Minnesota’s Only Licensed Roofer AND Chimney Repair Tech — Serving Minneapolis & Twin Cities

Most chimney leaks don’t start inside the chimney — they start where the chimney meets the roof at the flashing. When a chimney-only company patches the flashing from the chimney side, they miss the roofing failure underneath. When a roofer re-flashes the shingles, they miss the masonry deterioration above. You end up with two separate repairs, two bills, and a leak that returns every Minnesota winter. Our dual licensing allows us to diagnose and fix the complete system permanently.

CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certification means our technicians have passed rigorous training and testing on chimney systems, safety standards, inspection protocols, and repair methods. CSIA certification is the industry’s gold standard for chimney professionals. Our certification (#11692) assures homeowners that inspections and repairs meet national safety and quality standards — critical when dealing with fire hazards, carbon monoxide risks, and structural integrity.

We offer comprehensive chimney and fireplace services including: chimney cleaning and sweeping, chimney liner installation and repair, flashing repair, tuckpointing and masonry repair, chimney waterproofing, chimney rebuild, HeatShield® flue resurfacing, chimney cap installation, chimney crown repair, fireplace installation and repair, gas fireplace service, damper repair, and animal prevention measures. Our services address every aspect of chimney and fireplace system maintenance and repair.

We recommend annual professional inspection before fireplace season (ideally August or September). Minnesota’s extreme freeze-thaw cycles from October through April create relentless stress on chimney masonry, mortar, flashing, and liners. Annual inspection catches developing problems before they become expensive emergencies. If you use your fireplace heavily or notice warning signs (water stains, unusual odors, visible damage), more frequent inspection may be warranted.

HeatShield® is a proprietary flue resurfacing system that seals hairline cracks and restores flue integrity without requiring full liner replacement. It’s ideal for chimneys with minor liner damage, deterioration, or undersizing — conditions that would otherwise require expensive full liner replacement. We’re one of only a handful of Minnesota contractors certified to install HeatShield, giving our customers an affordable option between expensive full liner replacement and doing nothing at all.

Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles are particularly destructive. Water enters tiny cracks or porous masonry, freezes and expands (about 9% volume increase), creating pressure that fractures brick and mortar. This cycle repeats 50+ times each winter. Additionally, salt spray from roads, heavy snow and ice loads, and intense UV exposure accelerate deterioration. The most common leak source is damaged flashing at the roof junction — which requires both roofing and chimney expertise to diagnose and repair correctly.

Warning signs include: water stains on interior ceilings or walls near the chimney, musty or moldy odors around the fireplace, visible cracks in exterior mortar, efflorescence (white powder) on exterior masonry, rust or gaps in roof flashing, cracked or missing chimney crown, animal sounds or debris in the fireplace, and reduced draft or smoke entering the home. Any of these signs warrants professional inspection immediately — don’t wait for visible interior water damage.

Level 1 is a basic visual inspection of accessible interior and exterior components — appropriate for routine maintenance of well-maintained chimneys. Level 2 is a more comprehensive inspection using specialized cameras and tools to assess flue integrity, liner condition, masonry, crown, cap, flashing, and roofline connection in detail. Level 2 is recommended when problems are suspected, after chimney fires, or if the chimney is over 20 years old. Our CSIA-certified technicians perform both inspection levels.

Annual chimney cleaning removes creosote (a flammable byproduct of wood burning), debris, and blockages that reduce airflow and create fire hazards. In Minnesota, where fireplaces are used heavily through the long heating season, creosote accumulation is particularly aggressive. We document before-and-after conditions on every cleaning visit, so you have proof of maintenance. Semi-annual cleaning may be appropriate if you use your fireplace very frequently.

Flashing is metal material that seals the gap where your chimney penetrates the roof. It’s the primary barrier preventing water from running between the chimney and roof into your home. Flashing fails due to rust, separation from fasteners, improper installation, or freeze-thaw stress. Flashing failure is the most common source of chimney leaks. Because flashing repair requires both roofing and chimney expertise, most chimney companies can’t diagnose or fix flashing problems correctly — which is why they recur.

Tuckpointing is the removal of deteriorated mortar between bricks and replacement with new mortar of appropriate composition. Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles destroy mortar faster than in most other regions. Professional tuckpointing restores mortar joints before spalling (flaking) turns into structural failure. It’s a preventive measure that extends chimney life by decades when performed by experienced technicians who understand Minnesota masonry conditions.

Timeline depends on the repair scope. Simple crown or flashing repair might take 1-2 days. Extensive water damage remediation can take weeks. A professional can estimate after assessment.

Full or partial chimney rebuilds are necessary when deterioration is too extensive for repair — typically after 40-50+ years of freeze-thaw stress without maintenance, or when structural integrity is significantly compromised. We can match original brick, mortar color, and crown specifications to your home’s original structure, ensuring the rebuild is both functionally correct and aesthetically appropriate.

Professional-grade waterproofing seals porous masonry without trapping interior moisture (which would accelerate deterioration). Quality waterproofing typically lasts 7-10 years in Minnesota’s harsh climate. It’s a preventive treatment applied after chimney repairs are completed, protecting against future water intrusion. Homeowners should plan for re-application every 7-8 years to maintain protection.

Prevention strategies include: annual professional inspection, chimney waterproofing application, maintaining proper chimney cap and crown, ensuring roof flashing is intact and properly sealed, keeping gutters clean for proper drainage, removing debris from around the chimney, and addressing any visible deterioration (cracks, missing mortar, rust) immediately. The key is catching small problems before freeze-thaw cycles turn them into expensive structural failures.

Contact a professional chimney inspector immediately. Don’t wait for visible interior water damage — water damage develops silently inside walls. Schedule an inspection as soon as possible, especially if you notice warning signs like water stains, musty odors, or visible exterior damage. In Minnesota, every week you delay through winter allows additional freeze-thaw damage to occur. Early detection and repair costs far less than water damage remediation.

Yes, Midwest Chimney Repair was founded by a U.S. military veteran and is woman-owned and operated. The same discipline, accountability, and mission-focus that defines military service defines how we operate. We show up when we say we will, do what we say we’ll do, and stand behind every repair. Woman veteran ownership ensures our company operates with integrity and reliability.

We’ve been in operation since 1999 — over 25 years of experience. In that time, we’ve inspected and repaired chimneys in thousands of Minnesota homes. This longevity gives us deep local knowledge that can’t be learned from manuals. We understand how different Minnesota soil types and neighborhoods affect chimney deterioration, which brick styles are most vulnerable, and exactly how our regional climate stresses chimney systems.

August or September is ideal. Minnesota’s heating season runs from October through April, and this timing allows you to identify and repair problems before fireplace season begins. Early fall inspections ensure you head into winter with complete peace of mind and avoid emergency repairs during the coldest, most dangerous months. Our CSIA-certified technicians book up quickly for fall inspections, so we recommend calling early: (612) 655-8181.