FIREPLACE & CHIMNEY MASONRY
5.0 33+ Google reviews
Fireplace and Chimney Masonry Services in Calgary, Indoor and Outdoor
Martini Stone Masonry builds and repairs the complete fireplace and chimney system: custom indoor fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces and fire features, firebox and refractory repair, exterior chimney brick and stone repair, repointing, crown replacement, custom chimney caps, and partial or full chimney rebuilds above the roofline.
One page, one system, because the fireplace you use indoors and the chimney masonry weathering outdoors fail and get repaired together. Owner Astrit Martinaj has planned and completed this work across Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Canmore and Banff for more than 20 years.
- 20+
- Years of masonry experience
- $2M
- Liability insurance ($5M aggregate)
- WCB
- Registered contractor
- Written
- Estimates and defined scope
INDOOR FIREPLACE MASONRY
Custom Indoor Fireplaces and Fireplace Repair
A masonry fireplace should feel built with the room, not added to it. Proportion, stone or brick profile, hearth dimensions, mantel placement and surrounding finishes determine whether the completed fireplace anchors the space or fights it.
Custom Natural Stone Fireplaces
Fieldstone, ledgestone, river rock and dimensional stone fireplaces for traditional and contemporary interiors, including full-height feature walls. A recent Brindle Hill project paired natural stone with an India limestone hearthstone.
Custom Brick Fireplaces
Traditional and modern brick patterns with compatible mortar, soldier courses, corbelled details and hearth proportions suited to the room.
Fireplace Refacing
An existing fireplace can be resurfaced with new stone or brick when the substrate, clearances and structure permit. This is the most common way Calgary homeowners modernize a dated fireplace without rebuilding it.
Firebox and Refractory Repair
Cracked refractory mortar, loose firebrick and deteriorated firebox panels take direct heat and must be repaired with heat-resistant refractory materials, never general-purpose mortar.
OUTDOOR LIVING
Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Features
Outdoor masonry fireplaces are planned for Alberta weather from the first sketch: drainage, freeze-thaw exposure, foundation support and material selection all differ from indoor construction. Martini Stone Masonry builds outdoor fireplaces, fire features and the chimney masonry above them as complete weather-resistant assemblies.
EXTERIOR CHIMNEY REPAIR
Chimney Repair in Calgary
Chimneys take the harshest exposure on the property. Rain, snow, wind-driven moisture and repeated freeze-thaw cycles work on the masonry year-round, and once water enters through a cracked crown, open joint or failed cap, deterioration accelerates down through the structure.
Every chimney project starts with a visual masonry assessment that determines whether the correct scope is a localized repair, repointing, crown work, a partial rebuild or complete reconstruction.
Signs Your Chimney Needs Repair
Cracked or loose brickwork, widespread surface deterioration, failed seals and flashing, rusted or damaged chimney caps, a cracked crown, or masonry that previous repairs never stabilized, each indicates water is already inside the system.
Chimney Repair Services
Brick and stone repair
Damaged units are removed and replaced while sound surrounding masonry is preserved.
Chimney repointing
Deteriorated mortar is ground out to a suitable depth and replaced with mortar matched to the existing brick. Mortar that is too hard transfers stress into older bricks and causes spalling.
Crown repair and replacement
Cracked crowns are repaired or replaced with a properly sloped concrete crown or a custom-fabricated metal system. Detailed options are on the Chimney Caps page.
Partial rebuilds
When upper courses are too deteriorated for isolated repair, the affected section is dismantled and rebuilt.
Full rebuilds
Severely deteriorated or leaning chimneys are reconstructed above the roofline with materials selected for the exposure.
Repair or Rebuild?
Repair is usually appropriate when deterioration is limited to specific bricks or joints, the chimney remains plumb, and compatible replacement materials exist. Rebuilding becomes necessary when large sections are loose or displaced, previous repairs have repeatedly failed, or moisture damage runs through multiple courses. An on-site assessment settles the question before any estimate is written.
CHIMNEY TOPS
Chimney Caps and Crowns: Where Chimney Protection Starts
The crown and cap are the chimney's roof. A cracked concrete crown or rusted cap lets water enter from the top, and every freeze-thaw cycle then pries the masonry below it apart. Martini Stone Masonry repairs concrete crowns and fabricates custom metal chimney caps, including multi-flue and chase-style caps, matched to the chimney's construction.
Concrete or metal, replacement or repair: the full comparison, project photos and process are on the dedicated page.
STUCCO & SIDING TRANSITIONS
Stucco-to-Chimney Siding and Finish Transitions
Many Calgary chimneys are finished in stucco or transition into siding partway up the wall. These junctions crack first because the materials expand at different rates. Martini Stone Masonry repairs stucco-clad chimneys and rebuilds the transition detailing so water sheds instead of entering. Recent projects include new stucco applied to a full chimney at 1411 1A St NW in Calgary.
For stucco damage beyond the chimney itself, see Stucco Repair in Calgary.
WHY CHIMNEYS FAIL HERE
Why Calgary Chimneys Deteriorate
Freeze-thaw cycles
Water absorbed by brick and mortar expands roughly 9% when it freezes, cracking masonry from the inside across dozens of cycles each winter.
Water entry from the top
Cracked crowns, open joints, damaged caps and failed flashing admit moisture from multiple directions at once.
Incompatible mortar
Overly hard mortar from past repairs transfers stress into older, softer brick and accelerates spalling.
Poor crown drainage
Flat or undersized crowns hold water and direct it into the courses below.
Movement and settlement
Structural and roof movement open vertical cracks and displace masonry over time.
OUR PROCESS
How We Plan Fireplace and Chimney Projects
- 01
On-Site Assessment
The intended project, existing materials, visible damage, access and surrounding construction are reviewed, whether indoors, outdoors or both.
- 02
Design or Repair Scope
The fireplace design or chimney repair method is defined from the actual conditions, then documented in a written estimate.
- 03
Material Selection
Brick, stone, mortar, refractory and finishing materials are matched for compatibility, heat exposure and appearance.
- 04
Masonry Construction
The agreed construction or repair is completed with attention to proportion, joints, transitions, flashing interfaces and surrounding finishes.
- 05
Final Detailing and Review
Crowns, caps, hearth transitions and exposed masonry are finished, and the work is reviewed against the written scope. Warranty terms are defined per project. See masonry warranty information.
COMPLETED WORK
Recent Fireplace and Chimney Projects
COMMON QUESTIONS
Fireplace and Chimney Questions
Answered by
Astrit Martinaj
Owner & Operator · 20+ years of masonry
What is the difference between fireplace repair and chimney repair?
Fireplace repair involves the interior masonry: surrounds, hearths, refacing and firebox materials. Chimney repair involves the weather-exposed exterior: brick or stone above the roofline, mortar joints, crowns, caps and flashing interfaces. Martini Stone Masonry handles both as one system.
Can an existing fireplace be refaced with stone?
Usually yes. The substrate, clearances and structural condition are reviewed first; where they permit, new stone or brick is installed over the existing fireplace structure.
How do I know whether my chimney needs repair or a rebuild?
Localized cracks, deteriorated joints or a damaged crown are typically repairable while the masonry remains stable. Loose or displaced sections, repeated repair failures or a leaning chimney point to a partial or full rebuild. The on-site assessment answers this before work is quoted.
Can damaged chimney bricks be replaced individually?
Yes, when the surrounding masonry is sound, individual bricks or localized areas are replaced with units and mortar matched to the existing chimney.
Do you replace chimney caps and crowns?
Yes. Concrete crown repair and replacement, plus custom metal chimney cap fabrication and installation, are covered in detail on the Chimney Caps page.
Do you handle flue liners, appliances or WETT inspections?
Mechanical flue, liner, appliance, combustion and code-certification work may require an appropriately qualified chimney or HVAC specialist. Martini Stone Masonry focuses on the masonry system and coordinates around those trades.
Do you build outdoor fireplaces?
Yes. Outdoor fireplaces and fire features are designed for Alberta weather exposure, drainage and the intended gathering space.
Which communities do you serve?
Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Canmore, Banff and surrounding Alberta communities, subject to project scope and scheduling.
Still have a question about your property?
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
Request a Fireplace or Chimney Assessment
Tell us whether you are planning a new fireplace, refacing an existing one, repairing chimney masonry or replacing a crown or cap. Photographs and the property location help with the initial review.
What Happens Next
A Written Estimate, After an On-Site Assessment
- 1 Send the property location, the visible condition and photographs if you have them.
- 2 We confirm the assessment appointment, free within the service area.
- 3 You receive a written estimate defining scope, materials and project conditions before any work starts.
Service Area
Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Canmore, Banff and surrounding Alberta communities.
Photographs and project details can be included with your inquiry.
- 20+ Years
- Masonry experience
- $2M
- Liability insurance
- WCB
- Registered
Most estimate requests receive an initial response within one business day.
Free Project Review
Complete the form with as much detail as possible about the property and the condition of the existing masonry.
5.0 33+ Google reviews
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