Quick answer: Call a chimney mason or chimney specialist for anything in the chimney itself: mortar, brick, crown, cap, liner, or firebox. Call a roofer for shingles, valleys, and vent boots around it. Flashing, where the two meet, is the overlap, so choose a contractor who can do both and one company owns the leak. In an emergency, call whoever can secure the chimney today, then sort out the repair.
A chimney sits on your roof, but it isn’t roofing. It’s a masonry structure with a venting system inside it, and it takes different skills to fix. That’s why so many homeowners call the wrong trade first, pay for a repair that never reaches the cause, and end up making a second call a season later.
This guide explains who fixes what, where the trades overlap, what to do in an emergency, and how to vet a contractor before you sign anything.
Who Fixes What? A Quick Reference
| Problem | Best trade to call | Why |
| Crumbling mortar, gaps between bricks | Chimney mason | Repointing needs mortar matched to the brick |
| Spalling or cracked brick | Chimney mason | Brick replacement and colour matching |
| Cracked or crumbling crown | Chimney mason | The crown is a masonry slab, not a roofing part |
| Missing or damaged cap | Chimney specialist or mason | Must fit the flue correctly |
| Damaged liner, firebox, or damper | Chimney specialist | Venting and fire-safety work |
| Creosote buildup, blocked flue | Chimney sweep | Cleaning and inspection |
| Leaking flashing at the roofline | Contractor skilled in both roofing and masonry | Step flashing is roofing; counter-flashing is cut into the brick |
| Worn shingles, valleys, or vent boots near the chimney | Roofer | Often the real source of a “chimney” leak |
| Leaning or bulging stack | Chimney mason (plus an engineer if structural) | Rebuild decisions need a structural read |
| Leak with an unknown source | Inspection first | Diagnose before you pay to fix the wrong thing |
If you see your problem in the first six rows, you’re in chimney territory. The last four are where homeowners most often get sent to the wrong person.
What a Chimney Mason Handles
A mason builds and repairs the chimney’s structure: brick, stone, and mortar. That covers repointing, replacing spalled brick, rebuilding or replacing a chimney crown, waterproofing the masonry, and taking a failing stack down and rebuilding it. Our brick chimney repair guide shows what that work looks like, and the chimney masonry repairs page covers the service itself.
Where a mason stops: shingles, roof decking, and anything that’s a roofing problem rather than a chimney one. Ask whether they handle the flashing in-house or subcontract it.
What a Roofer Handles
A roofer repairs the roof system: shingles, underlayment, valleys, vent boots, and the step flashing woven into the roofing around the chimney. Many are comfortable resealing or replacing flashing, and when a “chimney leak” is really a worn shingle or failed valley, a roofer is the right call. Our roof repair services cover that side.
Where a roofer stops: repointing, crowns, liners, and structural masonry. A roofer who proposes caulking over crumbling mortar is offering a patch, not a repair. Sealant over failing joints tends to trap water in the brick and speed up the damage.
What a Chimney Specialist Handles
Chimney specialists work on the parts of the system that vent smoke and gases: the liner, damper, smoke chamber, firebox, and cap. They also do sweeping and cleaning and inspections. When you search for chimney repair specialists near me, this is the trade most of the results are describing.
In Canada, ask about WETT certification (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) for any work involving a wood-burning system. Some insurers ask for a WETT inspection as part of coverage, so it’s a fair question for any contractor to answer.
The Overlap Zone: Where the Chimney Meets the Roof
Most disputes between trades happen at one spot: the flashing. It’s a two-part system. Step flashing is woven into the shingles on the roof side, and counter-flashing is cut into the mortar joints of the chimney above it. One half is roofing work and the other is masonry work.
That split is why so many leaks come back. The roofer reseals the shingle side and says the problem is masonry. The mason repoints and says the problem is the roof. The homeowner is left with a stain on the ceiling and two invoices.
If you’ve been searching for roofing and chimney repair near me, this is the reason to look for a contractor who does both. Whoever fixes the junction should be accountable for whether it leaks afterward. Three posts go deeper on the subject:
- Chimney flashing repair: signs of a roof leak covers the chimney side of the junction
- Roof flashing repair guide covers valleys, vent pipes, and flat roofs
- Leak around your chimney? helps you work out which trade you actually need
Our chimney counter-flashing repair page covers the service if the flashing is the problem.
Emergency Chimney Repair: Who to Call First
In an emergency, the right first call is whoever can respond fastest and make the chimney safe. Repair planning can wait a day. Treat these as urgent:
- Bricks falling or visibly shifting
- A chimney that has started to lean
- Impact damage from a tree, wind, or storm debris
- Water actively pouring in around the chimney
Two situations call for 911 before any contractor. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside first. If you suspect a chimney fire, leave the home and call the fire department. Don’t use the fireplace again until it has been inspected.
For everything short of that, call a contractor who offers same-day response and can secure the chimney. Our emergency chimney repair guide walks through what to do in the first hour, and the signs your chimney needs immediate repairs will help you judge urgency. If damage came from a storm, read whether home insurance covers chimney repair and photograph everything before work starts.
How to Vet a Chimney Repair Contractor
Whichever trade you call, a few checks separate a reliable contractor from a risky one:
- WorkSafeBC standing. Chimney work happens at height. Ask for a WorkSafeBC clearance letter showing the company is registered and in good standing.
- An in-person inspection before the quote. Quoting a chimney repair by phone or from photos alone is guesswork.
- An itemized written estimate. Labour and materials should be separated, and the scope should name exactly what’s being repaired.
- A written warranty. Ask what it covers, for how long, and what voids it. Vague promises don’t count.
- Sensible payment terms. Deposits should be modest, paid to the registered company, and receipted.
- Local, comparable work. Ask for photos or references from similar chimneys in your area.
- Who actually does the work. Find out whether it’s their crew or a subcontractor.
Our masonry contractor hiring guide has the longer checklist and a list of questions to ask, so I won’t repeat it here.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- A quote with no inspection
- Pressure to sign today or “this price expires tonight”
- A push to remove the chimney when no one has explained the repair option (see repair vs. rebuild)
- Caulk or sealant as the only fix for failing mortar
- Large upfront payments, or payment requested to an individual rather than the company
- No written warranty terms
What Does Chimney Repair Cost, and Does the Trade Matter?
The trade affects cost less than the scope does, but hiring the wrong one is the expensive mistake. A cheap roofer quote that reseals flashing while the real leak is a cracked crown just means paying twice. Typical Metro Vancouver ranges are in our chimney repair cost guide, with focused breakdowns for repointing and inspection. If you want to know how long a job takes before you book, see how long chimney repair takes.
The cheapest way to avoid calling the wrong trade is a professional inspection first. It tells you which components are failing and who should fix them.
Chimney Repair Across Metro Vancouver
Red Brick Chimney Services provides chimney repair across Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlam. Roofing and masonry are done by the same company, which means the flashing junction has one owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a roofer fix a chimney?
A roofer can usually repair the roofing around a chimney, including shingles, vent boots, and often the flashing. Repointing, crowns, liners, and structural masonry are a mason’s or chimney specialist’s work, and many roofers will refer those out.
Who do I call for a leaking chimney?
Start with an inspection rather than a repair quote. A chimney leak can come from the crown, cap, mortar, flashing, or the roof next to it. A contractor who handles both masonry and roofing can find the source and fix it under one warranty.
Is a chimney sweep the same as a chimney repair contractor?
Not exactly. A sweep cleans and inspects the flue. Many sweeps also do liner, cap, and damper work, but structural brickwork and crown repair usually need a mason. Check what the company actually does before you book.
How do I find a reliable chimney repair specialist near me?
Look for masonry-specific experience, WorkSafeBC standing, an in-person inspection before the quote, and an itemized written estimate with a stated warranty. Local reviews and photos of comparable jobs help too.
Should I get more than one quote?
For anything over about $1,000, yes. Compare scope as well as price, because two quotes that look different may not be fixing the same things.
Who should I call first after a storm damages my chimney?
If anyone is at risk from falling brick or a carbon monoxide alarm, call 911. Otherwise call a contractor who offers same-day response to secure the chimney, then photograph the damage and contact your insurer before permanent repairs begin.
If you’re not sure which trade your problem needs, that’s what an inspection is for. Get in touch for a free assessment and we’ll tell you honestly what’s failing, who should fix it, and what it should cost.