Huntington covers a wide range — the Town of Huntington plus incorporated villages including Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor and Asharoken, and housing that spans two centuries. The first thing we settle is which authority governs the parcel, because the villages have their own building departments and their own expectations.
Big houses have big stacks
A lot of Huntington housing carries substantial multi-flue chimneys — a fireplace flue plus a heating appliance flue, sometimes three or more, in one masonry mass. These are more work to repair than a single-flue stack and they fail differently.
- More crown surface, which cracks more readily and lets more water in
- Multiple flue liners at different heights, each needing its own cap
- A wider footprint at the roof, which almost always requires a cricket
- Interior dividing walls between flues, which deteriorate invisibly
- More joint linear footage above the roofline than most homeowners expect
On a multi-flue stack we scope by section. The part above the roofline is exposed on all four sides and is usually where the work is; the sheltered portion below often needs nothing, and you should not be paying to repoint it.
North shore terrain accelerates the wind
The moraine up here — ridges, bluffs and ravines running down to the sound — channels and accelerates wind. A chimney on an exposed ridge takes gust loads a house half a mile inland does not, and the stack is the most exposed masonry on the building.
Wind pulls at flashing, and counter flashing that was surface-caulked rather than cut into a mortar joint comes away. It also drives rain into the windward faces of the brick hour after hour during a storm, which is why joints on the north and west faces of a Huntington stack routinely go first.
Old brick in the older sections
Huntington village and the older harbor areas have genuinely old housing, and the same rule applies as anywhere else with soft brick: match the mortar. Hard modern Portland mix on soft historic brick moves the freeze-thaw stress into the brick faces and spalls them permanently.
Where a village historic district applies, a rebuild above the roofline is visible and subject to review. We salvage and reuse original brick where we can and match the profile rather than building the simplest stack that works.
Frequently Asked Questions
My chimney has three flues. Does that change the repair?
Yes. Multi-flue stacks have more crown surface to crack, several liners at different heights each needing a cap, a wider roof footprint that almost always requires a cricket, and interior dividing walls between flues that deteriorate where you cannot see them. We scope by section so you pay for the exposed portion that needs work, not the sheltered part that does not.
Why do the north and west faces of my chimney look worse?
Those are the windward faces. North-shore terrain — ridges and ravines running to the sound — channels and accelerates wind, and storms drive rain into those faces hour after hour. Combined with less sun to dry them, the joints there go first.
Do you sweep or clean chimneys?
No. We handle the structure — repointing, crowns, caps, flashing, rebuilds and leak repair. Sweeping and flue cleaning are a separate trade with its own certification. If that is what you need we will say so rather than take the job.
When can chimney work be done?
Roughly April through November for mortar work, because masonry mortar has to cure above about 40 degrees and cannot freeze while curing or it never reaches strength. Flashing and cap work can be done colder. Emergency leak repairs we handle year-round with temporary measures until it can be done properly.
Related Reading
- Chimney Repair Services — repointing, crowns, flashing and rebuilds
- Repointing: When and Why — and why the mortar mix matters more than the mason
- Storm Damage to Roofs and Chimneys — what wind does to a masonry stack
- Freeze-Thaw and Masonry — what actually breaks brick on Long Island
- Chimney Repair on Long Island — the full homeowner guide
Also Serving Huntington
- ADUs in Huntington — accessory apartments and grants
- Attic Insulation in Huntington — air sealing, baffles and R-49 depth
- Basement Finishing in Huntington — egress, ceiling height and moisture
- Bathroom Remodeling in Huntington — full gut renovations
- Deck Builders in Huntington — new builds, repairs and railings
- Emergency Roof Repair in Huntington — tarping, leaks and storm response
- Fallen Tree Removal & Roof Repair in Huntington — tree off the house, roof supported and repaired
- Flood & Water Damage Cleanup in Huntington — wet material out, drying metered
- Front Steps & Stoops in Huntington — rebuilds, treads and railings
- Garage Conversion in Huntington — turning the garage into living space
- Gutter Installation in Huntington — seamless gutters, fascia and drainage
- House Painters in Huntington — exteriors while the fall window holds
- Hurricane & Storm Damage Repair in Huntington — trees, flooding, cleanup and repairs
- Storm Damage & Insurance Restoration in Huntington — emergency tarping and the claim
- Interior Painting in Huntington — the right work for the cold months
- Kitchen Remodeling in Huntington — cabinets, counters and layout
- Masonry & Pavers in Huntington — patios, walkways and retaining walls
- Roofing in Huntington — tear-offs, repairs and storm damage
- Siding in Huntington — James Hardie, vinyl and cedar
- Storm Debris Removal & Cleanup in Huntington — trees, building debris and hauling
- Storm Roof & Siding Repair in Huntington — wind damage, tarped and rebuilt
- Windows & Doors in Huntington — insert and full-frame replacement
Work With Alec's Construction
This guide is written by the crew that does the work. See Alec's Chimney Repair service — repointing, crowns, caps and roofline flashing. Licensed and insured on Long Island, one crew start to finish, free walkthrough and a written estimate inside 48 hours.
Booking the cold months now: we also handle Roofing and Seamless Gutters.
Every town here has villages inside it running their own building department. Our directory sorts out which counter your address actually files at.
Ready to Get Started?
Free chimney inspection with photos of the crown, flashing, joints and cap — and a written scope naming which one is actually leaking. Most jobs are one to three days.