Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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AfterTrusted Chimney Liner & Rebuild for Paterson Homeowners
A Paterson Chimney Liner & Rebuild typically costs between $2,800 and $7,500 depending on whether you need a stainless steel liner installed, a partial rebuild of the flue, or a full tear-down from the roofline up. Most liner replacements are completed in one day, while full rebuilds take three to five days. Level Two Chimney Paterson has inspected and worked on more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and every single job starts with a written price before anyone touches a brick. Call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll put a camera down your flue, show you the photos, and hand you a written scope and price on the spot.
Paterson’s housing stock runs from 1890s silk-mill-era rowhomes in the 1st Ward to mid-century ranches in Hillcrest and Lakeview. What those homes share is clay tile liners that were installed decades ago and are now cracked, spalled, or missing sections entirely. When a liner fails, the chimney isn’t just inefficient. It’s a fire risk and a carbon monoxide risk. We treat it accordingly, which is why every liner and rebuild job we do includes a camera-scan inspection under NFPA 211 Level 2 and a documented photo record before and after the work. That’s Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, and it’s been our default since 2009, long before anyone required it.
Key takeaways:
- Written price before work starts - always, on every job, no exceptions. Not an estimate after the tech is already in your living room.
- Camera documentation included - you see the liner condition with your own eyes, and you walk away with the photos.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise - if it’s not done right, we make it right. It’s stamped on every job.
- Materials from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield - procured through Haven’s buying network to keep pricing honest, not marked up three times.
- Free second opinion on any written estimate - bring us a competitor’s quote and we’ll review it line by line.
What Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service Includes
Chimney liner and rebuild work covers a range of repairs, from swapping out a single damaged section to reconstructing the entire chimney stack. Here’s what each sub-service involves and when it applies to a Paterson home.
Stainless Steel Liner
A stainless steel liner is a rigid or flexible metal tube installed inside your existing flue to contain heat and combustion gases when the original clay liner has cracked. You need one when a camera inspection shows gaps, spalling (clay flaking off in chunks), or missing mortar joints between clay tiles. Level Two Chimney Paterson installs stainless liners sized to your exact flue dimensions, with an insulated option for exterior chimneys, which are common on Paterson rowhomes where the chimney runs up an outside wall. We use materials from Olympia Chimney and Copperfield so the liner protects the masonry for 20-plus years without warping or pinhole rust.
Flexible Liner
A flexible liner is a single continuous stainless steel tube that snakes through flues with offsets, bends, or irregular shapes that a rigid liner can’t navigate. If your Paterson chimney has a smoke shelf offset or was built around a structural beam, a flexible liner is usually the right call. We measure the full flue run first, then pull the liner through and secure it top and bottom with a proper termination cap and connector. Flexible liners also work well when you’re relining for a new gas appliance insert in an older fireplace.
Liner Replacement
Liner replacement means removing the failed liner, whether it’s clay tile or an old stainless liner from a previous install, and installing a new one sized correctly for the appliance venting into it. In Paterson, we regularly see liners that were installed for an oil furnace and then left in place when the homeowner converted to gas, which creates a sizing mismatch and condensation problems. We pull the old liner, inspect the flue cavity, and install the correct liner with a connection to your appliance that meets code. Every liner replacement includes a before-and-after camera record so you can see exactly what changed.
Partial Rebuild
A partial rebuild reconstructs a section of the chimney that has failed structurally, typically the top three to five feet above the roofline. In Paterson, freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on masonry: water seeps into the mortar, freezes, expands, and pops bricks loose over the course of ten or fifteen winters. We take down the deteriorated section, rebuild it with new brick and mortar matched to your existing masonry, and install a proper crown and cap to shed water. A partial rebuild is the right fix when the lower chimney is sound but the exposed upper section is spalling or leaning.
Full Chimney Rebuild
A full chimney rebuild means taking the stack down to the roofline or below and reconstructing the whole thing, including the liner, smoke chamber where applicable, crown, cap, and flashing. You need this when the masonry is structurally compromised: leaning stack, large cracks running through multiple courses, or a liner that has collapsed and damaged the surrounding brick. We handle Chimney Liner & Rebuild - Clifton and full rebuilds in Paterson on everything from three-story Victorians in the Eastside to one-story homes in South Paterson, and we coordinate with your roofer if flashing or decking needs to be addressed at the same time. A full rebuild runs three to five days and is quoted in writing before the first brick comes down.
Liner Repair
Liner repair patches localized damage, usually a single cracked tile or a small gap between sections, without replacing the entire flue. Repair is viable when the damage is isolated and the surrounding liner is still structurally sound, confirmed by camera inspection. When repair is possible, we say so plainly and give you a written scope for the repair rather than selling you a full liner replacement you don’t need. When it isn’t, we show you the camera footage so you can see why.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Liner & Rebuild
We install and work with materials from Gelco, a manufacturer we trust for stainless steel liner kits and termination components. Gelco’s rigid and flexible liner systems hold up well in Paterson’s freeze-thaw climate, and we’ve used their products on hundreds of relines where the original clay tile had failed. If you have an existing Gelco liner that was installed incorrectly or has started to separate at the seams, we can assess it with a camera and repair or replace it as needed.
Olympia Chimney and Copperfield round out the primary brands we install. Olympia makes the stainless liners and caps we most often spec for oil-to-gas conversions in Paterson homes, and Copperfield components are our default for chase covers and termination caps on prefabricated fireplaces. We procure all materials through Haven’s buying network, which keeps pricing at a level we’re comfortable showing you in writing before work starts. Whether you have one of these brands already or you need a first-time liner installation, we can help, and we’ll document exactly what goes in with photos.
BeforeAfterSigns You Need Chimney Liner & Rebuild Right Now
- You see flakes of clay tile in the firebox or cleanout. Clay liners spall when they’re overheated or when water has been freezing inside the flue for years. Those flakes mean the liner is shedding material, and every missing piece is a gap where heat or gas can reach the surrounding masonry.
- Your chimney has no liner visible from the top. Some Paterson homes built before the 1940s were constructed with unlined flues or liners that have since disintegrated entirely. An unlined chimney can heat the surrounding wood framing to combustion temperature, which is how chimney fires start in the first place.
- You smell fireplace smoke in rooms far from the fireplace, or a neighbor’s cooking smells come down your flue. Both symptoms mean the flue isn’t drafting properly, and the usual cause in older Paterson homes is a cracked or collapsed liner blocking or redirecting airflow. The fix is usually a liner replacement, not a new fireplace.
- There’s white staining (efflorescence) on the exterior brick near the top of the chimney. Efflorescence is mineral salts left behind when water evaporates from the masonry. It means water is getting inside the chimney, and when water and a failed liner combine, the masonry deteriorates fast. The crown and cap may also need to be addressed at the same time.
- A home inspector flagged the chimney on a recent purchase or refinance. If you bought a Paterson home between 2015 and 2025 and the inspection report mentions “liner condition unknown” or “flue tile cracked,” don’t wait. Level Two Chimney Paterson offers a free second opinion on any written estimate, and a camera inspection gives you the definitive answer in under an hour.
Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process - Step by Step
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Camera inspection and documentation. We start by sending a high resolution camera down the flue from the roof, and we show you the footage on a tablet. You see exactly what we see: cracked tiles, missing mortar, water staining, or a liner that is actually in decent shape. This is NFPA 211 Level 2, standard on every visit.
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Written scope and written price. Before any work is approved, we hand you a written scope that names the materials (down to the brand and gauge of stainless steel), the steps involved, the timeline, and a flat price in dollars. Haven Standard Clause 1: Have it in writing. No exceptions, no “call for a quote.”
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Scheduled work with a named tech. You get the name of the technician assigned to your job, a background-checked uniformed professional, and a text when they’re on the way. Calls are answered by a live person around the clock at (862) 356-5229, so you’re never waiting on a voicemail.
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Removal, rebuild, or reline. The actual work happens exactly as scoped. For a liner replacement, we pull the old liner, prep the flue, and install the new stainless liner with proper top and bottom terminations. For rebuilds, we take down only what needs to come down and rebuild course by course with materials matched to your chimney.
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Post-work camera record and warranty. When the job is done, we run the camera again and give you the before-and-after photos, plus a written warranty on the work. Every job carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right. The record stays archived under Haven Standard Clause 4, so if you sell the home, you have documentation of what was done and when.
How Much Does Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in Paterson?
A stainless steel liner replacement in Paterson typically runs $2,800-$4,500 for a single-flue reline, depending on flue height and whether insulation is needed. A partial rebuild of the top section of the chimney usually lands between $3,500 and $6,000. A full chimney rebuild from the roofline up runs $7,500-$15,000+ depending on height, access, brick matching, and whether scaffolding or a lift is required. Liner repair, when it’s viable, starts around $900-$1,800 for isolated tile replacement or mortar joint repair.
- Flue height and access - three-story Paterson rowhomes cost more than a single-story ranch because of ladder, scaffold, and time requirements.
- Liner type and insulation - insulated stainless costs more than uninsulated, and exterior wall chimneys almost always need insulation to draft properly.
- Masonry condition - if the brick around the liner is also failing, you’re looking at rebuild scope, not just reline scope. We show you the footage so you understand why.
- Appliance compatibility - if you’re converting an old oil flue to gas, the liner may need to be sized differently than the original. This is a specification issue, not an upsell.
How to avoid overpaying: get the camera footage and a written line-item price, not a lump sum. We’ve reviewed plenty of Paterson estimates where a “liner” price was padded with masonry work the chimney didn’t need. Level Two Chimney Paterson gives you a written price with the scope broken down by line item before you approve anything. And if you already have a written estimate from another company, bring it to us. A free second opinion on any written estimate is part of how we operate.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Near Paterson - Our Service Area
Level Two Chimney Paterson serves Paterson and the surrounding Passaic and Bergen County communities, including Clifton, Passaic, Lodi, Paramus, Ridgewood, Hackensack, New Milford, Bergenfield, Oakland, and the neighboring towns of Elmwood Park and Fair Lawn. Most liner and rebuild jobs in Paterson are scheduled within one to two weeks, and inspection visits are available on shorter notice. Whether you’re in a rowhome near Eastside Park or a split-level in West Paterson, we bring the same camera, the same written price, and the same warranty to every address. See our home page or the Paterson service page for more details on our full coverage area.
Serving Paterson, NJ - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Paterson area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Paterson
A chimney liner is the inner lining of the flue that contains heat, smoke, and combustion gases and prevents them from reaching the surrounding brick and wood framing of your Paterson home. A rebuild is the reconstruction of the masonry chimney structure itself, either partially or fully, when the brick and mortar have deteriorated. Many liner jobs don’t require a rebuild, and some rebuilds are needed because a failed liner let water and heat destroy the brick from the inside. Call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll camera-inspect your chimney to determine which scope actually applies to your home.
A standard stainless steel liner replacement is a one-day job in most Paterson homes. Partial rebuilds typically take two to three days, and a full chimney rebuild runs three to five days depending on height, access, and weather. We give you a written timeline as part of the written scope, so you know before we start what to expect.
Liner replacement runs $2,800-$4,500 for most Paterson homes, partial rebuilds run $3,500-$6,000, and full rebuilds start around $7,500 and go up from there depending on height and masonry condition. Those are written prices, not phone estimates, and they include materials, labor, and the camera documentation. Estimates are free, so call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll give you an exact number for your chimney.
Yes. We install and repair liners and components from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield, and we’ve used their materials on hundreds of Paterson-area reline and rebuild projects. If you have an existing liner from one of these manufacturers that’s failing, we can assess it with a camera and give you a written repair or replacement scope. If you have another brand, we can usually help there too.
If you have an active chimney fire, call 911 first. If you have a structural concern like a leaning stack, a fallen section of brick, or water actively pouring through the chimney into your living space, call us at (862) 356-5229 any hour of the day. We answer live around the clock and can get a technician out to assess the situation quickly. We’ll show you the camera footage and hand you a written price before any emergency repair work begins.
Every liner and rebuild job from Level Two Chimney Paterson carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right within the first year, we make it right at no cost to you. Materials carry their own manufacturer warranties from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield, which we pass through in writing. The warranty is part of your written scope, not a verbal promise.
Clear the area around the fireplace or wood stove at least six feet back so our crew has room to work and lay down tarps. If you have valuables on the mantel, move them before we arrive. For rebuild jobs, give us access to the roof and let us know about any rooftop antennas, satellite dishes, or solar panels that might be in the way. We handle all cleanup and leave the work area as we found it.
Schedule Your Chimney Liner & Rebuild Service in Paterson Today
A camera inspection is the fastest way to know where your Paterson chimney actually stands, and it’s included on every visit. Call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll schedule a time, send a background-checked technician, and hand you a written price before any work is approved. No obligation, no pressure, no phone tag, because a live person answers around the clock. Corrine Halstead and the team at Level Two Chimney Paterson are ready when you are.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Paterson, serving Paterson and Passaic County since 2009.