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.
Chimney Company in Venice, CA
Chimney repair in Venice is mostly a masonry and moisture problem, not a creosote problem. The 1910s – 1930s bungalows and 1950s – 70s beach cottages here were built with brick fireboxes meant for wood fires, but decades of marine-layer fog and salt-laden air have done more damage than any fireplace ever could. Hickory Chimney Sweep handles the full repair scope in Venice, from spalling brick and cracked crowns to full relining, and we fix what we find rather than handing you a referral. Call (855) 554-2841 when your chimney shows signs of coastal wear.
Why Venice Homes Are Different
Venice sits directly in the path of the Pacific’s cool, humid marine layer, and that changes chimney work in a way inland contractors often miss. The salt air and morning fog keep masonry and metal components damp for large stretches of the year. Brick absorbs that moisture, then the salt crystallizes inside the pores, and over decades it spalls the face off the brick and eats away mortar joints. We regularly pull chimney caps in Venice that look like they have been through a decade of freeze-thaw cycles, except Venice never freezes. It is pure coastal corrosion.
The housing stock compounds it. Most Venice chimneys are original clay-tile-lined or unlined brick fireboxes from the 1910s through the 1970s, wrapped in stucco or wood siding. Those old clay liners crack under the constant moisture cycling, and once the liner is compromised, the flue gases start attacking the surrounding brick from the inside. What looks like a dirty chimney on a Venice inspection is often a structurally failing one. The firebox may show almost no use, which throws off homeowners who assume light use means no problems.
On the walk streets and canal-side cottages, we routinely find chimney crowns and mortar joints that have been wicking Pacific moisture for decades while the firebox itself looks barely used. That is the giveaway: the damage is coming from outside, not from fires. A Venice chimney inspection has to start on the roof, checking crown condition and flashing, before anyone ever looks at soot levels.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Venice Services
Most Venice homeowners call us for one of two things: a thorough chimney sweep before the short winter burn season, or a dryer vent cleaning to address the lint hazard that builds up in older laundry rooms. Both are fire-safety services, and one call covers both.
Chimney Sweep in Venice
A chimney sweep in Venice is about more than removing soot. The light, sporadic fireplace use in this climate means creosote buildup is rarely the main issue, but the sweep still matters because it is the one time every year someone actually looks at the flue, the damper, the crown, and the firebox as a complete system. Salt-crusted flue liners and rusted dampers show up on these inspections all the time, and catching them early is the difference between a cap replacement and a full rebuild. We sweep the fireplace, and we also look for the coastal damage that Venice chimneys are prone to. Learn more on our dedicated page for Chimney Sweep in Venice.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Venice
Venice homes from the 1950s and 60s often have laundry rooms tucked into tight spaces with dryer vents that run long horizontal distances to an exterior wall. Those long runs collect lint quickly, and coastal humidity makes the lint clump and stick inside the duct rather than blowing through. A clogged dryer vent is a leading cause of residential appliance fires in the U.S., and the older the home, the more likely the vent has never been properly cleaned. We use professional rotary brushes and negative air to pull the packed lint out, and we check the exterior termination for corrosion and proper flap operation. Full details are on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Venice page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Venice
Chimney repair in Venice is driven by the salt air and the age of the housing stock. We work on 1910s California bungalows and 1950s beach cottages where the original brick fireboxes and clay tile liners are still in place, and after decades of absorbing marine moisture, those chimneys fail from the top down: crowns crack, mortar joints soften, brick faces spall, and liners fracture. Chimney Repair is our core service because Venice homeowners need a contractor who can do more than sweep and report. We carry the materials and run the repairs in-house, using professional-grade systems like HeatShield resurfacing and DuraFlex liners, so a problem found during a sweep gets fixed by the same crew.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
You notice crumbling concrete or pitting on the top surface of your chimney, water stains on the ceiling or walls near the chimney, or pieces of crown material washing into the gutter.
What it costs in Venice
Chimney crown repair in Venice typically runs $600 – $1,200 depending on the extent of the damage and whether the crown needs a full rebuild or a resurface.
How we do it
We remove the deteriorated crown material, build or resurface with a properly sloped crown using professional-grade cement, and install a flexible drip edge to keep water from running down the brick face.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You notice rain or bird debris entering the flue, visible rust or missing metal at the chimney top, or you can see daylight through a damaged cap from the ground.
What it costs in Venice
A chimney cap installation in Venice is typically $300 – $750 including the cap and the labor to secure it to the crown.
How we do it
We measure the flue, install a stainless steel or copper cap from brands we stock, and anchor it mechanically to the crown so coastal wind and salt cannot loosen it.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Venice
| Item | Typical range in Venice |
|---|---|
| Chimney crown repair | $600 – $1,200 |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $750 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
Do I really need a new liner in Venice?
Most original clay tile liners in Venice homes have already cracked from decades of moisture cycling. If inspection shows fractured tiles or gaps where flue gas is reaching the brick, a new liner prevents a chimney fire and keeps carbon monoxide out of the house. Call (855) 554-2841 for a camera inspection before deciding.
How often should a Venice chimney be inspected?
Even with light fireplace use, have it inspected every two years at minimum because the coastal moisture keeps working on the masonry year-round. If your home is on the canals or within a few blocks of the beach, annual checks are worth it. Call (855) 554-2841 to schedule an inspection.
Brands We Service in Venice
We stock and install HeatShield resurfacing material, Gelco caps, and Olympia Chimney components, along with Famco termination fittings. Because we carry these on the truck, many Venice repairs are completed the same day the problem is found rather than waiting on a part to ship. See the full list at our brands.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Venice, CA
| Service | Typical range in Venice |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $750 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $300 – $750 |
| Chimney crown repair | $600 – $1,200 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $900 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $95 – $200 |
Prices in Venice run higher when the chimney is on a canal-side lot or walk street with tight roof access, because scaffold or ladder setup takes longer. Salt-corroded flashing that has welded itself to the brick can also add time. Every job gets a flat price before we start, so you know the number before any work begins.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Venice
We work throughout the Venice ZIP codes 90291 and 90294, from the historic bungalows near Abbot Kinney to the walk streets and the canal-side cottages that need the most masonry attention.
- Oakwood
- North Venice
- Silver Triangle
- Venice Canals
- Walk Streets of Venice
We route Venice calls with the rest of our Westside service area, and most appointments land within a few business days.
Service Area – Cities Near Venice
Hickory Chimney Sweep also covers the surrounding Westside and South Bay cities. If you are in Culver City, CA, Ladera Heights, CA, Century City, CA, or El Segundo, CA, we can schedule the same chimney or dryer vent service and route a truck to you.
Serving Venice, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Venice area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Company in Venice
Most chimney repairs in Venice, including crown work, cap replacement, and liner installation, do not require a city permit because they are considered maintenance of the existing structure. Full rebuilds beyond the roofline can trigger a review, and we will tell you if your job crosses that line. Call (855) 554-2841 and we will walk you through your specific home.
Most Venice homeowners can get an inspection within a few business days, and canal-side or walk-street homes are not a problem because our crews are set up for tight access. We do not charge for the estimate, and the inspection includes camera footage you can see for yourself. Call (855) 554-2841 to book.
The most common outcome in Venice is not a chimney fire, it is water damage: a cracked crown lets rain into the brick, the brick spalls, the liner cracks, and then the repair bill triples. Skipping maintenance on a canal-side home practically guarantees this sequence. A yearly or every-other-year inspection catches the crown crack when it is still a $700 fix.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Venice Customers Say
"Creosote buildup was worse than I realized. He measured it, showed me the glazing on the flue with the camera, and was honest that we were closer to a chimney fire than I wanted to hear."
— Beatriz Hernandez"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
— Allen Tran"Older house, weird setup, previous owner did some creative things. He didn't sigh or roll his eyes, he just figured it out. Took him a while but he got there."
— Luis Castillo