Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning in Arlington, VA
Chimney cap and crown work in Arlington runs $325 to $1,150 depending on whether we’re installing a new cap, replacing a failed one, or rebuilding a spalled crown. Liner replacement and full rebuilds run higher: $2,800 to $14,000 for stainless steel liners and partial or full masonry rebuilds. Arlington’s 1940s and 1950s brick Colonials and Capes make these jobs different from anywhere else in Northern Virginia, because most of these homes still carry original clay tile liners that freeze-thaw cycles have cracked well past their 50-year design life. Call (571) 376-7052 for a written price before any work starts.
Why Arlington Homes Are Different
Arlington’s residential core is dominated by brick Colonial Revival and Cape Cod homes built in the 1940s and 1950s to house the wartime and postwar federal workforce tied to the Pentagon’s 1943 opening. That leaves the county with a dense concentration of 70 to 80 year old masonry chimneys with original clay tile flue liners now well past their intended service life. In neighborhoods like Westover, Lyon Village, Cherrydale, Aurora Hills, and Dominion Hills, those liners carry freeze-thaw cracks you cannot see from the firebox. The county’s mid-Atlantic climate delivers 40 to 50 freeze-thaw cycles in a typical winter, and water infiltrating aged mortar joints then freezing accelerates spalling on those 1940s to 1960s brick chimney stacks. Saturated crowns and caps are a recurring failure point we find on nearly every pre-1960 inspection. Summers are hot and humid, promoting moss and efflorescence on north-facing chase walls that signals deeper moisture intrusion.
Our Main Arlington Services
Arlington homeowners call us most about two things: the chimney cleaning and repair work every old masonry chimney eventually needs, and the fireplace service that keeps those systems running safely through the fall and winter.
Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Arlington
A sweep in Arlington is rarely a simple brush job on these 1940s and 1950s chimneys. What we usually find is a decade of creosote layered inside a flue that changed hands two or three times without anyone checking. Arlington’s transient population, Pentagon staff and defense contractors on 2 to 3 year rotations, means Aurora Hills and Westover homes frequently cycle through renters and quick resales with nobody claiming ownership of chimney maintenance. A Level 2 camera scan shows you exactly what’s in there before we touch it. Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Arlington
Chimney Repair in Arlington
Freeze-thaw damage on Arlington brick stacks shows up as spalled mortar joints, cracked crowns, and loose cap assemblies that let water into the flue before anyone notices. Because these are full-masonry chimneys on homes built before 1960, the water has already had decades to work on the clay tile liners inside. Repair work on these stacks usually means repointing, crown rebuilding, and cap replacement as a set, not as pick and choose items. We write the scope after the camera shows us what’s actually failing. Chimney Repair in Arlington
Fireplace Services in Arlington
Most Arlington single-family fireplaces are wood burning, built for the original 1940s and 1950s owners and still in active use now. We service dampers, fireboxes, smoke chambers, and gas log sets across the county’s older brick neighborhoods. If a fireplace in Cherrydale or Dominion Hills has not been used in a decade, it almost always needs more than a cleaning before it’s safe to light again. Fireplace Services in Arlington
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
BeforeAfterChimney Cap & Crown in Arlington
Arlington’s freeze-thaw winters and 70 to 80 year old masonry stacks make cap and crown failure one of the most common findings on our camera inspections. A cracked crown or missing cap lets water into the flue, and on a 1950s brick Colonial in Lyon Village, that water has already been working on the clay tile liner for years. We treat cap and crown work as part of the whole chimney system, not an isolated part replacement. You can see the full scope of what we do at Chimney Cap & Crown.
Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Birds, rain, or debris getting into your flue, or a rusted old cap that’s come loose, means a new cap is overdue.
What it costs in Arlington
Cap installation in Arlington runs $325 to $650 depending on flue size and cap type.
How we do it
We measure the flue, install a stainless steel cap sized to your chimney, and secure it to the crown with mechanical fasteners, then photo-document the finished job.
Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Cracks, spalling, or missing chunks on the concrete crown at the top of the chimney let water straight into the masonry below.
What it costs in Arlington
Crown repair in Arlington ranges from $400 to $1,150 depending on whether we’re sealing, patching, or rebuilding the crown.
How we do it
We remove loose material, rebuild the crown with a proper overhang and drip edge, and apply a flexible waterproof coating that moves with freeze-thaw cycles instead of cracking.
Crown Coating
Signs you need it
A crown that’s intact but porous, with hairline cracks forming, needs coating before water gets a foothold.
What it costs in Arlington
Crown coating in Arlington runs $325 to $450 for a standard single-family chimney.
How we do it
We clean the crown, fill any small cracks, and apply a two-coat elastomeric sealant that flexes through Arlington’s 40 to 50 yearly freeze-thaw cycles.
Multi-Flue Cap
Signs you need it
Homes with two or more flues on one chimney, common on Arlington’s larger 1950s Capes, need a single multi-flue cap when the old individual caps rust out or fail.
What it costs in Arlington
Multi-flue cap installation in Arlington runs $550 to $950 depending on the footprint and mounting surface.
How we do it
We fabricate or source a cap sized to cover all flues on the chimney, anchor it to the crown, and verify clearances for each flue before finishing.
What Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Arlington
| Item | Typical range in Arlington |
|---|---|
| Cap installation | $325 - $650 |
| Crown repair / coating | $325 - $1,150 |
| Multi-flue cap | $550 - $950 |
How long does a chimney crown repair last in Arlington?
A properly rebuilt and coated crown lasts 10 to 15 years in Arlington’s freeze-thaw climate, but we recommend checking it each year during your sweep. Small cracks caught early are cheap; full spalling isn’t.
Do I need a new cap if my crown is cracked?
Usually yes, at least to check. A damaged crown often means the cap was already letting water in, and replacing both at once is cheaper than a second mobilization six months later. Call (571) 376-7052 for a written price.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Arlington
Arlington’s original clay tile liners have been cracking for decades, and by the time we run a camera down a 1950s flue in Cherrydale or Aurora Hills, the decision is usually between a stainless steel liner and a partial rebuild, not a simple patch. Freeze-thaw water has already done the damage. The full scope of what this involves, including material options and rebuild sequences, is on Chimney Liner & Rebuild.
Stainless Steel Liner
Signs you need it
Camera inspection shows cracked or missing clay tile sections, or the flue is unlined and you want to burn wood safely.
What it costs in Arlington
A stainless steel liner in Arlington runs $2,800 to $6,000 installed, depending on flue height and access.
How we do it
We run a camera first, then size and install a rigid or flexible stainless liner, insulate it, and connect it to the appliance or firebox.
Partial Rebuild
Signs you need it
The top few feet of the chimney are spalled or leaning, but the lower structure is sound, which is common on Arlington’s 1940s brick stacks.
What it costs in Arlington
Partial rebuilds in Arlington run $4,000 to $8,000 depending on how many courses of brick come down.
How we do it
We remove damaged brick courses, rebuild with matched brick and correct mortar, and install a new crown and cap to close the top.
Full Chimney Rebuild
Signs you need it
The stack is structurally compromised from the roofline up or down to the firebox, and patching would leave the underlying problem in place.
What it costs in Arlington
A full chimney rebuild in Arlington starts around $9,000 and can reach $14,000 or more on a tall 1950s stack with difficult access.
How we do it
We dismantle the chimney to the point of sound structure and rebuild it brick by brick, with a new liner, crown, and cap as part of the same scope.
What Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Arlington
| Item | Typical range in Arlington |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel liner | $2,800 - $6,000 |
| Partial rebuild | $4,000 - $8,000 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $9,000 - $14,000+ |
Do I really need a new liner, or is this an upsell?
We only recommend a liner when the camera shows cracked or missing clay tile sections. You’ll see those photos before we quote anything. Call (571) 376-7052 to schedule an inspection.
Can I keep using my fireplace with a cracked liner?
No. A cracked liner exposes combustible framing to flue gases and can allow carbon monoxide into the house. This is the one repair we tell Arlington homeowners not to defer.
Brands We Service in Arlington
We install and service Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield parts across Arlington, with common cap and liner components stocked locally for faster turnaround. Our brands are chosen for how they hold up under mid-Atlantic freeze-thaw cycling, not for how they look in a catalog.
Pricing for Chimney Cleaning in Arlington, VA
| Service | Typical range in Arlington |
|---|---|
| Cap installation | $325 - $650 |
| Cap replacement | $350 - $700 |
| Crown repair | $400 - $1,150 |
| Crown coating | $325 - $450 |
| Multi-flue cap | $550 - $950 |
| Stainless steel liner | $2,800 - $6,000 |
| Flexible liner | $2,800 - $5,500 |
| Liner replacement | $3,000 - $6,500 |
| Partial rebuild | $4,000 - $8,000 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $9,000 - $14,000+ |
What pushes the price up in Arlington is access: tall 1950s stacks on tight Arlington lots, steep rooflines, and chimneys that haven’t been touched in 30 years. Whatever the number, you get it in writing before anything starts, and that’s the Haven Standard, Clause 1.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Arlington
We work throughout Arlington County, with most calls coming from the older single-family pockets where the 1940s and 1950s masonry chimneys live. Typical scheduling runs within a few business days across the county.
- Westover
- Lyon Village
- Cherrydale
- Aurora Hills
- Dominion Hills
Service Area - Cities Near Arlington
We also serve Falls Church, VA, Alexandria, VA, Vienna, VA, and Fairfax, VA with the same camera-scan inspection standard and written pricing we use in Arlington.
Serving Arlington, VA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Arlington area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Cleaning in Arlington
Most Arlington homeowners get a scheduled visit within a few business days. We dispatch crews to Arlington daily, and the inspection, cleaning, and written quote all happen in one visit.
Most cap, crown, and liner work doesn’t require an Arlington County permit, but some HOAs in planned communities want to see a written scope before exterior work starts. We give you that document as part of the quote.
Most of those buildings have gas inserts or no fireplaces, so we see fewer calls there. But when a condo or townhouse does have an active masonry chimney, we inspect it with the same Level 2 camera standard we use on single-family homes in Arlington. Call (571) 376-7052 for a written estimate and a camera-based inspection before any work begins.
Call (571) 376-7052 for a free estimate. We work throughout Arlington County, VA, including Westover, Lyon Village, Cherrydale, Aurora Hills, Dominion Hills, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Every job includes a documented photo record and a written price before work starts.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Arlington Customers Say
"They ran a camera down the flue and showed me the cracked tiles on a screen. The previous company had swept it twice and never mentioned it."
- Gregory F."They told me the flue was fine and I did not need a liner. Charged me for the inspection and nothing else. That is why I have called them twice since."
- Hal M."Cap and crown replaced after water was getting in. Price was quoted in writing, and they showed me the mortar failure first."
- Neil O.