Chimney services in Snohomish
- Masonry Repair & TuckpointingRepointing worn mortar joints and replacing spalled brick on chimneys, using new mortar matched to the old so the repair does not harm the brick around it.
- Chimney RebuildingTaking a failed chimney down to sound masonry and building it back up, above the roofline or further down, with the stopping point named in a written scope.
- Chimney InspectionA close look at the flue, firebox, masonry and roof flashing, with photos you keep and a plain account of what’s urgent, what can wait and what can be left alone.
- Chimney Crown RepairSealing, resurfacing or recasting the slab on top of your chimney, with a real overhang, a drip edge and a flexible joint around the flue.
- Chimney Leak & Flashing RepairTracing where water really gets in around your chimney, then repairing the flashing, crown, cap or masonry responsible, with a written scope before any work.
- Chimney Sweeping & CleaningCreosote, soot and debris cleared from the flue, smoke chamber and firebox, with before-and-after photos and a plain account of what the cleaning turned up.
Chimneys in the Historic District
The Snohomish Historic District covers about 99 acres, from the commercial blocks along the Snohomish River north into the historic residential streets, and its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places was certified in 1974. Changes to the exterior of existing buildings there go to the city’s Design Review Board, which advises city planning staff using the district’s design standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
The residential standards, adopted in 2017, speak to chimneys directly. Original or architecturally significant chimneys are not to be removed or altered. A chimney that becomes unstable or collapses is to be replaced to match the original design, in the same or similar materials. Brick or masonry chimneys are not to be covered with stucco, paint or veneers, and unpainted masonry is not to be painted.
That points repairs toward matching brick and detail rather than simplifying the stack. Old brick also needs suitable mortar: the Brick Industry Association’s rule is that repointing mortar be no stronger than the original, since a harder mix pushes damage into the brick faces. See masonry repair and chimney rebuilding.
Old houses, wet winters
Beyond the district, Census estimates put the median Snohomish home’s construction year at 1978, with about 29 percent of homes built before 1960. The nearest long-term NOAA station, in Monroe about seven miles southeast, records 50.77 inches of precipitation a year on about 187 days, and 60 nights at or below freezing (1991–2020) — hard going for an old crown or tired mortar.
Who permits chimney work in Snohomish
Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Snohomish’s Planning & Development Services department, with all applications through its Self-Service Permit Portal. The city’s single-family permit guide says building, mechanical and plumbing systems may not be altered or repaired without a permit, and lists new fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, gas piping and roofing among projects needing one. Electrical permits come from the state Department of Labor & Industries.
In the Historic District, design review usually runs alongside the permit. The city encourages a pre-application review with staff through the portal before a formal submittal.
What you can tell us about
You do not need to know the cause. These are things homeowners describe when they get in touch — each one is something to assess on site, not a diagnosis.
Water where it should not be
Drips in the firebox, stains on a ceiling or wall beside the chimney, or a damp smell after rain.
Leak & flashing repairLoose mortar or damaged brick
Crumbling joints, brick faces flaking off, or bits of masonry on the roof or in the gutter.
Masonry repairA missing or damaged cap
No cap on the flue, a bent or rusted one, or signs that birds or animals have been getting in.
Cap installationSmoke or draft trouble
Smoke rolling into the room, a fire that is hard to keep going, or odors when the fireplace is not in use.
Chimney inspectionBuildup and a sweep that is overdue
You cannot remember the last cleaning, or you have bought a house and do not know the chimney's history.
Chimney sweepingA gas fireplace that will not light
A pilot that will not stay lit, ignition trouble, or soot on the glass. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Gas fireplace service
How a visit works
- 1Send the short form or call. Say what you have noticed; photos you took are welcome when we talk.
- 2We arrange a time with you, look at the chimney, and photograph what we find.
- 3You hear plainly what is urgent, what can wait, and what does not need doing.
- 4Repair work comes with a written scope and price. Nothing starts until you approve it.
- 5We photograph the finished work from the same angles, and the photos are yours to keep.
What affects the price
Prices come after the chimney has been seen, in writing. These are the things that move them:
- Condition
- What the inspection finds, and whether the cause of the damage is still active.
- Access
- Roof pitch, height, how many stories up the chimney sits, and whether staging is needed.
- Chimney size
- Height above the roof, width, and how many flues the stack carries.
- Materials
- Brick and mortar matched to what is there, crown and cap materials, liner type.
- Scope
- One targeted repair, several at once, or rebuilding part of the stack.
- Permits
- Whether the work needs a permit from the city or county that has jurisdiction at the address.
Snohomish chimney questions
Can I take down an unused chimney on a house in the Historic District?
Not without review, and the district standards say original or architecturally significant chimneys are not to be removed or altered. Talk to the city’s planning staff first; keeping an unused chimney capped and watertight is one way to leave it in place.
Can I paint or stucco over a brick chimney in Snohomish?
In the Historic District, the standards rule it out for brick and masonry chimneys. Elsewhere it is not a technical fix either: the National Park Service warns that sealing spalling brick behind a coating traps moisture and speeds the decay. An inspection finds out why the brick is failing.
Do I need a permit to add a wood stove or fireplace?
Yes. The city’s single-family permit guide lists new fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, and gas piping, among projects that need a permit. Ask the Permit Center if you are unsure what yours needs.
Can I burn wood during a burn ban in Snohomish?
Only as the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency allows at that stage: Stage 1 stops fireplaces and uncertified stoves, and Stage 2 stops nearly all wood and pellet burning. Check its status page or call 800-595-4341. For work before winter, use the request form.
Useful local links
- Historic District — City of Snohomish (opens in a new tab)
- Historic District Design Review Standards and Guidelines — City of Snohomish (opens in a new tab)
- Permitting — City of Snohomish (opens in a new tab)
- Air Quality Burn Ban Status — Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (opens in a new tab)
- Climate Normals 1991–2020, Monroe station — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (opens in a new tab)