Chimney pointing
Cut-out and repointing of failed mortar joints in the chimney brick or stone. The most common chimney repair we do, and usually the cheapest fix that holds the longest.
4.8 · 187 verified reviews
BBB A+ Accredited
Family-operated since 1997
Specialty · Chimney Repairs
Chimney repair & pointing in Philadelphia.
BBB A+ Accredited
4.8★ / 187+ reviews
Family-operated since 1997
Licensed & Insured
What we offer
Philadelphia Chimney Repairs across Philadelphia.
Crown repair & rebuild
The cement cap on top of the chimney is the first piece to fail, cracked, crumbling, or completely missing. We pour a fresh crown with a drip edge, sloped off the flue, sealed where it meets the brick.
Brick replacement
Spalled, cracked, or missing bricks, cut out and replaced with matched brick. Common chimney repair on row homes 50+ years old where individual bricks have failed before the rest of the chimney.
Partial chimney rebuild
When the top several courses of brick are too damaged to repoint, we tear them down and rebuild, matched brick, fresh mortar, fresh crown. Stops at the sound courses below.
Flashing & roof tie-in
The seam where the chimney meets the roof needs proper step flashing and counter-flashing. We coordinate with your roofer when the flashing has failed, or handle it ourselves on smaller jobs.
Cap installation
Stainless steel chimney cap to keep rain, leaves, and animals out of the flue. Sized to your specific flue, installed with a proper bracket, holds for decades.
From our neighbors
Real Philadelphia chimneys. Real customers.
★★★★★
Verified
“A short story…we needed someone who could do an emergency sidewalk repair in center city Philadelphia during the holidays! Impossible? Well, Marcello made it possible. He called back when he said he was going to call back. He showed up exactly when he said he'd show up. He arrived at…”
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“A short story…we needed someone who could do an emergency sidewalk repair in center city Philadelphia during the holidays! Impossible? Well, Marcello made it possible. He called back when he said he was going to call back. He showed up exactly when he said he'd show up. He arrived at our center city address, got out of his truck and fixed the problem. He really cared about getting it right. And…all that happened for a reasonable price. Personable, honest, man-of-his word. He's been added to my short list of trusted Philly vendors.”
★★★★★
Verified
“I contracted with Marcello Family Concrete to replace my driveway, sidewalk, and steps/walkway from the driveway to the front door. The Marcello crew was AMAZING. They showed up on time, worked efficiently, and cleaned up as they went along. The owner and his father are wonderful people. Besides, being professional,…”
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“I contracted with Marcello Family Concrete to replace my driveway, sidewalk, and steps/walkway from the driveway to the front door. The Marcello crew was AMAZING. They showed up on time, worked efficiently, and cleaned up as they went along. The owner and his father are wonderful people. Besides, being professional, honest, and dependable, they're true craftsmen who take tremendous pride in their work. It shows in the quality of the product they produce. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY.”
A family contractor
The owner does the work.
Marcello and his father pour every job themselves. The hands that quote your work are the hands that hold the trowel. No project-manager handoff, no subbed-out crew, no surprises.
Since 1997
45+ years family experience
BBB A+ Accredited
4.8★ across 177 on Google
What to expect
What happens when you hire us.
You call. We pick up.
No call center. No answering service. Most days it’s Marcello himself on the line. We’ll talk through the project and schedule a free walk-through.
We come out. Free walk-through.
We measure, talk through what you’re looking for, and walk the existing condition with you. You’ll get a written quote with a clear scope, no pushy sales.
Schedule confirmed. Materials lined up.
We confirm the start window with you, line up materials and equipment, and walk you through what to move (cars, hose reels, anything along the work line) before the crew arrives.
Stage, repair, seal, clean up.
Set staging or rope up safely, complete the chimney repair (pointing, crown, or brick replacement), seal where appropriate, clean up the roof. Pointing-only chimney repair is a single day; partial rebuilds run 2–3 days.
FAQ
Philadelphia Chimney Repairs questions, answered.
How do I know if my chimney needs repair?
Common signs: water staining on the ceiling near the chimney, visible cracks in the cement crown on top, missing or crumbling mortar between the chimney bricks, white efflorescence on the brick face, individual bricks losing their faces (spalling), or the flashing where the chimney meets the roof has lifted or rusted.
Any of these mean the chimney is letting water in. The longer you wait, the more chimney repair is needed.
What’s the difference between chimney pointing and chimney repair?
Chimney pointing is the specific work of cutting out and re-pointing failed mortar joints between the chimney bricks. Chimney repair is the broader category, pointing, plus crown work, brick replacement, flashing, and partial rebuilds.
Most chimney repair calls turn out to need a combination, pointing on some courses, crown rebuild on top, sometimes a few bricks replaced.
What does the crown do and why does it fail?
The crown is the cement cap on top of the chimney. Its job is to shed rain off the top so water doesn’t track down inside the chimney structure. It fails because most original crowns were built with the wrong material (mortar instead of proper crown mix) and weren’t sloped properly. Cracks form, water gets in, the freeze-thaw cycle widens them, and eventually pieces break off.
A properly built crown with sloped sides and a drip edge lasts 25–40 years.
Do I need a chimney cap?
Yes, a stainless steel chimney cap with mesh keeps rain, leaves, and animals (especially squirrels and birds) out of the flue. Cheap install, and it adds a layer of protection above whatever crown work has been done. We install them as part of any major chimney repair job.
How long does chimney repair take?
Pointing-only chimney repair: a single day. Crown rebuild: a single day plus cure time. Partial chimney rebuild (top several courses + crown + flashing): 2–3 days. Full chimney rebuild from the roof line: 4–7 days.
How much does chimney repair cost in Philadelphia?
Highly variable, depends on chimney height, access (ground-level vs. needing a lift or staging), scope (pointing vs. crown vs. partial rebuild), and material (brick vs. stone). Cheap online “chimney repair near me” pricing is usually for a different job than what your chimney actually needs.
Free on-site estimate, written quote with a single number once we’ve diagnosed the actual scope.
Other services
Other concrete services we provide.
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Philadelphia Stone Pointing
Cut-out, mortar repair, and repointing of failed joints in stone and brick façades on older Philadelphia properties. Color- and texture-matched to the existing wall so the repair reads as part of the house, not a patch. Family concrete contractor working the city since 1997.
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Philadelphia Stone Wall Repairs
Free-standing garden walls, stone façades, retaining walls, stone wall repair, partial rebuilds, and full reconstructions when the wall is past saving. Pennsylvania bluestone, Wissahickon schist, and field-stone work by the family concrete contractor since 1997.
View ServiceGet a Free Estimate
Need a chimney repair?
Free walk-through. Written quote with a clear scope. No call center, no sales script, Marcello will pick up the phone himself.
Marcello Family Cement Work
Est. 1997
BBB A+ Accredited
Licensed & Insured