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Chimney Construction in Seattle, WA
A new masonry chimney, designed and built from the footing to the cap for a new fireplace, an addition or a chimney that was removed. Free quote.
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
- Same-day service often available
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Chimney construction means building a masonry chimney where there is not one now. That covers three common situations in the Seattle area: a new wood-burning fireplace going into a home that never had one, an addition that needs its own flue, and a house where an old chimney was taken down years ago and the owner wants a real one back. We start from a blank wall and a drawing, not from existing brick, which is what makes this different from a chimney rebuild.
A new chimney has to carry its own weight down to a footing that will not settle, keep hot flue gases inside a lined passage, stay the right distance from the wood framing around it, and shed Puget Sound rain from the crown down to the flashing. We design for all of that first, then build in the order that makes it work: footing, base and firebox, lined flue, stack, crown, cap and flashing.
We build chimneys in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and across King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The design visit and quote are free, and we will tell you up front whether your project may need a permit.
Symptoms
Signs you need chimney construction
- You are adding a wood-burning fireplace to a home that has no chimney
- An addition or new great room needs its own fireplace and flue
- A previous owner removed the chimney and roofed over it, and you want a working fireplace again
- A prefab fireplace has failed and you would rather replace it with masonry than another factory unit
- A new wood stove needs a masonry chimney rather than a metal chimney pipe
- An architect's plan shows a chimney that the general contractor does not build
Common causes
- A new fireplace or stove needs a flue, and the house has none
- The old chimney was demolished rather than repaired, and the opening was roofed over
- An addition sits too far from the existing chimney to share its flue safely
- The existing chimney serves the furnace or water heater and cannot take a second appliance
How It Works
Our chimney construction process
A new chimney starts with a site visit rather than an inspection. We look at where the fireplace or appliance will sit, what is under that spot for a footing, how the stack will pass through the floors, ceiling and roof, and where it will stand relative to the ridge and nearby trees. We size the flue for the appliance, check the framing along the planned path for clearance, and note how the flashing and any cricket will tie in. You get a written design and quote, with a drawing, before any work is scheduled.
Free design visit and quote
We size the flue, locate the footing and the path through the house, and put the design and price in writing.
Permit check
A new chimney may need a permit from your city or county; we will tell you and handle the paperwork that is ours to handle.
Footing and base
A footing is poured to carry the chimney's weight, then the base and, for a fireplace, the firebox and smoke chamber are built on it.
Lined flue and stack
The liner goes up inside the brick as the courses rise, with the stack held at proper clearance from joists, rafters and sheathing.
Through the roof
Step and counter flashing, and a cricket behind a wide chimney, are built in as the stack passes the roof.
Crown, cap and walkthrough
A sloped crown with overhang and drip edge, a cap, then a walkthrough and first-fire guidance. If you are not happy, we are not done.
Options
Repair and service options
The main decisions on a new chimney are what it serves and how it is finished:
- Masonry fireplace and chimney together: a site-built firebox, smoke chamber and lined flue as one structure, sized to the room.
- Chimney for a wood stove or insert: a lined masonry flue sized to the appliance outlet, with a clean-out and connector at the right height.
- Exterior chimney: built on the outside wall, which keeps the footprint out of the room but exposes more brick to weather.
- Interior chimney: passes through the house and the ridge, stays warmer and drafts better, and needs careful clearances at every floor.
- Liner choice: clay tile or a stainless liner set in the masonry. See liner installation.
- Brick and finish: matching the home's existing brick or stone, or a chosen face brick.
If you are weighing a gas unit instead, gas fireplace installation uses a different vent and usually needs no masonry chimney at all. We quote both so you can compare.
Pricing
What affects the price
- Whether the chimney serves a full masonry fireplace or only a stove or insert flue
- Height of the stack and how many floors it passes through
- Interior versus exterior placement and the framing work that goes with each
- Footing conditions: slab, crawlspace, or a spot that needs excavation
- Liner type and flue size the appliance calls for
- Brick or stone selection and any matching to the existing house
- Permit fees and roof work such as a cricket
Every chimney is different, so you get a written quote after we look at the system. Ask about our price match and free second-opinion quote.
Safety & Seattle Conditions
Safety considerations
Clearance to combustibles is the part of a new chimney nobody sees and the part that matters most. Masonry that touches joists or sheathing can heat that wood for years until it ignites, so we hold the clearances as the stack goes up and photograph them before they are closed in. NFPA 211 recommends an annual inspection once the chimney is in use, and we recommend a first inspection after the first burning season.
If the new chimney will serve a gas appliance, the gas connection is made by a qualified technician, never by the homeowner. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Seattle & Puget Sound conditions
A chimney built here will spend most of its life wet. Sea-Tac's NOAA 1991-2020 normals put annual precipitation at 40.34 inches, with November the wettest month at 6.31 inches and the October-March wet season carrying about 73% of the total. The Brick Industry Association's technical notes say brick specifications for absorption and saturation exist specifically to establish freeze-thaw resistance, and that improperly filled mortar joints lead to leaky walls and cracking from water followed by freezing. We choose the brick grade, fill every joint, and detail the crown, cap and flashing with that in mind.
Seattle sees about 60 days a year at or below 32F while winter lows average around 37F, so new masonry will freeze and thaw repeatedly every winter. Building it dry from the start is cheaper than repairing it later.
Our Work
Chimney Construction in action
Get a free design and quote for a new chimney
From the footing to the cap, built for Puget Sound weather. Free quote, free second opinion, price match plus 10-25% off. Call 206-453-2045.
☎ 206-453-2045 Request a QuoteQuestions
Chimney Construction FAQ
Is building a new chimney different from rebuilding one?
Yes. A rebuild replaces failed brick on a chimney that already exists, usually from the roofline up, and reuses the footing, firebox and path through the house. Construction starts with nothing: we design the chimney, pour a footing, build the base and flue, and pass the stack through the framing and roof. If your existing chimney is failing, see our chimney rebuild page instead.
Do I need a permit for a new chimney in Seattle?
A new chimney may need a permit, and the answer depends on your city or county and on whether it is part of a larger remodel. We check for your address during the free quote visit and tell you what applies. Where a permit is needed, building to the inspector's schedule is part of our plan, not an extra.
Can you build a chimney for a wood stove rather than an open fireplace?
Yes. A stove needs a lined masonry flue sized to its outlet, a connector at the proper height and a clean-out at the base, but no firebox or smoke chamber, so the chimney is smaller and simpler. We size the flue to the specific stove so it drafts well and does not build creosote from an oversized flue.
How long does chimney construction take?
It depends on height, whether there is a fireplace to build, and on weather, since masonry needs dry conditions to cure. The footing is poured first and cures before brick goes on it, then the stack rises course by course. We give a schedule with the written quote and plan around the October-March wet season where we can.
Is a masonry chimney better than a metal chimney pipe?
They do different jobs. A metal chimney pipe is what a factory-built fireplace or stove is listed to use, costs less and goes up fast. A masonry chimney is heavier, lasts longer when kept dry, holds heat for a steadier draft, and is the only option for a true site-built masonry fireplace. We are honest about which fits your project and budget.
What does a new chimney cost?
A new chimney is quoted from the design, since height, placement, footing conditions and whether it includes a fireplace change the price a great deal. The design visit and written quote are free. If you have a quote from another company for the same chimney, we give a free second opinion, match the price and take a further 10-25% off.
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