Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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.
Chimney Company in Santa Monica, CA
Chimney repair in Santa Monica usually comes down to one thing: the ocean. Salt air and marine-layer damp get into old brick and mortar, and what starts as a small crack in a crown or a rusted damper turns into a structural problem faster than most homeowners expect. We inspect and repair masonry, flues, caps, and flashing on homes across 90410, 90411, 90401, and 90402. Ontario Chimney has served Santa Monica since 2014, and the one call that handles all of it is (833) 467-7685.
Why Santa Monica Homes Are Different
Santa Monica’s housing stock skews old. North of Montana and Ocean Park are packed with 1920s and 1930s California bungalows, Spanish Colonial Revival homes, and Craftsman houses, many still running their original brick fireplaces and clay tile flues. Those flues have been breathing salt air for eighty or ninety years. The result is spalling brick, soft mortar, efflorescence staining, and dampers rusted solid. The marine layer keeps masonry from ever fully drying, so small repairs left alone become big ones. Most fireplaces here are decorative or used only a handful of times a year, which means creosote buildup is rare, but hidden deterioration is common. And when Santa Ana winds pick up in the fall, homeowners start looking hard at their chimney caps and spark screens. This is not an inland city’s chimney market, and the work reflects that.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Santa Monica Services
The two services Santa Monica homeowners call about most are chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning, both of which we handle as standalone jobs with the same crew and the same standard of documentation.
Chimney Sweep in Santa Monica
In Santa Monica, a sweep is less about heavy creosote and more about confirming the flue is still sound. Many pre-war fireplaces burn only a few fires per winter, so we focus on clearing what is there and checking for moisture damage, cracked clay tiles, and rusted damper frames. If you have a wood-burning fireplace north of Montana or in Ocean Park that has not been opened in years, a camera inspection before the first fire of the season is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy. Full details on Chimney Sweep in Santa Monica.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Santa Monica
The NFPA identifies dryer vents as a leading cause of house fires, and Santa Monica’s older apartments and 1950s stucco buildings often have long, poorly routed vent runs behind walls. Lint packs in, airflow drops, and the dryer works harder and hotter. We clean the full run and verify termination at the exterior. It is a standalone fire-safety service for us, not an add-on. Details on Dryer Vent Cleaning in Santa Monica.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Santa Monica
Chimney repair in Santa Monica is dominated by one pattern: stucco-clad Spanish Revival chimneys north of Montana with cracked clay flue tiles hidden behind the stucco, plus steel damper frames rusted solid from decades of salt air. A homeowner sees a little staining or a draft and assumes it is minor. The camera usually tells a different story. We repair the full stack, from crown to firebox, using materials specified by professional chimney trades, not hardware-store substitutes. Ontario Chimney handles the entire scope, from inspection through structural repair, so you are not coordinating between a sweep and a mason. That is what Chimney Repair means here.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Rainwater dripping into the firebox, rust stains on the flue, or a missing cap after a Santa Ana wind event.
What it costs in Santa Monica
A chimney cap with installation typically runs $250 to $650 in Santa Monica, depending on the flue size and whether a custom stainless cap is needed.
How we do it
We measure the flue, mount the cap with mechanical fasteners onto the crown, and seal all joints so the cap stays put through coastal wind gusts.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
The existing cap is rusted through, blown off, or so corroded from salt air that it no longer keeps rain and birds out.
What it costs in Santa Monica
Replacing a corroded cap in Santa Monica usually falls between $275 and $700, including removal of the old cap and a new stainless steel model.
How we do it
We remove the old cap, wire-brush the flue top, and install a replacement cap sized to the flue tile with stainless hardware.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Cracked or missing clay flue tiles visible on camera, smoke backing into the house, or a gas appliance venting into an unlined flue.
What it costs in Santa Monica
Liner installation in Santa Monica ranges from $2,000 to $4,500 for a single-story flue, with taller or multi-story chimneys on the upper end.
How we do it
We size the flue, run a DuraFlex stainless liner down the full length, insulate if code requires, and connect it to the appliance or fireplace collar.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, damp drywall in the attic, or visible gaps between flashing and masonry.
What it costs in Santa Monica
Flashing repair in Santa Monica typically runs $400 to $1,000, depending on how much of the old flashing can be reused.
How we do it
We cut back the old flashing, install new step and counter flashing, and seal the transition with a high-grade polyurethane sealant that tolerates coastal moisture.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Cracks in the concrete crown, spalling along the edges, or water pooling on top of the chimney after rain.
What it costs in Santa Monica
Crown repair in Santa Monica generally costs $250 to $800, with full crown replacement running higher if the old crown is unsalvageable.
How we do it
We clean the existing crown, fill hairline cracks with a flexible sealant, or rebuild badly deteriorated crowns with a Portland-based mix sloped to shed water.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Santa Monica
| Item | Typical range in Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $250 – $650 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $275 – $700 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $1,000 |
| Chimney crown repair | $250 – $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,000 – $4,500 |
How do I know if my Santa Monica chimney needs repair or just a sweep?
A camera inspection answers this in ten minutes. If the flue tiles are intact, the damper opens, and there is no moisture staining, a sweep is enough. If we see cracked tiles, rust, or water entry, repair is the conversation. Call (833) 467-7685 and we will show you the footage.
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be salvaged?
Sometimes HeatShield ceramic resurfacing can restore a flue with minor cracking instead of a full liner tear-out. We only recommend a new DuraFlex liner when the existing flue is structurally compromised. You will see the camera evidence before any decision is made.
Brands We Service in Santa Monica
We install and service chimney systems built around professional-grade components from Famco, Copperfield, and DuraFlex, plus HeatShield for ceramic flue resurfacing. Parts are stocked through professional chimney supply channels, not big-box retail. See our brands for the full range and typical turnaround on replacement parts.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Santa Monica, CA
| Service | Typical range in Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $150 – $250 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $100 – $200 |
| Chimney cap installation | $250 – $650 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $275 – $700 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $1,000 |
| Chimney crown repair | $250 – $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,000 – $4,500 |
What pushes pricing up in Santa Monica is height and access. Multi-story Spanish Revival stacks, steep roof pitches, and stucco enclosures that hide the flue all add labor. Salt corrosion also means some repairs that look small from the ground are larger once we get eyes on the steel. We quote the job at a flat price before any work starts, and that price does not change unless you approve a change in scope.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Santa Monica
We work throughout Santa Monica, with most jobs concentrated in the older housing stock where chimneys are original to the home. Response time for most estimates is within two to three business days, faster if you are calling ahead of fire season.
- North of Montana
- Ocean Park
- Sunset Park
- Pico District
- Santa Monica Canyon
Service Area – Cities Near Santa Monica
Ontario Chimney also serves homeowners in Venice, CA, Century City, CA, Culver City, CA, and Beverly Hills, CA. Each area has its own housing stock and chimney profile, but the standard of work and the pricing structure stay the same.
Serving Santa Monica, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Santa Monica area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Company in Santa Monica
Most Santa Monica inspections are scheduled within two to three business days. If you are preparing for Santa Ana season or have water coming in, tell us when you call and we will prioritize the visit. The inspection itself takes about an hour, including the camera run.
Most cap, crown, flashing, and liner work does not require a permit, but structural rebuilds or changes to the chimney profile may. We handle the determination and can pull permits through the City of Santa Monica when a job calls for it.
We cover all of Santa Monica including 90410, 90411, 90401, and 90402, from Ocean Park to Santa Monica Canyon. The only real variable is parking and roof access on narrow canyon lots, which we plan for during scheduling. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate at your home.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Santa Monica Customers Say
"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— David Park"Drop cloths everywhere, HEPA vac, and not a speck of soot on the carpet. I'd been dreading the mess for nothing."
— Bethany Padgett"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Sarah Sullivan