Brick chimneys, top to bottom
Demolition Little Rock: Chimney Removal in Little Rock
Unused, leaning or leaking brick chimneys taken down above the roof line or to the ground, brick by brick where they meet the house, with the roof and siding closed up behind them.
- Little Rock and 12 nearby towns
- Written price before work starts
- Permit and utility steps explained
- Houses, pools, garages and slabs
- Lots left level and swept
Demolition Little Rock arranges chimney removal in Little Rock for the many older houses here with a brick chimney nobody uses: a gas log insert that was disconnected years ago, a stack that leaks every time it storms, or a chimney pulling away from the wall. It is the one kind of demolition where machines do almost nothing, because a chimney is taken apart by hand from the top down.
Taking down a leaking stack above the roof often costs $300 to $1,500; leaving it to leak can rot the roof deck and framing around it and turn into a $6,000 or larger repair.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828Signs a chimney should come down
- A stack leaning away from the house or a gap opening between chimney and wall
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney after rain
- Loose, spalled or missing bricks and crumbling mortar joints
- A cracked crown or missing cap
- A fireplace that is never used and costs money every few years
Above the roof or all the way down
There are two common versions. Taking it below the roof line removes the part that leaks and leans, then the roof is decked and shingled over the opening; the firebox and the interior part can stay. Taking it to the ground removes the whole stack and its footing, which also means patching the exterior wall and sometimes an interior wall and the floor where the hearth was.
Chimney removal and roof repair go together. The roofer's part, decking, underlayment, flashing and shingles to match, is often a third or more of the price.
How it is taken apart
- The flue is checked and any gas line to an insert is shut off and capped by a qualified tradesperson.
- Scaffolding or roof anchors go up; the chimney is taken down brick by brick into a chute or a bucket, never pushed over.
- Brick is stacked for salvage or hauled; old clay flue liners are bagged.
- The opening in the roof is framed, decked and shingled, and the wall is closed and sided.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828Old brick and what is behind it
Older chimneys can have asbestos in the flue tape, a cement board around the opening or an old furnace flue connector, so suspect materials are checked first. Salvaged old brick is popular with builders and landscapers, which can offset part of the cost. In historic parts of Little Rock, such as the MacArthur Park Historic District, removing a visible chimney changes the exterior and needs Historic District Commission approval.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828When a chimney comes down with the house
If the whole house is coming down, the chimney goes with it and is part of the house demolition price. If the chimney is the only problem, removing it is usually far cheaper than rebuilding it, and in a house that heats with central air there is little to lose. In Maumelle and other newer neighborhoods, chimneys are more often framed and sided than solid brick, which changes the job again.
Questions people ask
How much does chimney removal cost in Little Rock?
Typically $300 to $6,000. Removing the part above the roof is at the low end; a full exterior chimney down to its footing with siding and roof repair is at the top.
What are the signs a chimney needs to be removed?
Leaning or separating from the house, leaks beside it, loose or spalled brick, a cracked crown, or a fireplace that is never used.
Does removing a chimney include roof repair?
It should. The opening is decked, flashed and shingled to match, and that work is part of a proper price.
Can I keep the fireplace and remove only the top?
Yes. Taking the chimney below the roof line stops the leaks while the firebox inside stays, though it will no longer be usable for fires.
Is old chimney brick worth anything?
Clean old brick often sells to builders and landscapers, which can offset part of the cost.
How long does chimney removal take?
One to three days, including the roof and wall patch.
Have something that needs to come down?
A house, a garage, a pool or a slab. Call with the address and the size, and get a typical price range and the permit steps that apply to it.
Call (501) 222-3828