Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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.
Chimney Company in Berkeley, CA
Chimney repair in Berkeley usually means working on a 70 to 100 year old masonry flue that has been soaking up East Bay fog every winter and building up glazed creosote every burning season. We started as a chimney sweep company in San Leandro and grew into full-system repair because homeowners kept asking us to fix what the sweep uncovered. In Berkeley, that typically means cracked clay tile liners, spalled crowns, and missing caps on tall exterior stacks in the Hills. If you need a repair diagnosis or a cleaning that includes a camera inspection, call Chimney Cleaning San Leandro at (833) 736-8208. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
Why Berkeley Homes Are Different
Berkeley’s chimney work is dominated by the pre-1940s wood-burning bungalows and Brown Shingle homes in the flatlands and Berkeley Hills, where decades of smoldering fires in older masonry flues have left heavy creosote and glazed deposits. That matters because glazed creosote does not brush out – it has to be removed with chemical treatments or rotary tools, and it often hides cracked flue tiles underneath. The Hills add another layer: many chimneys there are tall, exposed exterior masonry stacks above the Claremont and Panoramic Hill areas, often with no rain cap at all.
The marine-influenced climate does specific damage here. Cool damp winters and the fog belt mean chimneys sit unused for months, drawing moisture into the mortar crown and flue tile. When fires finally resume in November, that moisture has degraded the clay and encouraged creosote to harden into a tar-like glaze. We routinely find spalled brick crowns and offset flue tiles in Berkeley’s original fireplaces, and we fit caps that match the historic look of the home rather than a generic galvanized cone.
Berkeley also has an active permit culture. Most structural chimney work – relining, rebuilding a crown, replacing flashing – requires a permit through the city, and some Hills neighborhoods have additional fire-safety requirements given the wildfire history. We handle the work itself and recommend confirming permit requirements with the city before any structural repair is scheduled.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
Our Main Berkeley Services
Berkeley homeowners call us for two things more than anything else: a thorough Chimney Sweep in Berkeley with camera inspection, and dedicated Dryer Vent Cleaning in Berkeley for the lint-clogged exhaust lines common in older laundry rooms. Both are standalone services, not add-ons.
Chimney Sweep in Berkeley
A chimney sweep in Berkeley on a pre-1940s fireplace usually involves more than a brush. The clay tile liners in these homes are often cracked from decades of thermal cycling, so we run a camera through the flue as part of the sweep to check for offset tiles, glazed creosote, and missing mortar joints. If the chimney has sat through a damp Berkeley summer, the creosote is often hard and adhered to the flue walls, which calls for a different set of tools than a standard brush. Read more about how we handle older Berkeley flues on the Chimney Sweep in Berkeley page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Berkeley
Dryer vents in Berkeley’s older homes are often long, narrow, and routed through crawl spaces or exterior walls with multiple elbows. Lint builds up quickly in those conditions, and the marine dampness can make it mat down and restrict airflow even faster. We clean the full vent run from the dryer to the exterior termination using professional-grade Famco venting hardware when replacement parts are needed. The Dryer Vent Cleaning in Berkeley page covers what a typical Berkeley laundry setup costs and how long the job takes.
Chimney Repair in Berkeley
Chimney repair in Berkeley usually starts with a cracked clay tile liner or a deteriorated crown that has been absorbing fog moisture for years. Homes built before 1940 often have original brick masonry fireplaces whose flue tiles have shifted or cracked from decades of heat, and the damp winters accelerate the damage even when the fireplace is not in use. We repair what we find on the same visit as the cleaning inspection, which means a full picture before any liner, cap, or flashing work is recommended. Learn more about the full scope of Chimney Repair and what a camera inspection reveals.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
If birds, leaves, or rain are getting into the flue, or if you can see daylight through the top of the chimney without a cap, the flue is open to Berkeley’s wind-driven rain and needs a fitted cap.
What it costs in Berkeley
Chimney cap installation in Berkeley typically runs $380 to $850 depending on the flue size and whether a custom copper or stainless cap is needed to match the home’s architectural style.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, select a cap that fits the historic look of the home when needed, and secure it to the crown with mechanical fasteners and a weatherproof seal.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, damp brick, or visible gaps between the chimney and roofline mean the flashing has failed and is letting Berkeley’s winter rain into the house.
What it costs in Berkeley
Chimney flashing repair in Berkeley typically costs $350 to $800 depending on how many sides of the chimney need to be cut into and resealed.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing, cut a reglet into the masonry, install new step and counter flashing, and seal the joints so water sheds away from the chimney instead of pooling against it.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Berkeley
| Item | Typical range in Berkeley |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $380 – $850 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $1,200 |
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be fixed?
Sometimes a liner can be resurfaced with HeatShield rather than fully replaced, which costs less and avoids tearing out the old flue. The camera inspection shows whether the damage is isolated or structural. Call (833) 736-8208 for an exact quote – estimates are free.
How often should a Berkeley chimney be repaired or inspected?
If the fireplace is used regularly, an annual inspection catches cracked tiles and crown wear before they become structural problems. In the damp Berkeley climate, an unused chimney should still be checked every couple of years. Call (833) 736-8208 and we will book the next opening.
Brands We Service in Berkeley
We stock and install professional-grade chimney parts from HeatShield for liner resurfacing, Gelco and Copperfield caps, Olympia Chimney liners, and Famco venting components. Most common parts are on the truck, so a repair rarely waits on a shipment. See our brands for the full product line.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Berkeley, CA
| Service | Typical range in Berkeley |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep with basic inspection | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney sweep with camera inspection | $250 – $450 |
| Chimney cap installation | $380 – $850 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $1,200 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,800 – $6,500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $120 – $250 |
Costs in Berkeley run higher when a chimney is a tall exterior stack in the Hills with limited ladder access, or when a historic home needs a custom cap or flashing profile that matches the original roofline. The written estimate sets the final price, and we do not recommend work that the camera inspection does not show.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Berkeley
We work throughout Berkeley, from the flatland bungalows around 94702 and 94703 to the hillside homes in 94705. The older the house, the more likely the chimney has original clay tile that has never been inspected. Response is fastest in the central flatlands and the neighborhoods we cover most often:
- Berkeley Hills
- Claremont
- Elmwood
- North Berkeley
- South Berkeley
Service Area – Cities Near Berkeley
Our trucks also run to Piedmont, CA, Oakland, CA, Alameda, CA, and San Leandro, CA. If you are just outside Berkeley, the same camera inspection and repair-first approach applies. Call (833) 736-8208 to confirm coverage for your address.
Serving Berkeley, CA – Our Local Coverage Area
We serve Berkeley and nearby communities. Use the map below to see the area we cover. If you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Company in Berkeley
We dispatch from San Leandro daily. Most Berkeley appointments are booked within a few days, and Chimney Cleaning San Leandro covers the entire East Bay, so a sweep in the flatlands is often a short drive. Call (833) 736-8208. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
Most structural repairs require a permit through the city of Berkeley, and the timeline depends on the city’s review queue. We handle the work itself; the permit is a separate step we can help you understand. A cleaning or camera inspection needs no permit.
Yes, and most of our Berkeley work is on pre-1940s bungalows and Brown Shingle homes. We match cap and flashing profiles to the original style when needed, and we never recommend modern replacements that alter the look of the house without flagging it first.
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 Berkeley Customers Say
"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
- Laura Mercer"Thorough sweep and a clear report. He was running late from the job before and arrived near the end of the window, though he did call to warn me."
- Danielle Doyle"Creosote buildup was worse than I realized. He measured it, showed me the glazing on the flue with the camera, and was honest that we were closer to a chimney fire than I wanted to hear."
- Ramon Hernandez