Who to call for cracked crown or crumbling brick in Valley Stream, NY
Valley Stream's older blocks near the Gibson and Westwood LIRR stations are full of 1920s–1950s homes, and many still have the original masonry chimney. If the top of yours is cracked and brick is coming off, the crown has almost certainly failed. Water is getting into the brick and mortar below it. The work is done by independent masons and sweeps. One Call Chimney arranges it but does not do it ourselves. Look for someone who inspects the stack up close, explains the repair in writing, and holds whatever licensing your county or city requires.
Phones answered around the clock · free estimate
It happens here because Valley Stream has a humid coastal climate with cold winters that cycle through freeze and thaw again and again. Water soaks into a hairline crack, freezes, and pushes it wider. Over a few winters, a crack in the crown turns into loose mortar and flaking brick. New York as a whole has a long cold heating season, and its freeze-thaw cycles are hard on crowns, mortar joints and brick faces.
While you wait — please don't
- Keep clear of the base of the chimney. Falling brick is a hazard at ground level, so keep children, pets and cars away from the area below the stack.
- Don't climb up to look. A roof is a poor place to test a damaged stack, and the technician can inspect it safely.
- Hold off on lighting fires. Open gaps and loose brick should be checked before the fireplace, stove or heating flue is used again.
- Get outside if you feel unwell. If anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea while a fuel-burning appliance is running, leave the house and call 911, because that can mean carbon monoxide.
What the technician does
- You call, we arrange the visitCall (866) 576-7943 and describe what you see. We schedule an independent mason or sweep for your Valley Stream address.
- The technician inspects the stackThey look at the crown, the mortar joints, the brick faces and the cap. They also check whether the stack is leaning or has open gaps, because that is structural rather than cosmetic.
- You get the price firstThe estimate is free. The technician gives you the price after the inspection and before any work starts, and you approve it first.
- Crown and mortar repairDepending on what they find, the crown is repaired or recast with an overhang and a drip edge. Repointing is matched to the existing work.
- Brick and cap workSpalled brick is cut out and replaced, and a cap is fitted. Where the stack has lost structure, the section above the roofline is rebuilt.
Why this happens in Valley Stream, NY
Many Valley Stream homes still have older oil or converted gas heating systems venting into original clay-lined masonry chimneys. That means the chimney is often an active flue, not a decorative one. A failing crown at the top lets water into the flue and the masonry below. That is one reason to have the whole stack looked at when the top is damaged. The same visit can show whether the flue needs inspection or relining.
Demand here rises in early spring after freeze-thaw and nor'easter damage. It rises again in late summer and fall as people get ready for hurricane season and heating season. Irene and Sandy both brought flooding and power loss to the South Shore, and wind-driven rain is part of life near the coast. If you have noticed crumbling brick, fall is a good time to get it looked at before another winter of freezing and thawing.
Questions people ask
- Who does the repair work in Valley Stream?
- Independent masons and sweeps do the work. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service, so we arrange the visit but are not the contractor. You deal with the technician on the estimate and the repair.
- Does chimney repair need a permit in Valley Stream?
- In New York, permits are issued locally, not by the state. Structural masonry work such as rebuilding a chimney above the roofline typically needs one, while routine sweeping and inspection generally do not. Call your local building department before work begins.
- Does New York license chimney masons?
- There is no statewide chimney license. Licensing is handled by cities and counties, and several downstate counties, including Nassau, run their own home improvement contractor programs. Check with the consumer affairs or licensing office where the work will be done.
- Why do older Valley Stream chimneys crack at the top?
- Older masonry chimneys are common on the village's pre- and post-war homes. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles work on the crown and the mortar joints. Once water gets in, a hairline crack can open into loose brick.
- What does the estimate cost?
- The estimate is free on every job. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. Ask for the reasoning in writing, and for photos of what they found.
One call
Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange an independent technician to look at your Valley Stream chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
More from One Call Chimney
Nearby
Answers
Free tool
Something else in this area
- Smoke comes back into the room
- Never been swept
- Water coming in
- Something living up there
- Smells of smoke or damp
- Damper stuck or broken
- Liner damaged or missing
- Rebuild or new chimney
One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.