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.
Styles & brands we work with
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterHow Much Does Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in Universal City?
A chimney liner replacement in Universal City typically runs $1,900 to $4,800 for a standard single-story masonry chimney, while a partial chimney rebuild (crown, top courses, or firebox) generally lands between $1,400 and $6,500 depending on how much brick and mortar has to come out. A full top-to-bottom rebuild on a two-story Universal City home can push past $9,000 when the chimney is structural and tied into the roofline. Those ranges reflect the materials actually specified for the job – a DuraFlex flexible liner and HeatShield resurfacing cost more than a hardware-store insert, and they last far longer.
We’re Causeway Chimney Sweep, and we quote these jobs in Universal City regularly. What we can tell you up front: the number you get depends less on the square footage of your roof and more on what’s inside the flue once we get a camera in it. Call (877) 500-2276 for a free estimate and we’ll give you a real figure, not a range.
Key Takeaways
- Standard stainless liner replacement in Universal City: $1,900 – $4,800.
- HeatShield resurfacing (for liners that don’t need full replacement): $1,200 – $2,400.
- Partial rebuild (crown, top courses, firebox): $1,400 – $6,500.
- Full structural rebuild: $6,000 – $9,500+.
- Cost is driven by flue condition, liner material, chimney height, and access – not by the size of your house.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s how the line items break down for a Universal City job. These ranges assume a typical masonry chimney; a factory-built fireplace will price differently, and we’ll tell you which you have during the estimate.
| Line Item | Typical Range (Universal City, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep & Level 2 inspection (camera) | $250 – $550 |
| Stainless steel flexible liner (DuraFlex), standard flue | $1,900 – $4,200 |
| Oversized or offset flue liner | $3,200 – $4,800 |
| Insulation wrap for liner | $350 – $750 |
| HeatShield resurfacing (liner repair, no replacement) | $1,200 – $2,400 |
| Crown repair or rebuild | $600 – $1,800 |
| Top-course brick rebuild (2 – 5 courses) | $1,400 – $3,200 |
| Firebox rebuild | $1,800 – $4,000 |
| Full chimney rebuild, structural | $6,000 – $9,500+ |
| New chimney cap & damper (Olympia, Gelco) | $300 – $800 |
| Dryer vent cleaning (bundled) | $150 – $275 |
What pushes a Universal City job toward the top of these ranges? Two things, mostly. First, flue geometry. Older homes around the hillsides above the studios often have flues that were built off-square or with offsets, and a liner has to be shaped or a smaller diameter used to make the turn – that’s more labor and sometimes a custom-fit DuraFlex section. Second, access. If the chimney is on a steep roofline or hemmed in by a tile roof, we’re working slower and with more staging, and that shows up on the invoice. The materials themselves matter too: HeatShield resurfacing is a specialty system most sweep companies don’t carry, and where it applies, it saves you the cost of a full reline.
What Affects Chimney Liner & Rebuild Pricing in Universal City
- Flue condition and shape. A clean, straight flue takes a standard DuraFlex liner and prices at the low end. Cracked, offset, or oversized flues need more prep, sometimes HeatShield resurfacing first, and that adds labor.
- Liner material and brand. We specify by name – DuraFlex for flexible liners, Olympia Chimney and Copperfield for caps, dampers, and components, Gelco and Famco for venting configurations. A commodity big-box liner prices lower on paper and won’t carry the same service life. Professional-grade materials cost more because they’re built to last decades.
- Chimney height and roofline access. Universal City homes sit on varied terrain, and a two-story chimney on a steep pitch means more staging and more time. Height directly affects labor.
- Whether you need a rebuild or a reline. A liner replacement fixes the flue. A rebuild fixes the masonry around it. If the crown and top courses are spalling, we may recommend both, and that’s where jobs move past $6,000.
- Gas vs. wood appliance. A gas appliance vented through a masonry chimney needs a properly sized liner for the appliance’s flue gas output; an oversized flue cools the exhaust and causes condensation damage. Matching the liner to the appliance is part of the quote.
- Combustion air and venting configuration. Modern builds sometimes need Famco ventilation products to bring in combustion air or reconfigure venting. It’s not a big line item, but it’s the kind of detail a generalist misses and a specialist catches on the first visit.
How to Save on Chimney Liner & Rebuild
There are a few real ways to keep the number down without cutting into the work that actually protects your home.
- Get the inspection before the problem grows. A Level 2 camera inspection runs a few hundred dollars. Catching a cracked flue tile early often means HeatShield resurfacing instead of a full reline – that’s the difference between roughly $1,500 and $3,500.
- Bundle the sweep and the repair. We handle sweeping, repair, and dryer vent cleaning in-house. One call, one visit, and you’re not paying a second company a trip charge to come back out.
- Do the crown before the walls. Crown repair is one of the cheapest items on the list, and it’s the one that prevents water from getting into the brick and forcing a rebuild later. Fix it early.
- Ask about resurfacing first. If your flue is sound but the liner surface is rough, HeatShield may restore it without a full replacement. Not every chimney qualifies, but it’s worth asking.
- Get a written, itemized estimate. We give free estimates and we break the quote into line items so you know what you’re paying for. Call (877) 500-2276 and we’ll walk you through it.
Repair or replace? A quick way to think about it
If the flue tiles are cracked or the liner surface is failing but the masonry around it is solid, repair – either resurfacing or a new flexible liner – is almost always the better value. If the brickwork itself is spalling, the crown is failing, and the top courses are loose, a rebuild is the honest answer. We’d rather tell you which one your chimney needs than sell you the bigger job.
Why the Materials Matter More Than the Bid
Chimney work is one of those trades where the difference between a $1,900 liner and a $1,200 liner is invisible until it fails. The liner is what carries combustion gases out of your house; if it degrades, those gases come back in. That’s why we work exclusively with professional-grade lines – DuraFlex for flexible liners, HeatShield for resurfacing, Olympia Chimney and Copperfield for caps and components, Gelco and Famco for venting and combustion air. These are the same lines specified by certified sweep associations, not the commodity substitutes you’ll find at a hardware store.
HeatShield is a good example. It’s a proprietary resurfacing system that restores a failing liner from the inside without tearing the chimney apart, and most sweep companies don’t carry it or aren’t trained to apply it. Where it fits, it saves you a full reline. Where it doesn’t, we’ll say so.
And because we’re a full-service venting company, we don’t stop at the chimney. Your dryer vent is a venting system too, not an afterthought – lint buildup is a documented fire hazard, and we clean it with the same care we give the flue. One call, full system.
If you’re comparing us to a generalist or a handyman, the difference shows up in the quote and in the materials list. From sweep to reline, we handle it in-house and we don’t refer you elsewhere mid-job.
FAQs – Chimney Liner & Rebuild Cost in Universal City
How much does a chimney liner cost in Universal City?
A standard stainless steel chimney liner in Universal City runs $1,900 to $4,800, with most single-story masonry chimneys landing around $2,500 to $3,200. Oversized or offset flues and steep-roof access push the number up. Call (877) 500-2276 for an exact quote – estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to resurface a liner or replace it?
Resurfacing with HeatShield is typically $1,200 to $2,400, which is less than a full reline at $1,900 to $4,800 – but it only works when the flue is structurally sound. If the tiles are cracked through or the liner is failing, replacement is the right call. We’ll tell you which one your chimney needs during the estimate. Call (877) 500-2276 to schedule.
How much does a chimney rebuild cost in Universal City?
A partial rebuild (crown, top courses, or firebox) runs $1,400 to $6,500, and a full structural rebuild runs $6,000 to $9,500+ depending on height and access. Crown-only repairs start around $600. Most Universal City homeowners we quote land in the partial-rebuild range. Call (877) 500-2276 for a free assessment.
Can you come out today?
Same-day and next-day appointments are often available for inspections and estimates in Universal City. The inspection itself takes about an hour, and you’ll have a written, itemized quote the same day. Call (877) 500-2276 to check the schedule.
Does a chimney liner really need to be replaced, or can I wait?
If the flue is cracked or the liner is failing, don’t wait. A compromised liner lets combustion gases and moisture into the chimney structure, and what starts as a $1,500 resurfacing job can turn into a $6,000 rebuild once water gets into the brick. A camera inspection tells you exactly where you stand. Call (877) 500-2276 and we’ll take a look.
Getting a Real Number for Your Chimney
Online ranges get you in the ballpark, but the only number that matters is the one for your chimney. We give free, itemized estimates in Universal City – we’ll run a camera down the flue, check the crown and top courses, and tell you honestly whether you need a reline, a resurfacing, or a rebuild. From sweep to reline, we handle the whole job in-house with professional-grade materials – DuraFlex, HeatShield, Olympia Chimney, Gelco, Famco, and Copperfield – not hardware-store substitutes. Call (877) 500-2276 today to schedule your free estimate.
If you’re outside Universal City, we also serve the surrounding area – read about Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Studio City and see how we handle that market, or head back to our home page for the full service lineup.
Pricing reflects the Universal City market as of 2026. Causeway Chimney Sweep offers free estimates – call (877) 500-2276.
What Our Customers Say
"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
— Grace Tran"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."
— Greg Reed"They were the only ones willing to just tell me the price. Everyone else wanted to "come take a look" first, which in my experience means come apply pressure in person."
— Amit Singh