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 Repair in Hicksville: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney repair in Hicksville, with most jobs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing agreed before we start. Typical turnaround from call to repair is three to five business days during peak season, though we keep slots open for active leaks and safety hazards. We’re not the cheapest option on Long Island, and we don’t try to be - we’re the ones who fix it so you don’t call us back for the same problem.
This page is for Famco owners in Hicksville, Levittown, and the surrounding Nassau County neighborhoods who’ve noticed crumbling mortar, water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, or bricks that look like they’re shedding skin. If that’s your house, call (516) 259-3797. A live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco chimney caps (standard galvanized and stainless series) - The galvanized caps we see on 1970s and 1980s Hicksville splits were never meant for Long Island’s freeze-thaw cycle. The seam welds crack after fifteen to twenty years, letting water run straight down the flue. We replace with stainless or copper equivalents, or step up to a Gelco or Olympia Chimney cap if the flue sizing demands it.
- Famco masonry chimney crowns (poured concrete models) - These develop hairline fractures that widen every February when water freezes in the pores. By the time you see interior ceiling damage in a Cape Cod off Newbridge Road, the crown’s usually saturated through. We grind out the cracks, apply a flexible crown sealant, or pour a new reinforced crown if the structural integrity is gone.
- Famco clay flue liners (standard 8×8 and 8×13 terracotta) - Vertical cracking from rapid temperature swings, especially common in Hicksville homes where owners burn irregularly - hot fires on weekends, cold flues all week. The chimney doesn’t care what you hoped it was - it shows you what it is. We sleeve with a DuraFlex stainless liner or apply HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing, depending on crack pattern and NFPA 211 clearance requirements.
- Famco chimney flashing (step and counterflash configurations) - The original aluminum flashing on split-levels near Broadway Mall lifts at the corners after twenty years of thermal cycling. Water follows the nail holes into the attic. We remove the old, install new copper or lead-coated step flashing, and seal with a high-temperature polyurethane that stays flexible below zero.
- Famco brick spalling on south- and west-facing exposures - Hicksville’s sun load plus freeze-thaw pops the face off bricks, especially on pre-1990 construction with softer clay brick. We cut out spalled units, match replacement brick for color and absorption rate, and repoint with Type N mortar formulated for our coastal freeze-thaw zone - not the fast-set bag mix you’ll find at the big-box store.
Our Famco Chimney Repair Process
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Call and schedule. A live person answers, notes your symptoms, and books a Level-2 camera inspection. No automated queue, no callback tomorrow.
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Inspection and documentation. Our technician arrives in uniform, runs a camera the full length of the flue, and photographs the exterior from roof level. You see the photos on a tablet before we leave the driveway. We explain what’s wrong, what can wait, and what can’t.
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Parts decision. For Famco components, we source OEM when it exists and makes sense. When Famco has discontinued a line - the pre-1995 galvanized cap series, for instance - we specify quality aftermarket from our standard brands: DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, or Copperfield. We tell you which we’re using and why.
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Repair execution. Most Famco repairs finish in one visit: repointing, crown sealing, cap replacement, flashing rebuild. Liner jobs or partial rebuilds may need a second day. We protect your roof, your landscaping, and your attic access with drop cloths and plywood runners.
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Testing and final documentation. We run the camera again after liner work, smoke-test the draft, and photograph the completed repair. You get a written report with photos, the 90-Day Done Right Promise, and an invoice that matches the estimate.
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Cleanup and follow-up. We haul away debris, run a magnet over the driveway for nails, and call within two weeks to confirm you’re satisfied. If something’s not right, we come back. In writing, no arguing.
What Famco Chimney Repair Costs in Hicksville
These are real ranges for Famco chimney repair work we’ve completed in Hicksville, Levittown, and East Meadow over the past three years. Your exact price depends on access height, brick matching requirements, and whether we find hidden damage once we’re inside the flue.
- Famco chimney cap replacement (stainless): $280-$450
- Crown crack repair with flexible sealant: $350-$650
- Full crown rebuild, reinforced concrete: $1,200-$2,100
- Brick repointing (tuckpointing), per face: $850-$1,600
- Flashing repair, step and counterflash: $650-$1,100
- Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline): $2,800-$5,500
- DuraFlex stainless liner, installed: $2,400-$4,200
What moves the price: three-story access requires additional scaffolding, matching salvaged brick from a 1960s Hicksville colonial takes extra sourcing time, and concealed flue damage always costs more than surface-visible problems. We price the full job before we start - the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. Call (516) 259-3797 for a free estimate.
Why Hicksville Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been working on Famco products in Nassau County since before some of the current product lines existed. Russell Haines and our technicians know which Famco caps rust from the inside out, which crown formulations were poured too thin, and where the flashing details fail on Long Island’s particular roof pitches. That knowledge saves you from paying for a repair that looks correct but misses the actual problem.
Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if we repointed your chimney and a freeze-thaw cycle finds a weak joint we didn’t see, we return and make it right - backed in writing, no paperwork to dig up, no argument about whether it was “pre-existing.” We also work with DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco systems daily, so when a Famco component needs a compatible upgrade, we’re not guessing at fitment.
A live person answers our phone every hour of every day. Most repairs complete in one visit. And we’ve been here for over 42 years - we plan to be here when you need us again.
FAQs
The original Famco warranty on most chimney components expired years ago, and as an independent Famco service provider, our repairs carry our own 90-Day Done Right Promise instead. We use parts and methods that meet or exceed original specifications, and we document everything so you have a record of what was done and when. Call (516) 259-3797 if you’d like us to review your specific installation.
Famco has discontinued several cap and liner lines, but we maintain relationships with distributors who stock remaining inventory and we specify quality aftermarket replacements from DuraFlex, Gelco, or Olympia Chimney when OEM is unavailable. We never install a substitute without explaining the trade-off and getting your approval. For a parts assessment on your specific model, call (516) 259-3797.
We make that call based on what the camera shows and what we find probing the mortar joints. A chimney with sound structural brick and localized spalling or missing mortar gets repointed. One with multiple courses of deteriorated brick, a shifted flue, or a leaning stack needs rebuilding. We show you the photos, explain the difference, and tell you honestly when repair is throwing good money after bad. Call (516) 259-3797 for a free inspection and straight answer.
Active leaks causing interior damage get priority scheduling, typically within two to three business days. Standard repairs book three to five days out during sweep season (September through March), and two weeks in peak fall. We don’t promise same-day dispatch - we promise we’ll be there when we say, and we’ll call if traffic or weather shifts our arrival. Call (516) 259-3797 to check current availability.
Yes - every repair estimate we provide follows a Level-2 camera inspection. The camera reveals what exterior looking cannot: cracked flue liners, hidden water channels, and creosote buildup that affects how we approach the repair. The $89 inspection fee applies toward your repair if you proceed. We won’t quote a number that changes dramatically once we’re on the roof. Schedule yours at (516) 259-3797.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Hicksville and nearby areas.