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.
DuraFlex Flue Liner Replacement: The Lawrence Owner’s Guide
DuraFlex flue liner replacement in Lawrence typically runs $2,100 to $4,800 installed, depending on the liner diameter, length of the run, and how much of the old liner has to be pulled out first. We stock DuraFlex-compatible components on the truck and can usually complete the swap in a single visit. Most homeowners discover the problem the same way: a rust stain on the basement floor, a piece of flaky metal in the cleanout, or a chimney inspection that showed the liner separating at a seam.

Wendell Pike has been pulling failed liners out of Lawrence chimneys since 1999. Some of them came out in one piece. Some came out in handfuls. The fix is straightforward once you know what you’re looking at, and this page is meant to give you exactly that.
Which DuraFlex Models This Applies To
DuraFlex makes a few different liner lines, and they don’t all interchange. The most common one we replace in Lawrence is the DuraFlex 316L stainless steel smooth-wall liner, usually in 5.5-inch, 6-inch, or 7-inch diameters. There’s also the DuraFlex Pro, which uses a heavier gauge and a different coupling system, and the DuraFlex SW (single-wall) that shows up in older installs from the early 2000s.
The gotcha: DuraFlex Pro sections will not mate with standard DuraFlex sections. You can’t splice a Pro replacement into an older standard run, and we’ve seen homeowners try and end up with a joint that leaks flue gas. The other thing to check is the liner label. Most DuraFlex liners have a stamped tag near the top connection with the diameter and alloy. If the tag is gone, measure the outside diameter with a tape measure: a 6-inch liner measures about 6.25 inches outside. Sizing a replacement wrong by a quarter inch is a wasted day.
We’re an independent service provider, not affiliated with DuraFlex. We install their components because the metal holds up in Long Island’s salt air better than a lot of what’s out there, but we’ll also quote HeatShield and Gelco alternatives if the chimney tells us another route makes more sense.
Signs Your DuraFlex Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- Rust staining on the exterior chimney chase or inside the firebox. 316L stainless resists corrosion, but years of condensation mixed with flue gas acidity can still eat through at the seams. If you see rust, the liner is thinning somewhere.
- Bits of metal or flaky material in the cleanout. This is usually the liner spalling from the inside. By the time you see it in the cleanout, the damage is past patching.
- A smell like wet ash or sulfur in the house after a fire. That’s flue gas finding a pinhole. The liner is supposed to contain everything from the firebox to the cap. If the smell is inside, the liner is not doing its job.
- Water in the firebox after heavy rain. A failed liner often means the top connection at the crown has opened up. Water runs straight down the inside of the liner and into the firebox.
- The liner is visibly separated at a seam when viewed from the top. If you can see daylight between sections, or the sections have shifted, the mechanical connection has failed. That seam will keep opening.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
Here’s what we quote in Lawrence, installed:
- Standard 6-inch x 25-foot 316L DuraFlex liner, pulled and replaced: $2,100 to $2,700
- Heavier gauge DuraFlex Pro, same length: $2,800 to $3,400
- Full reline with new top plate, rain cap, and connector: $3,200 to $4,200
- Rooftop access with scaffolding or steep-pitch roof fees: $200 to $600 added where needed
The range comes down to three things: diameter, length, and how hard the old liner fights on the way out. Older Lawrence homes with a clay tile liner around the DuraFlex sometimes need the tiles broken out first, which adds labor. Every quote is flat-price before we start, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the work in writing. You’ll get photos from the camera inspection before we recommend the replacement, and the same camera goes back up after to show you the finished result.
DIY or Call Us?
Replacing a flue liner means working on a roof, around a live chimney opening, with sections of stainless steel that weigh more than they look. If the liner is on a second-story chase, you’re also working at height with a rope and a helper. We’d rather you not. What you can safely do is check the cleanout for debris, look for rust stains at the base of the chimney, and call us with what you find. That information helps us bring the right parts on the first trip.
If the liner has already separated or split, don’t run another fire until it’s swapped. Flue gas and carbon monoxide move through whatever gap is available. Call (516) 604-2573 and we’ll get eyes on it, usually the same week.
FAQs
A properly installed 316L DuraFlex liner lasts 15 to 25 years in Lawrence’s coastal climate, with the shorter end applying to wood-burning fireplaces used heavily each winter. The salt air and the freeze-thaw cycles are harder on liners here than inland.
Small pinholes and surface rust can sometimes be addressed with a patch, but once a seam separates or the metal spalls, the liner is done. We’ll show you the camera footage either way before recommending anything. Call (516) 604-2573 for an honest assessment.
Most single-story DuraFlex liner replacements take one day from setup to cleanup. Two-story chimneys, clay tile removal, or a difficult old liner can stretch it to a day and a half.
We carry standard 5.5-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch 316L DuraFlex sections, connectors, top plates, and caps. For unusual lengths or the Pro series, we order the exact sections and schedule the install once they’re in hand.
If your DuraFlex liner is showing any of the signs above, or you just want a second opinion on a quote someone else gave you, call (516) 604-2573. Wendell will look at the chimney, show you the camera footage, and tell you straight whether the job needs doing. If it’s clean, he’ll tell you it’s clean.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner, Top Hat Chimney at Top Hat Chimney, serving Lawrence and nearby areas.





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