StructuralLeaning & Settling Chimneys
We measure the lean, find out why it moved, then tie it back, rebuild the top or bring in a foundation partner for the footing.
- Lean and gap assessment
- Wall ties and brackets
- Partial and full rebuilds
Open 24/7 · Jeffco
Clay Soil, Thin Air,Solid ChimneysChimney and masonry repair for Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Morrison and the mountain neighborhoods west of C-470
Lakewood sits at about 5,500 feet on clay that swells when it's wet and shrinks when it's dry. That combination is tough on chimneys: footings shift, stacks lean, and thin air makes fireplaces draft in ways flatland advice doesn't cover. Head up toward Evergreen and wood stoves do the heavy lifting all winter. We handle all of it from our shop on W 6th Ave, and someone answers the phone around the clock.
5,500 ftand the draft to match
80401W 6th Ave base
24/7phones staffed
Roof job · Lakewood
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Gap at the sidingFooting moving
Stabilized and tied inHolding steady
Front Range clay
Is the ground moving your chimney?
A widening gap
Daylight or caulk pulling apart between the chimney and the siding is the classic sign of a footing on the move.
Stair-step cracks
Mortar cracking in a zigzag down the side of the stack means one corner is dropping faster than the rest.
A tilting hearth
Inside, the hearth slab dips or separates from the floor, or the mantel no longer sits level.
Wet then dry
Downspouts and sprinklers dumping water by the chimney make clay swell, then shrink again by August.
Our work
Built for clay, altitude and real winters
From split-level ranches in Belmar to cabins up Bear Creek Canyon.
Structural
Smoke & draftDraft & Smoke Problems
Thin air, tall basements and tight new windows all change how a fireplace pulls. We test it and fix the cause.
- Draft and pressure testing
- Taller flues and better caps
- Smoke guards and dampers
Gas unitsGas Fireplace Service
Cleaning, pilot and valve repairs, plus checking that the unit is set up for our elevation so it burns cleanly.
- Annual gas service
- Altitude setup checks
- Glass, logs and igniters
Wood heatWood Stoves & Liners
EPA-certified stoves and inserts for foothill homes, installed with insulated stainless liners and proper hearths.
- Stove and insert installs
- Insulated stainless liners
- Seasonal stove sweeps
FoothillsSpark Arrestors & Caps
Mesh caps that keep embers in and raccoons, birds and snow out, sized for wood stoves and fireplaces alike.
- Stainless spark arrestors
- Multi-flue caps
- Chase covers
BrickCrowns, Brick & Emergencies
Crown rebuilds, tuckpointing and brick replacement, plus a crew on call for smoke, leaks or damage at any hour.
- Crown rebuilds
- Tuckpointing
- 24/7 emergency calls
A mile up
Why fireplaces act differently here
There's less oxygen and lower air pressure at 5,500 feet. That changes combustion and draft in four practical ways.
FLAME
Gas burns differently
Gas appliances usually need to be derated for altitude, or they can burn dirty and soot the glass.
DRAFT
Pull can be weaker
Thinner air means less push behind the draft, so short or oversized flues struggle more.
COLD
Cold starts smoke
A cold flue on a frigid night resists draft. Warming it first stops that first puff of smoke.
CO
Alarms matter
Incomplete combustion raises CO risk, so a working CO alarm near bedrooms is a must.
Jefferson County
From Denver West to Red Rocks
We're on W 6th Ave near C-470, so Golden, Green Mountain and the canyon roads are close. Tap a place to see the drive.
On the way toGreen Mountain
ETA5 min
Where are you?
A real person answers
Truck rolls from W 6th Ave
We text on approach
Find it, fix it
Times are estimates from 14818 W 6th Ave. Snow on the canyon roads and 6th Ave traffic can stretch them, so we confirm when you call.
Up the canyons
Foothill homes that heat with wood
West of the hogback, plenty of homes in Morrison, Indian Hills and Evergreen lean on a wood stove when snow cuts the power or the gas bill climbs.
Sweep it mid-season
Stoves running daily from October to April often need a second sweep before spring.
Keep embers in
A spark arrestor cap is cheap insurance next to dry pine and scrub oak.
Snow loads on caps
Heavy, wet spring snow can bend thin caps and block the flue opening.
Upgrade old stoves
Pre-EPA stoves smoke more and burn more wood. New ones heat better on less.
Daily burning since fallDue for a sweep
Mid-season sweepClean through spring
Is someone really available overnight?
Yes. The phone is staffed every hour of every day. Smoke pouring into the house, a CO alarm going off, or a chimney that's visibly leaning after a storm all get a fast response. If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside and call 911 first.
Why is my chimney pulling away from the house?
On the Front Range it's often expansive clay under the chimney footing. As the soil swells and shrinks, the heavy masonry moves on its own schedule. We assess how far it's gone and whether ties, a rebuild or footing work is needed.
Can a leaning chimney be saved?
Often, yes, if it's caught early. Minor movement can be stabilized and tied back. A badly leaning stack may need the top rebuilt, and footing problems may need a foundation contractor, which we coordinate.
Does altitude affect my gas fireplace?
It can. Gas appliances are typically set up differently for high elevations. One that isn't can burn poorly, blacken the glass or produce more carbon monoxide. We check it during service.
Why does my fireplace smoke on cold nights?
A cold, heavy column of air sits in the flue and pushes back. Warming the flue with a rolled newspaper before lighting usually helps. If it keeps happening, the flue may be too short or oversized.
How often should a foothill wood stove be swept?
At least once a year, and many daily-use stoves benefit from a second sweep mid-winter. Burning dry, seasoned wood keeps creosote down between sweeps.
Where do you work?
Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Applewood, Morrison, Indian Hills, Evergreen, Arvada and southwest Denver and Littleton.
Service area
Lakewood and the Jeffco foothills
From the plains to the first ridgelines.
- Green Mountain
- Belmar
- Bear Creek
- Applewood
- Union Square
- Lakewood
- Golden
- Wheat Ridge
- Morrison
- Indian Hills
- Evergreen
- Arvada
- Littleton
- SW Denver
Solid ground, solid chimney.
Lakewood Chimney & Masonry answers 24/7 for leaning chimneys, draft problems, stoves, repairs and emergencies.
(720) 722-5193 Call Lakewood Chimney
Lakewood Chimney & Masonry
14818 W 6th Ave, Suite 104
Lakewood, CO 80401
(720) 722-5193
Directions to the shop →
Lakewood, CO 80401
(720) 722-5193
Directions to the shop →
| Monday | 24 hours |
| Tuesday | 24 hours |
| Wednesday | 24 hours |
| Thursday | 24 hours |
| Friday | 24 hours |
| Saturday | 24 hours |
| Sunday | 24 hours |