Chimney Cap Installation
Stainless steel caps for brick chimneys and stainless chase tops for chimneys wrapped in siding.
Chimney Leak Repair in Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Elite Chimney Sweep handles chimney leak repair in Grand Rapids, MI, tracing the water to the flashing, crown, brick or cap before we fix anything.
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Finding Where the Chimney Leak Starts
Chimney leaks get blamed on the roof, but often the chimney itself is the culprit. The wet spot on a ceiling is rarely right under the hole. A drip in a basement ceiling shows up a few feet from where the pipe actually lets go, and chimney water behaves the same way.
We check in order: the flashing first, then the crown, then the brick and mortar, then the cap or chase top. Most fixes run typically $350 to $1,200. A wrong guess costs you a second visit, which is why we trace the water before we quote anything. Our flashing jobs run 2 to 4 hours once we are on the roof, and we've seen plenty of ceiling stains that came from a loose strip no bigger than a ruler.
Call (616) 317-7774 about a leaking chimney.
Questions?Contact UsChimney Leak Repair Options in Grand Rapids
Which fix you need depends on where the water gets in. These are the six places we look.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Flashing is the metal strip that seals the joint where the chimney meets the roof. Gaps, lifted edges and old tar patches are common. We reseal or reset the pieces that have moved.
Chimney Flashing Replacement
When the old flashing is rusted through or was never installed right, we replace it with new step and counter flashing, one layer tucked under the shingles and one set into the brick.
Breathable Waterproofing
A clear water repellent that sheds rain but lets the brick dry out from inside. We never use a film-forming sealer, because a sealer that traps moisture makes bricks flake faster.
Crown and Cap Fixes
A cracked crown or a missing cap lets water straight down the flue. See chimney crown repair and chimney cap installation.
Chase Top Replacement
A rusted chase top on a siding-covered chimney leaks into the framing. A new stainless steel chase top stops it. The cap page covers the details.
Brick and Mortar Fixes
Open mortar joints and cracked bricks are a common leak path. Chimney tuckpointing closes them, and waterproofing goes on afterward.
Chimney Leak Repair Prices in Grand Rapids
- Flashing repair: typically $350 to $900
- Breathable waterproofing: typically $350 to $1,200
- Stainless chase top: typically $400 to $1,500
- Time: usually one visit, once we know where the water gets in
Typical Grand Rapids ranges for 2026, not a quote. Tuckpointing and crown work are priced on their own pages.
What Every Leak Visit Includes
- A look at where the water shows up inside, so we can trace it back
- A check of the flashing, crown, brick and cap from the roof when we can reach it safely
- A camera scan of the flue if the leak looks like it comes from the liner
- A repair quote with photos, so you can see the problem for yourself
- A digital report emailed to you
Signs Your Chimney Is Leaking
- A musty smell near the fireplace
- Water or rust in the firebox
- Mold, moss or green growth on the outside brick
- Water marks on the walls or ceiling around the chimney
- Cracked bricks, or white powder on the brick
- A rusted damper
- A leak that's still there after a new roof
Seeing any one of these doesn't mean the whole chimney is bad. It does mean water is getting in somewhere, and the chimney is worth a close look before the next freeze.
Flashing, Crown, Brick or Cap: Where It Leaks
| Where it leaks | Clue | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing | Stain at the roof line, worse in wind-driven rain | Reseal or replace, $350 to $900 |
| Crown | Cracks on top, stains in the firebox | Coat or rebuild, see crown repair |
| Brick and mortar | Open joints, white powder, flaking faces | Tuckpoint, then waterproof |
| Chase top | Rust streaks on the siding | New stainless steel chase top, $400 to $1,500 |
Why Waterproofing Alone Doesn't Fix a Leak
A water repellent helps brick shed rain, and it needs to be breathable so the brick can dry. It does nothing for open joints, a cracked crown or flashing that's pulled away. Waterproofing goes on last, after the actual holes are closed. That's our opinion, and it's saved a few customers from paying for it twice.
Why a New Roof Doesn't Always Stop the Leak
On a call last fall in Comstock Park, the homeowners had just put on a new roof and the stain was still there. The roofers had reused the old flashing around the chimney. New shingles don't help if the metal at the chimney is the original piece.
What We Do First
We start inside, where the water shows. Then we go up, because the stain tells us roughly where to look. We check the flashing, crown and mortar joints from the roof when it's safe to reach. If the leak seems to come down the flue, we send the camera up. Each finding goes into your emailed report with a photo.
Every Visit Ends With a Written Report
A digital report of the camera scan with photos, and repair quotes you can read at the kitchen table. Nothing gets booked until you say so.
Questions we hear
Chimney Leak Repair FAQs
How much does chimney leak repair cost in Grand Rapids?
Chimney leak repair in Grand Rapids typically costs $350 to $900 for flashing work, $350 to $1,200 for breathable waterproofing, and $400 to $1,500 for a stainless steel chase top. The price depends on where the water gets in, so we trace the leak first and quote after.
Why is my chimney leaking when it rains?
Most chimney leaks come from one of four spots: failed flashing where the chimney meets the roof, a cracked crown, open mortar joints or a missing cap. Water can travel a few feet before it shows on a ceiling, so the stain is rarely right under the hole. We trace it in order.
Is my chimney leaking or is it the roof?
Both happen, but chimneys are the culprit more often than people expect. A stain that follows the chimney, appears after wind-driven rain or stays after a new roof usually points at the flashing. We check the metal at the chimney first, because a roof fix that misses it costs you twice.
What is chimney flashing?
Flashing is the metal strip that seals the joint where the chimney meets the roof. It comes in two layers, step flashing that tucks under the shingles and counter flashing set into the brick. When it lifts, rusts or cracks, water gets in along the joint. Repair typically costs $350 to $900.
Does chimney waterproofing really work?
Yes, when it's the right kind. A breathable water repellent keeps rain from soaking into brick while letting moisture escape from inside, and it typically costs $350 to $1,200. It can't close open joints or a cracked crown, so we fix those first and apply the repellent last.
How do I know if the leak is coming from the chimney?
Look for water or rust in the firebox, a musty smell near the fireplace, stains on the ceiling or wall around the chimney, or white powder on the brick. If any of those show up after a rain, the chimney is a prime suspect. A camera and roof look settles it in about an hour.
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PhotosWith every reportThe camera scan comes back as pictures you can keep, so you can show a roofer, an agent or your spouse.Contact Us
Our Other Chimney Services
Chimney Crown Repair
Hairline cracks sealed and coated, or a broken-up crown rebuilt with a sloped slab that sheds water.
Chimney Inspection
Level 1, 2 and 3 inspections with a camera scan of the whole flue and a photo report emailed to you.
Chimney Liner Installation
Cracked clay tile sealed with HeatShield, or a new insulated stainless steel liner the full height of the flue.
Chimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds that take down only the brick that has failed and lay it back up straight.
Chimney Tuckpointing
Crumbling mortar joints ground out and repacked, loose bricks replaced, the top of the stack made tight again.
Where We Do This Work
Chimney service requests
Book Your Sweep, Inspection or Repair Quote
Leave your name, number and a line about the chimney. We call you back during office hours to set a time.
- Camera scan with every sweep
- Written report with photos
- CSIA-certified sweeps on the crew