About one City of Orlando home in five predates 1970, while 40.7% were built in 2000 or later, so repair calls split between clay-lined brick chimneys in the older core and metal flues in framed chases. The chimney type matters more than anything else in the plan.
What chimney repair covers
- Brick and mortar: eroded joints, spalling faces and loose brick, handled by brick and mortar repair and repointing worn joints
- The crown: the concrete or mortar top that sheds water off the brick; see crown repair
- Top courses above the roof: relaid, or a partial or full rebuild when brick is loose or broken
- Inside the flue: cracked or missing clay tile, through flue liner repair
- Framed chases: cover, trim, siding and wet framing, through factory-built chimney and chase repair
The local picture in Orlando
Ranch houses from the 1950s and 1960s often have a single brick chimney on an exterior wall with a low-slope roof around it; after several reroofs the usual findings are worn top courses, a thin mortar crown and flashing that was sealed over rather than reset. Some older chimneys were painted or stuccoed, which can hold moisture in the brick and hide spalling underneath.
Before visible exterior work
Lake Copeland is a local historic district; whether a crown rebuild, a new cap or a change of brick or stucco needs review is a question for the City’s historic preservation staff.
Where this page applies
This page covers the City of Orlando. Lake Nona, Dr. Phillips and Hunters Creek have their own area pages.
Signs a chimney needs repair
01Cracked or crumbling crown
- What you may notice
- Cracks, missing pieces or a crown that looks rough and porous.
- How it’s confirmed
- The crown is checked up close for crack depth and whether it still sheds water.
02Flaking or broken brick
- What you may notice
- Brick faces popping off, fragments on the roof or in the gutter.
- How it’s confirmed
- Damaged units are mapped and the cause, usually water, is traced.
03Mortar washing out
- What you may notice
- Sandy joints, gaps you can see into, grit on the hearth.
- How it’s confirmed
- Joint depth is checked to decide where repointing is needed.
A chimney that tilts or opens a gap at the wall is a different problem; see what a leaning chimney can mean.
Storm damage: repair or rebuild?
After a hurricane or tropical storm, most chimney damage is at the top: a shifted cap, cracked crown, lifted flashing or loose courses above the roof. That usually means repair, not a rebuild. A full rebuild is for chimneys whose structure was cracked through or knocked out of line, which is uncommon.
If the damage came from a named storm, a storm-damage chimney inspection records what changed before anything is repaired, which also helps if you plan to talk to your insurer. For what to look for first, see chimney damage after a storm.
Damage, leaks and inspections
Damage and leaks often go together, but they’re approached differently. A leak is traced from the stain back to where water enters, and that belongs to the leak repair service for Orlando. Structural and masonry repair starts from the damage itself. When you don’t yet know which you have, start with an inspection before the repair is scoped.
Chimney repair across Orlando
Repairs are available throughout Orlando, from College Park to the newest streets. Tell us whether the chimney is brick or a framed chase, what you’ve noticed and when it started. For other work on the house, see chimney and fireplace services in Orlando. Nearby, the same service covers chimney repair for Winter Park homes, masonry and chimney repair in Maitland and repair services in Eatonville.
For the full background, see how chimney repair works and when a chimney needs rebuilding.
References (2)
Public data and code references cited for Orlando.
