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 Montclair, CA
Chimney repair in Montclair usually comes down to one thing: the house was built between 1955 and 1975, and the original fireplace components were installed to builder-grade standards. The clay tile liners crack, the mortar joints spall, and the spark arrestor caps rust solid on top before anyone bothers to look. At Lantern Chimney Sweep, we’ve served Montclair since 2013, and most of what we repair here is not neglect. It’s age working on materials that were never meant to last this long in a climate that cycles from 40-degree winter nights to 100-degree summer afternoons. Call (855) 341-8132 when something looks wrong, sounds wrong, or simply has not been inspected in a decade.
Why Montclair Homes Are Different
Montclair’s housing stock is overwhelmingly mid-century tract construction. The ranch homes that line streets east of Central Avenue and west of the 83 Freeway are single-story, stucco-over-frame builds with original masonry fireplaces or early factory-built metal flues. Downtown along Holt Boulevard has a smaller run of pre-war bungalows and a scatter of newer infill, and those flue configurations are entirely different from what you find in the 1960s tracts. A technician who only knows one style of chimney will misread half of Montclair. We see old brick, double-wall metal pipe, and the thin prefab pipe that went into condos and apartment conversions.
The Inland Valley climate shapes the work in a way that surprises people. Montclair sits in the same South Coast Air Basin wood-burning nonattainment area as Los Angeles, so most fireplaces go unused from March through November. That sounds like good news until you understand what disuse does. Creosote buildup is rare here. What we find instead is thermal stress cracking in clay liners, spalling from years of intense heat-cycling followed by long cool stretches, and rust that takes hold while the system sits dormant. Many Montclair fireplaces have been converted to gas log sets, and plenty more are purely decorative now. The inspection work is different when a chimney has been capped or dormant for years: you are not looking for accumulation, you are looking for structural failure and water intrusion.
One more thing worth knowing about Montclair: a substantial number of the original 1960s and 1970s clay tile liners have shifted. The tiles crack, separate, and leave gaps in the flue wall. We find this on inspection calls that started as “just clean it.” By the time a homeowner calls, the spark arrestor on the cap has often rusted into a single fused plate, and the chimney has been venting into the chase or the masonry for longer than anyone realizes.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Montclair Services
Most Montclair homeowners call us first for a sweep, then discover the repair issues that only a camera inspection can confirm. The two services below are the entry points for almost every appointment we book in the 91763 ZIP code.
Chimney Sweep in Montclair
In Montclair, a chimney sweep is rarely about removing heavy creosote. It is about opening up a system that has been dormant most of the year, checking the liner for cracks and the cap for rust, and confirming the flue is safe before the handful of cold evenings when the fireplace actually gets used. Because fireplaces here sit unused through the hot Inland Valley summers and are often gas-converted or decorative, the sweep usually turns into an inspection: we remove what is there, identify what is failing, and show you the camera images before recommending anything. Chimney Sweep in Montclair is the page with full service details and local pricing.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Montclair
Single-story ranch homes in Montclair often have short dryer runs that exit through the roof or a side wall. What we find is lint packed into the transition hose, bird nests at the exterior termination, and flex piping that has sagged or been crushed behind the washer. A clogged dryer vent is a house-fire hazard regardless of how long the vent run is, and Montclair’s dry, hot summers make compressed lint ignite more readily once airflow drops. We clean the full run, check the termination, and replace damaged components with Famco-compatible parts. Dryer Vent Cleaning in Montclair covers typical pricing and what the job includes.
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 Montclair
Chimney repair in Montclair is different from chimney maintenance. The tract homes built here between the mid-1950s and the mid-1970s share a common set of problems: clay tile liners that crack and shift after decades of San Bernardino Valley heat-cycling, mortar crowns that turn porous and let water into the chase, and spark arrestor caps that rust solid and choke off the draft. Most of the repairs we do in 91763 are not optional upgrades. They are corrections to systems that have degraded past the point where sweeping alone can solve the problem. If you are seeing signs of damage, call (855) 341-8132 and we will put a camera in the flue before we quote a single repair. See our full Chimney Repair service details for how we diagnose and fix each issue.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You see rust flakes or solid rust on the existing cap, water staining inside the firebox after rain, or the spark arrestor mesh has fused into a single solid plate from years of exposure.
What it costs in Montclair
Chimney cap installation in Montclair typically runs $175 to $350 depending on flue size and whether the old cap has rusted fast enough to require cutting off.
How we do it
We measure the flue, remove the old cap, and install a Gelco cap with a stainless steel or copper base and a proper spark arrestor that will not rust shut in the Inland Valley dry season.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
The cap is missing entirely, has torn or rusted mesh, or no longer sits securely on the flue tile so birds and debris can drop straight into the chimney.
What it costs in Montclair
Chimney cap replacement in Montclair typically runs $150 to $300 with the new Gelco cap included, though we let you know if the flue tile itself is spalling and needs attention before we mount anything on it.
How we do it
We take the old cap down, inspect the flue tile, and mount a correct-size professional-grade Gelco cap that matches the flue dimensions instead of forcing a generic hardware-store fit.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You see water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, peeling paint at the roofline, or gaps and lifted metal where the chimney meets the roof.
What it costs in Montclair
Chimney flashing repair in Montclair typically runs $450 to $850 depending on how much of the existing flashing can be reused and whether the original builder’s material was thin aluminum or something more substantial.
How we do it
We pull back the compromised flashing, inspect the roof transition, and install new step, counter, and apron flashing sealed to the chimney chase to keep water out of the structure.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete crown on top of the masonry has visible cracks, chunks missing at the edges, or a surface that has turned to loose, crumbly paste from decades of sun and rain cycling.
What it costs in Montclair
Chimney crown repair in Montclair typically runs $400 to $900 depending on how much of the original crown has to be chipped out and whether we re-form the slope to shed water properly.
How we do it
We chip out the damaged material, repair or re-form the crown with a proper overhang and drip edge, and seal it so water runs off instead of soaking into the masonry below.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Montclair
| Item | Typical range in Montclair |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $175 – $350 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $150 – $300 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $450 – $850 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $900 |
What pushes repair prices higher in Montclair is usually access and the condition of the surrounding materials. A ranch home with a shallow roof pitch and easy ladder access keeps flashing and crown work straightforward, but when the original builder used thin metal flashing or the chimney chase is tucked against a valley in the roofline, the job takes longer and costs more. Our policy is simple: we quote the repair with the camera images in front of you, and the price we quote before starting is the price you pay. No surprises after the fact.
How long does a chimney repair take in Montclair?
We schedule most repair work within a week, which is not something every Inland Valley company can say. Cap and flashing repairs are usually done in a single visit, and crown or liner work might need a second visit for materials to cure properly.
Can I keep using my fireplace if the liner is cracked?
No. A cracked clay tile liner lets heat and combustion gases reach the masonry and the home’s structure. We can often restore an eligible flue with HeatShield ceramic resurfacing rather than tearing out the original liner, which saves the cost and mess of full relining. Call (855) 341-8132 to find out which route fits your chimney.
Brands We Service in Montclair
We work exclusively with professional-supply materials in Montclair: Gelco caps, Olympia Chimney and Copperfield parts, and Famco-compatible dryer vent components. We keep common cap sizes and flashing materials stocked for quick turnaround on ranch-home repairs. See our brands for the full list and why we do not use hardware-store substitutes.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Montclair, CA
| Service | Typical range in Montclair |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $175 – $300 |
| Chimney cap installation | $175 – $350 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $150 – $300 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $450 – $850 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $900 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $125 – $275 |
Prices in Montclair trend toward the higher end when we are working on original 1960s and 1970s materials that have already degraded: stuck caps that must be cut off, flashing that has deteriorated past reuse, and crowns that need more material removed. The lower end applies when the home is well-maintained and the components come apart cleanly. Every job gets an upfront quote before work begins, so the number we tell you is the number on the invoice.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Montclair
We cover the full Montclair city limits, including the original tract neighborhoods and the older pocket around Holt Boulevard. Montclair is compact enough that our crew can usually reach most homes within 30 to 45 minutes from our Pomona base.
- The 1960s ranch tracts between Central Avenue and San Antonio Street
- The pre-war and early post-war bungalows near Holt Boulevard and downtown
- Homes along Kingsley Street and the adjacent mid-century subdivisions
- The newer infill and townhome communities near the east end of town
- All homes in the 91763 ZIP code
Service Area – Cities Near Montclair
We also serve the surrounding Inland Valley communities. Homeowners in Claremont, CA call us for older craftsman and mid-century chimneys, while Ontario, CA work often involves the same tract-era construction we see across Montclair. In Upland, CA we see more hillside homes with steeper roof access, and La Verne, CA keeps us busy with ranch-home fireplace and dryer vent work. Call (855) 341-8132 to confirm we cover your street.
Serving Montclair, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Montclair 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 Montclair
Most Montclair homes are within 30 to 45 minutes of our Pomona base, and we schedule by appointment rather than dispatch windows. For a non-emergency chimney repair or sweep, we can typically get you on the calendar within the week. If you see water coming into the firebox after a storm, call (855) 341-8132 and we will tell you whether it can wait for the schedule or needs sooner attention.
For most cap, flashing, crown, and liner work, no city permit is required because we are repairing existing components with like materials. If a repair ever crosses the line into structural work that Montclair’s building department wants to review, we will tell you before we start and help you understand the process. We have not had a homeowner surprise on this in 91763.
Yes, and honestly the wood-burning rules matter less in Montclair than the local habit of seasonal use. Most people here use the fireplace only on cold evenings and for ambiance, so we book a lot of inspections and repairs in late summer and early fall before that first burn of the season. Booking in September means your chimney is ready when the temperature drops, not sitting on a waitlist in December.
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 Montclair Customers Say
"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— Roger Barrett"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Allison Mercer"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
— Marco Mendoza