Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Nationwide

Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Chesapeake: What to Know First

We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service throughout Chesapeake, with most jobs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing agreed before we start. A typical Famco liner replacement runs between $1,800 and $3,400 depending on the flue configuration, while partial rebuilds start around $2,200 and full chimney rebuilds range from $4,500 to $8,500 in this market. We’re not here to sell you what you don’t need - our Level-2 camera inspection gives you photos you can see and a plain-English verdict on what actually requires attention. This page is for Chesapeake homeowners with Famco liners or masonry who want the repair done right without the runaround. Call (757) 590-6579 anytime - a live person answers, 24 hours a day.

Call (757) 590-6579

How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them

• Famco stainless single-wall liners (SW series) develop seam separation at the flex joints after 15-20 years of Chesapeake’s freeze-thaw cycling. The weld seams fatigue faster here than in milder climates because the metal expands and contracts through our 40-degree winter temperature swings. We cut back to sound metal and splice in a new DuraFlex section with a mechanical-lock joint that moves without cracking.
• Famco flexible corrugated liners (FL series) collapse at the offset near the smoke shelf in older Great Bridge and South Norfolk homes with original 1950s-60s chimney throats. The corrugations catch creosote, the weight builds, and the liner sags into the flue path. We remove the damaged section, reline with a smooth-wall flexible liner from Olympia Chimney that sheds buildup, and rebuild the smoke shelf in refractory if it’s degraded.
• Famco galvanized connector pipes between masonry and insert rot from the inside out in waterfront homes near the Elizabeth River and Indian River where salt air accelerates corrosion. The exterior looks fine until the pipe perforates and leaks combustion gases. We replace with 304-grade stainless or a Copperfield connector rated for marine-adjacent installations, and we document the before condition with photos for your records.
• Famco clay flue tile systems in pre-1980s Chesapeake chimneys spall and flake after decades of oil-to-gas conversions that lowered flue temperatures and increased condensation. The tiles look intact from the top but shed shards that block the flue. We pull a camera to map the damage, then install a Famco-compatible stainless liner sized to the appliance, or rebuild with new flue tiles if the homeowner prefers original materials.
• Famco top-mount dampers seize in the open position when the stainless cable housing fills with creosote and our humid summers weld it solid. The damper won’t close, so conditioned air escapes year-round and rain enters freely. We disassemble the mechanism, clean and lube with high-temp graphite, or replace with a Gelco damper assembly if the Famco casting is cracked from overtightening by a previous technician.

Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process

1. 1
   Call and schedule. A live person answers at (757) 590-6579, asks what you’re burning and what you’re seeing, and books a Level-2 inspection with camera. We confirm upfront pricing for the diagnostic visit.
2. 2
   Camera inspection on arrival. Our technician runs a high-res camera the full flue length, records video, and captures stills of every defect. You see the screen in real time. We explain what’s Famco-original, what’s been modified, and what we recommend.
3. 3
   Parts decision with options. If Famco OEM is available and cost-effective, we quote it. If lead times stretch past burning season or the part is obsolete, we specify quality aftermarket from DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco that meets or exceeds the original spec. You choose before we order.
4. 4
   Repair or rebuild. For liner jobs, we pull the old material, size and install the new liner with proper insulation per NFPA 211, and seal the top with a custom cap. For rebuilds, we match existing brick and mortar, install a new crown with proper overhang and drip edge, and integrate the liner system.
5. 5
   Combustion test and documentation. We run a smoke test or draft test depending on the appliance, verify clearances to combustibles, and provide a written report with photos, the 90-Day Done Right Promise, and maintenance recommendations.
6. 6
   Cleanup and follow-up. We haul away all debris, protect your floors and landscaping, and check in within two weeks to confirm performance. If something’s not right, we come back. In writing, no arguing.

What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Chesapeake

These are real numbers for Chesapeake homes we’ve worked on in the past 18 months. Your exact estimate depends on flue height, access, and what the camera reveals.

Factors that increase cost: multi-story flues requiring scaffolding, hidden water damage to the chimney structure, or switching from oil to gas requiring liner downsizing and appliance connection work. We price these in before we start, not after. Call (757) 590-6579 for an exact quote - estimates are free, and our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up can catch problems before they become rebuilds.

Why Chesapeake Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work

We’ve been working Chesapeake chimneys since 1984, including plenty of jobs in the older homes over near Great Bridge where those brick fireplaces get a real workout every winter. Russell Haines learned this trade hands-on through the construction program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, and he and our crew have seen every Famco failure mode twice. We document every inspection with photos and a plain-English verdict, back every job with the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing, and answer the phone with a live person 24 hours a day. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and carry Famco-compatible parts plus backup inventory from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco so most jobs finish in one visit. No-hassle upfront pricing means the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. If the chimney’s right, you won’t hear from me until next season. That’s the point.

FAQs