Cracks at the roofline and what they usually mean
Below the roof, the chimney is held by the house around it. Above the roof it stands free, and that is where movement concentrates. A horizontal crack in a mortar joint just above the roofline, or a stack that has twisted slightly on its base, is often the mark of past shaking rather than of weather.
The Earthquake Country Alliance notes that inadequately braced chimneys are a common problem and advises having one checked if there is doubt. A chimney with a displaced upper section should not be used, and nobody should stand beneath it while it waits for repair.
Repointing, a new crown or a partial rebuild: how the scope is chosen
The decision follows from what has failed, and how far:
- 1Joints eroded but bricks sound: repointing, raking out the old mortar and packing new mortar that is no harder than the brick.
- 2Crown cracked but the brick beneath it dry and firm: a new crown, built with a drip edge and a bond break.
- 3Bricks spalling, meaning the face has flaked off, in a few places: those bricks replaced individually.
- 4Loose or displaced brick above the roofline: the upper courses taken down and relaid, which is a partial rebuild.
- 5Movement through the full height, or a chimney pulling away from the house: a rebuild assessment rather than a repair.
Describe where the damage is, above or below the roofline, and when you first noticed it. Call or send the details, and ask for an estimate for the work.
Where the City of Burbank comes in
Burbank is an incorporated city, so whether a given chimney job needs a permit is decided by the City of Burbank, not by Los Angeles or the county. Minor repointing and a partial rebuild are not always treated the same way, so it is worth asking the city before structural work starts.
A rebuilt chimney also has to meet the code's height rule: at least three feet above the point where it passes through the roof, and at least two feet higher than any part of the building within ten feet. A chimney that met an older standard may need extra courses when it is rebuilt.
Variables behind a Burbank chimney repair estimate
Scope is the first: repointing a band of joints and relaying the upper courses are different orders of work. Then access and height above the roof; the roof covering, since clay tile has to be lifted carefully to reach the flashing; how closely new brick and mortar need to match the old in colour and strength; and what turns up once the damaged section is opened.