Toronto Chimney Repair · October 4, 2026
Roofline removal (the common teardown)
Most owners remove only the part above the roof. The brick is taken down by hand to below the roof deck, the opening is framed and sheathed, and the roofing is tied in so it is watertight. It removes the part that leaks and needs repointing, caps and flashing, and it usually takes one or two days.
Full removal
Removing the chimney all the way down frees floor space in the rooms it passes through, but it means opening walls and ceilings, checking what the chimney supports, and patching inside. It is priced after a visit.
When tearing it down beats repairing it
Nothing vents into it any more (no fireplace, furnace or water heater)
It needs repointing, a new crown and flashing every few years
You are replacing the roof anyway — doing both together saves a separate roof patch
The stack is spalling or leaning above the roofline
Before you remove it
Check that no appliance still uses it. A gas water heater in an old chimney has to be re-vented first, or the flue relined and kept. Some removal projects need a building permit, so check with your city before the work is booked.
