Chimney and fireplace work in St. Louis Park
More than a third of St. Louis Park homes went up between 1940 and 1959, most with a brick chimney now 65 years old or more. Our inspection is free, with photos and a written price.
St. Louis Park incorporated as a village in 1886 but stayed small until after the Second World War. The local history is striking: the village had 7,737 people in 1940, took in more than 30,000 new residents by 1955, and recorded 66 subdivisions between 1950 and 1956 with room for about 2,700 homes. It adopted a home rule charter and became a city in 1954.
The 2024 American Community Survey shows the result. Of the city's 25,933 housing units, 35.3 percent were built from 1940 to 1959, against 13.9 percent nationally, and the median home dates to 1965. Gas heats 71.4 percent of occupied homes. The typical chimney is a postwar brick stack with a fireplace flue and an appliance flue side by side.
What a 1950s chimney needs now
After 65 or 70 winters, the crown on a postwar chimney is often cracked, the top courses need tuckpointing, and the flashing has been patched more than once. At the MSP airport station, NOAA's 1991–2020 normals show about 147 freezing nights and about 22 nights at or below zero a year. Small crack repairs typically run $150 to $500, tuckpointing $500 to $2,500 and crown crack repair $200 to $700+.
Inside, the question is the appliance flue. Minnesota's fuel gas rules call for an approved metal liner in a masonry chimney that vents gas. When a 1950s furnace is replaced by a side-vented unit, the water heater left in the old flue often needs a smaller liner to keep condensation down; an aluminum gas liner typically runs $625 to $2,250.
Ice dams on postwar roofs
A postwar house with a cold attic above a heated floor is the setup the University of Minnesota Extension describes when it explains ice dams: heat leaking into the attic melts roof snow that refreezes at the eave. The Extension lists fireplace and wood stove use among the heat sources and recommends sealing the ceiling first. A leak right at the chimney in a thaw, by contrast, usually means flashing or the crown, and leak repair typically runs $150 to $500.
Where we work in St. Louis Park
Aquila · Birchwood · Bronx Park · Brooklawns · Browndale · Cedarhurst · Cobblecrest · Elmwood · Fern Hill · Lenox · Minikahda Oaks · Sorenson · Texa Tonka · Westwood Hills · Wolfe Park
FAQ
St. Louis Park chimney questions
My chimney's mortar is crumbling at the top. Is tuckpointing enough?
If the brick is sound, usually yes. Tuckpointing typically runs $500 to $2,500. If bricks are flaking or the top courses are loose, a partial rebuild may be needed, typically $1,000 to $5,000+. We tell you which at the free inspection.
Is my water heater safe in the old chimney after a new furnace?
It should be checked. The fuel gas code adopted in Minnesota says a chimney must be resized when an appliance is permanently disconnected, to control condensation and keep draft. A liner sized to the water heater is the usual fix.
Does a cap really matter on a postwar chimney?
It keeps rain, birds and squirrels out of the flue. A cap typically costs $200 to $850 installed.
When can you come out?
Sunday through Friday, in three-hour windows (8–11, 11–2, 2–5). We call to confirm the day before.
Book online
Book in St. Louis Park. The inspection is free.
Free inspection in a 3-hour arrival window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5, Sunday through Friday. We phone to confirm before we come.