Level 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.
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AfterFamco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Brick: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service in Brick, with most liner replacements and partial rebuilds completed in a single visit and priced upfront before any work begins. A typical Famco stainless steel liner replacement in this market runs $2,800-$4,500 depending on flue height and access, while partial rebuilds start around $1,800. We’re not affiliated with Famco - we work on their products because they’ve been installed in Jersey Shore homes for decades, and we know where they hold up and where they don’t.
This page is for Brick homeowners who’ve been told their Famco liner is failing, who’ve spotted rust flakes in the firebox, or who’ve had a sweep recommend a rebuild and want a second opinion they can verify with their own eyes. Call (609) 657-3371 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 316Ti flexible liners in coastal Brick homes: The titanium-stabilized alloy resists acid well, but we’ve found the seam welds on pre-2010 rolls corrode faster than the body when exposed to salt air - especially in homes east of Route 70 near Windward Beach Park. We cut back to sound metal and splice in a new section with an exterior-grade joint, or replace the full run if the damage is too widespread.
- Famco rigid stainless elbows in offset chimney configurations: The 45-degree and 90-degree elbows on older Famco rigid systems collect condensation at the lower shoulder, leading to pinhole leaks that show up as water stains on the firebox sidewall. We pull a camera to confirm the exact elbow, then replace with a heavier-gauge Olympia Chimney or DuraFlex equivalent rated for the appliance below.
- Famco top-sealing dampers integrated with chase covers: The cast-aluminum damper frames fatigue after 15-20 years of freeze-thaw cycles - common in Brick’s zone 7a climate. When the damper frame cracks, it dumps rainwater directly onto the liner crown. We replace the damper assembly with a Gelco or Copperfield unit and inspect the liner top for water damage while we’re up there.
- Famco smooth-wall liners in oil-to-gas conversion jobs: These were popular in 1980s Brick ranches when oil was king. The lower flue gas temperatures from modern gas appliances cause acidic condensation that the original liner wasn’t sized for. We sleeve with a properly sized flexible liner or apply HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing if the existing flue is structurally sound.
- Famco terracotta flue tile systems in pre-1990 Brick colonials: Not a metal liner, but Famco distributed a lot of terracotta in this market. The freeze-thaw spalling is worse near the water - we’ve pulled pieces the size of poker chips from flues in Herbertsville and Shore Acres. We break out the damaged courses and drop a stainless liner, or rebuild the flue if the surrounding masonry is compromised.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
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Call and schedule: A live person answers, day or night. We ask about your Famco model if you know it, the appliance type, and any symptoms. We book a Level-2 inspection with camera.
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Camera inspection and photos: Our technician runs a high-res camera the full length of the flue. You see the footage on a tablet. We mark cracks, gaps, corrosion, or failed mortar joints. You get a plain-English verdict - no jargon, no scare tactics.
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Parts decision: If Famco OEM is still available and cost-competitive, we’ll use it. More often, we specify DuraFlex, Gelco, or Olympia Chimney equivalents that match or exceed the original spec. We explain the trade-off and let you decide.
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Upfront pricing and scheduling: The estimate is the invoice. No surprises. We schedule the repair - most liner jobs and partial rebuilds take one day.
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The work and the test: We install, rebuild, or resurface per spec. Every job gets a smoke test or draft test to confirm safe operation. Russell Haines still walks every finished job before we call it complete - old habit.
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Written guarantee and cleanup: The 90-Day Done Right Promise goes in your hand before we leave. We haul away debris and leave the work area cleaner than we found it.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Brick
These are real numbers for Brick homes, based on what we’ve billed in the last 18 months. Every job gets a free, written estimate before any work starts.
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco flexible liner replacement (single flue) | $2,800 - $4,500 | Flue height, roof pitch, number of offsets |
| Famco rigid liner replacement | $3,200 - $5,000 | Elbow count, diameter, access (crawl space vs. basement) |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline) | $1,800 - $3,500 | Courses to replace, crown condition, scaffold needs |
| Full chimney rebuild | $6,500 - $12,000 | Height, liner type, footing condition |
| HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing | $1,200 - $2,400 | Flue length, number of gaps, access |
| Liner repair (section splice, crown, etc.) | $650 - $1,400 | Parts needed, labor hours, height |
Homes in Brick’s older neighborhoods - near the Metedeconk River or the barrier island side - often need extra attention to water damage from salt-laden air. We price that in upfront, not as a surprise add-on. Call (609) 657-3371 for your exact quote - estimates are free.
Why Brick Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been working chimneys in Brick for over 42 years. Russell Haines learned his trade at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and has spent more than two decades diagnosing and fixing flue problems - Famco systems included. When a Famco liner fails, you want someone who knows whether it’s a parts issue, an installation issue, or a sizing issue from a conversion that never should have used that liner in the first place.
We document everything with photos you can see. We back it with the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing - if it’s not right, we make it right, no paperwork, no arguing. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and carry DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco materials on the truck so most jobs finish in one visit. And when you call (609) 657-3371, a live person answers - every hour, every day. Find what’s wrong, fix it properly, stand behind it - that’s the whole job.
FAQs
The original Famco warranty on most residential liners expired years ago - they typically ran 10-15 years from installation. As an independent Famco service provider, our repairs don’t affect any remaining coverage because we’re not altering factory-sealed components. If your liner is still under an extended warranty through an installer, we’ll note that on our inspection and you can decide how to proceed. Call (609) 657-3371 and we’ll check the age against what we know of Famco’s coverage periods.
We make that call with camera evidence you can see. Isolated pitting or a single failed joint often just needs a section splice or resurfacing. Widespread corrosion, multiple seam failures, or a liner that’s come unseated from the top collar usually means replacement is the sounder long-term fix. We show you both options and explain why we’d choose one over the other. Call (609) 657-3371 to schedule the inspection - it’s free.
Famco OEM parts are increasingly limited for pre-2000 systems, but that’s rarely a problem. We stock and install DuraFlex, Olympia Chimney, and Gelco components that mate correctly with Famco flue collars and appliance adapters. In most cases, the aftermarket part exceeds the original specification. We’ll tell you if OEM is available and let you choose.
Most single-flue replacements in Brick take four to six hours from setup to test fire. Two-story homes with steep pitches or multiple offsets add time. We complete most jobs in a single visit because our trucks carry the common diameters and lengths. If we find unexpected masonry damage, we’ll show you, explain whether it can wait, and reschedule if needed - we don’t rush structural work.
A compromised liner lets heat, sparks, and combustion gases reach combustible framing - the leading cause of chimney fires. In Brick’s older stock, many homes have balloon framing that lets a chimney fire travel fast. Carbon monoxide infiltration is the quieter risk, especially with gas appliances. That said, not every crack is an emergency. Our camera inspection tells you whether you have months or need action before the next burn season. Call (609) 657-3371 and we’ll give you a straight answer you can act on.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Brick and nearby areas.