You are arranging a roof replacement in Creve Coeur, and there is a chimney above the back bedroom that nobody uses. The fireplace has been closed for years. Keeping the chimney means paying to make the new roof watertight around it. Removing it means opening another part of the house. Before choosing either, establish one fact: does anything still vent through that chimney? An unused fireplace does not prove that the whole chimney is unused.
Town roofing
A chimney can contain more than one flue, the passage that carries exhaust upward. A fireplace may use one while a heating appliance uses another. Previous owners may have changed the furnace without changing the water heater, or closed a fireplace without documenting what remained connected. The brickwork visible from the yard cannot settle those questions.
For a Creve Coeur homeowner, the useful starting point is an inspection that connects what is above the roof to what is inside the house. Have the chimney and any possible appliance connections checked by the appropriate chimney or heating professional. Ask for a written description of what the chimney serves. Do not authorize removal based only on a closed fireplace opening or a statement that the furnace is newer.
Keeping the chimney leaves two things to maintain
If the chimney stays, both the masonry and its connection to the roof need attention. New shingles do not repair open mortar joints, loose brick or a damaged chimney crown, the top surface surrounding the flue openings. Likewise, masonry repairs do not automatically replace the metal flashing where the roof meets the chimney.
That distinction matters through St. Louis freeze and thaw cycles. Water entering defects in masonry can freeze and contribute to further deterioration. A roofer may make the roof connection watertight while an opening higher on the chimney continues to admit water. Ask the inspector to photograph the masonry separately from the flashing so you can see which work belongs in each scope.
A sound, disconnected chimney can sometimes remain as an architectural feature. That still leaves exposed masonry and a roof penetration to maintain. Ask a chimney professional how the unused flue should be protected in its particular condition. Do not assume that putting a solid cover over the top resolves every moisture or ventilation question inside it.
Removing it is more than taking away the visible bricks
Removal can mean taking the chimney down below the roof surface, or it can mean removing substantially more of the chimney through the house. Those are different projects. The roofing proposal should identify the intended stopping point and who determines whether the remaining masonry can safely stay. A roofer's price for closing the roof opening should not be mistaken for an assessment of the chimney structure below it.
Closing that opening requires a supported roof deck before underlayment and shingles can continue across it. The details depend on the opening and the surrounding construction. Ask who will assess and perform any framing work, what decking will be installed, and how the repaired area will meet the existing roof plane. A patch that closes the hole but leaves a visible dip is a different result from the one you probably pictured.
If you are already replacing the shingles on that roof slope, this is a useful time to make the decision. The area can be incorporated into the roofing work instead of reopening a recently completed roof. It is not a reason to remove a chimney that still serves a purpose. It is a reason to resolve its purpose before the material order and work schedule are fixed.
What it costs
A useful estimate separates the choices. Ask for the cost of roofing around the retained chimney, with masonry repairs identified separately, and the cost of removing the agreed portion and closing the opening. A single line reading 'chimney work' gives you too little information to decide.
The removal price depends on the amount of masonry coming down, its height above the roof, access and the work needed underneath. A short chimney beside an accessible roof edge presents different handling conditions from a tall chimney surrounded by steep roof slopes. Brick and mortar also need to leave the property. Their removal should appear in the scope rather than becoming an unexplained disposal charge afterward.
Check whether the estimate includes these specific parts of the job:
- Verification that the chimney has no active connections before demolition.
- The stated extent of masonry removal and protection of the remaining structure.
- Any necessary framing, roof decking, underlayment and shingles.
- Temporary weather protection between demolition and permanent closure.
- Removal of masonry debris and cleanup of affected areas.
- Any separate work inside the attic or living space.
Interior work is easy to overlook. Removing the chimney above the roof does not necessarily remove the fireplace, breast or masonry below. It also does not automatically include finishing a ceiling, repairing plaster or changing the appearance of a room. Have each contractor describe where their work stops. If the interior stays as it is, put that decision in writing too.
There can also be a difference between the visible condition and what becomes accessible after demolition. Ask how concealed damage around the opening will be documented and priced before additional work proceeds. Photos and a stated approval process give you something concrete to evaluate if the roof deck or nearby framing needs more work than expected.
What to ask
Start with: 'What evidence shows this chimney is no longer serving anything?' The answer should identify what was inspected and by whom. 'The fireplace is closed' is incomplete. If the contractor cannot establish the connections, resolve that question with the appropriate specialist before scheduling removal.
Then ask: 'Who owns the opening between the masonry work and the roofing work?' You need a named party responsible for keeping water out during that interval. St. Louis rain does not wait for two contractors to reconcile their calendars. The schedule should explain when demolition happens, when the roof opening closes and who provides temporary protection if the work cannot finish as planned.
Ask who will check the applicable permit requirements for your address and the proposed scope. Taking down masonry and altering the roof opening can raise different questions from replacing shingles. Across St. Louis County, the office responsible depends on the property's jurisdiction. Give the relevant permit desk the actual description of the chimney work, including whether anything below the roof will remain.
Finally, ask what photographs you will receive before the opening is covered. Images of the remaining chimney, any framing work and the completed decking preserve information that shingles will conceal. Keep those with the written scope and the confirmation that the chimney was disconnected. They can help explain the alteration to a future buyer or contractor.
To discuss the roofing portion with Keys Roofing, the contractor behind Creve Coeur Roofing and Gutters, call (314) 220-2333. Have a ground-level photo of the chimney, any inspection findings and your planned roof replacement date available. Say whether you are considering keeping the chimney or removing it so the estimate can address the actual decision.