the number we quote is the number on your invoice.
Yes, we install, repair, and warranty Gelco and Olympia Chimney liner systems, and we stock common diameters and fittings for both brands to avoid special-order delays. We have also worked extensively with Famco termination products and Copperfield flashing and sealant systems for over two decades. If your chimney has Gelco, Olympia Chimney, or any other professional-grade liner, we have the training and parts to service it correctly.
We answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a live person - never voicemail, never a callback queue - and we prioritize emergency situations including smoke rollout, structural collapse risk, and carbon monoxide concerns. Same-day response is available throughout San Francisco and most surrounding communities when the situation demands it. If your chimney is actively leaking smoke or showing structural failure, call (855) 408-5567 now and we will dispatch a technician as quickly as safety allows.
Every liner and rebuild job is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, with no arguing. If any aspect of our work is not right, we return and make it right at no additional cost. This is governed by our K.E.Y.S. values code: Krafted right, Every time, Your home first, Standing behind it. For manufacturer warranties on materials, Gelco and Olympia Chimney offer their own product guarantees, which we register on your behalf and explain in plain English before work begins.
Clear a path to your fireplace or appliance and remove fragile items from the mantel and hearth area; our technicians bring drop cloths and HEPA vacuums, but prevention is simpler than apology. For roof-access work, ensure gates are unlocked and pets are secured - our technicians carry ladders tall enough for most San Francisco single-family homes, but we may need to discuss scaffolding for steep or tile roofs in advance. We will confirm any specific preparation needs when we schedule, and we call 30 minutes before arrival so you are never caught unprepared.
Schedule Your Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service in San Francisco Today
Call (855) 408-5567 now and a live person will answer, 24 hours a day, to schedule your free estimate. Hearthstone Chimney Co. has served San Francisco and the Bay Area for over 42 years, and we plan to be here for 42 more - that is why we do every job right and stand behind it in writing. Warren Eckhart and our team of background-checked, uniformed technicians are ready to inspect your chimney, show you the photos, and give you a square deal with no surprises on the bill. The estimate is free. The promise is real. And we’ll be there when we say.
Written by Warren Eckhart, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving San Francisco since 1984.