The short answer
All Star Chimney Sweep repairs masonry, crowns, flashing, dampers, and flue liners for lofts, apartment buildings, and rowhouses in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Every repair starts with an inspection so we fix the cause of the problem, not just the visible symptom.
All Star Chimney Sweep repairs chimneys for homes and buildings in DUMBO, Brooklyn (ZIP 11201), about a mile northeast of our Brooklyn office. The neighborhood's housing includes converted loft and warehouse buildings, pre-war apartment buildings, and rowhouses, and many of these have masonry chimneys that have been through decades of freeze-thaw cycles, roof work, and changes in heating fuel. Our certified technicians find out what is actually wrong, explain it in plain terms, and fix the chimney so it vents safely and keeps water out of your walls and ceilings.
Chimney Problems Common in DUMBO Buildings
Older brick chimneys in this part of Brooklyn tend to fail from the top down. Rain and snow soak into worn mortar and a cracked crown, then freeze and expand over the winter. Over time, bricks loosen, mortar washes out, and water finds its way into the building, often showing up as a stain on an upper-floor ceiling or wall rather than at the chimney itself.
Inside the chimney, the flue can deteriorate too. Clay tile liners crack, and flues that once served oil boilers may have been converted to gas without a proper liner. In loft and mixed-use buildings, chimneys have sometimes been altered, shortened, or abandoned during renovations, which can leave sections that no longer draft or seal properly.
Signs that a chimney needs attention include:
- Water stains or peeling paint near the chimney on top floors or ceilings
- Crumbling or missing mortar joints, or loose or spalling bricks
- A cracked or broken concrete crown at the top of the chimney
- Pieces of tile, brick, or mortar falling into the firebox or cleanout
- Rust on the damper, firebox, or chimney cap
- Smoke or exhaust odors coming back into the living space
Chimney Repairs We Handle
We match the repair to the problem we find. A single failed mortar joint does not need a rebuild, and a deteriorated flue will not be fixed by patching the outside. Typical repairs for DUMBO homes and buildings include:
- Repointing: removing failed mortar and replacing it with new mortar suited to the existing brick
- Crown repair or replacement to shed water away from the flue and masonry
- Partial or full rebuilds of chimney sections above the roofline
- Flashing repair where the chimney meets the roof, a frequent source of leaks
- Chimney caps to keep out rain, debris, and animals
- Damper repair or replacement, including top-sealing dampers
- Flue liner repair and stainless steel liner installation
- Firebox and smoke chamber repairs for wood-burning fireplaces
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Flue Liners
Many Brooklyn buildings have switched their boilers from oil to gas. When a New York City building makes that conversion, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue from the inside.
If your building has already converted and the chimney was never relined, or if you are planning a conversion, we can inspect the flue and recommend a liner sized for the appliance it serves. Under the NFPA 211 standard, a change of fuel or a new appliance calls for a more thorough Level 2 inspection, so this is the right time to look closely at the whole system.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Timing Repairs Around Heat Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, and building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures during that period. A chimney that serves a boiler cannot simply be taken out of service in the middle of winter, so it makes sense to schedule inspections and larger repairs in late spring or summer.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing has changed. A Level 2 inspection applies when the system changes or the home is sold, which matters in a neighborhood where co-op and condo units change hands often. A Level 3 inspection is used when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
How a Repair Visit Works
We start by inspecting the chimney from the firebox or appliance connection up to the crown, including a camera look inside the flue when needed. We then walk you through what we found, show you photos, and explain which repairs are urgent and which can wait.
For apartment and loft buildings, we can coordinate with building management, supers, and boards on roof access and scheduling. Along with DUMBO, we also repair chimneys in Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, and Carroll Gardens.
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