Local Chimney and Fireplace Service in Dover

In Dover, a Census-designated place in Hillsborough County, our locally owned team repairs stucco chimneys and provides every other chimney and fireplace service we offer. Stucco gives a chimney a clean finish, but it protects the structure only while it stays sound. We inspect free of charge; book any service within the 72 hours that follow, and you save 10%.

On a masonry chimney, stucco is a cement-based coat that grips the brick or block beneath it. Cracks tell us different things. A fine web of shallow cracks across the surface usually comes from shrinkage as the coat cured and is mostly cosmetic. A long crack that follows a line, a stepped pattern or a crack that has widened over time can reflect movement in the masonry behind, and an area that rings hollow under a tap has come loose from the wall beneath.

A repair starts at the top. If the crown or cap is letting water in, patching the stucco below only hides the problem for a while. We fix the source, cut out loose and cracked stucco back to a sound edge, check the masonry underneath and rebuild the coats so the patch bonds to the old work.

Where the damage is widespread, stripping and re-applying the stucco on the whole chimney can be the better value. New stucco seldom matches weathered stucco perfectly, so we match the texture as closely as possible and can finish the whole chimney face in one color coat to keep the repair from standing out. Any coating we use over stucco lets moisture escape rather than sealing it in.

Our quote prices the source repair, the stucco work and any finish coat separately and upfront. Any opening at the chimney top is covered at day's end and all debris is cleaned up and hauled away. The written record we hand over describes the stucco work, and our workmanship warranty backs it. Where you see cracks, stains or loose stucco on the chimney tells us where to start. If a painter or roofer is due soon, let us know so the work can be sequenced.