Flue relining
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
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.
HeatShield Flue Liner Replacement: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
HeatShield flue liner replacement in Fort Lauderdale typically runs between $2,400 and $4,800 installed, depending on the liner length, access difficulty, and whether we’re resurfacing the existing flue or pulling a new stainless liner through. We stock HeatShield Cerfractory material and can usually get your liner repaired or replaced in a single visit, with many jobs completed the same day. Most homeowners discover the problem during an annual sweep when we find spalling, cracks, or gaps in the flue wall, or after a chimney fire has compromised the liner. A flue liner that’s failed isn’t something to put off, especially in South Florida where humidity accelerates deterioration of older clay tile liners.
Key takeaways:
- HeatShield is a resurfacing system, not a liner you buy off a shelf; it’s installed by certified technicians using Cerfractory material.
- Fort Lauderdale’s salt air and humidity mean liners here fail faster than in drier climates.
- We quote the price before any work starts, and the price on the invoice matches the quote.
- Every HeatShield repair carries our written guarantee, and if it fails inside the guarantee period, we return at no charge.
Which HeatShield Models This Applies To
HeatShield isn’t a single liner model. It’s a resurfacing system applied to existing flues, and it’s used across most masonry and prefabricated fireplace setups here in Fort Lauderdale. The most common applications we see are HeatShield on clay tile liners, HeatShield CeCure for relining stainless steel or poured-in-place liners, and HeatShield applied to flues serving wood-burning fireplaces, gas logs, and some furnace flues. The compatibility question almost always comes down to the condition and material of the existing flue rather than a specific fireplace brand.
Here’s the gotcha many homeowners hit: HeatShield can resurface a clay tile liner, but if the underlying masonry has shifted or the flue is severely misaligned, the product isn’t the right fix. We saw a home near Las Olas where a contractor sold a HeatShield application over a liner with a 2-inch offset. The product isn’t designed to bridge a structural gap like that. You need a visual inspection first. We’ll run a camera up the flue before recommending anything. The camera footage tells us whether HeatShield is appropriate or whether a full stainless reline with a DuraFlex liner is the honest answer. We’re an independent service company, not affiliated with HeatShield as a manufacturer, so our recommendation is driven by what the flue actually needs.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your HeatShield Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- Flaking material or dust at the bottom of the fireplace. When Cerfractory material begins to fail, pieces can spall off and drop into the firebox. This is often the first visible sign that the resurfacing layer is losing adhesion.
- Draft problems that weren’t there before. If smoke starts backing up into the room on windy days or the fire struggles to draw, the flue wall may have developed gaps. In Fort Lauderdale’s humid air, moisture intrusion accelerates this process.
- White staining or efflorescence on the chimney exterior. This means moisture is migrating through the flue and into the masonry. A failed liner surface is a common culprit. We see this regularly on older homes in Victoria Park and Rio Vista.
- Unusual odors coming from the fireplace. Creosote or combustion gases can seep through a compromised liner and into the home. If you smell a campfire smell in August when no one has lit a fire in months, that’s a red flag.
- Visible cracks in the flue during a camera inspection. If you’ve had a recent inspection and the report showed cracked tiles or failing HeatShield material, that’s your sign. The problem doesn’t fix itself.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
In Fort Lauderdale, a HeatShield resurfacing job generally runs between $2,400 and $4,800, with the range driven by flue height, roof access, and how much prep the existing liner needs. A single-story home with a straight 15-foot flue sits at the lower end. A two-story home with a steep-pitch roof and tricky access sits at the higher end. We break down every quote so you see exactly what the material costs, what the labor costs, and what the permit or inspection piece looks like.
Every HeatShield job includes a camera inspection before and after, full surface prep, the Cerfractory application, and a written guarantee. We use HeatShield material from certified suppliers, not a knockoff product. If we’re doing a full reline instead, we’ll quote you a DuraFlex stainless liner or a Gelco product depending on the flue. You’ll get that number in writing before we touch a tool. When we finish, the invoice matches the quote. No surprises, no phone call two days later with bad news about an unexpected fee.
DIY or Call Us?
This isn’t a part you can swap out on a Saturday morning. HeatShield requires specialized application equipment, proper ventilation, and training through the manufacturer’s certification process. The bigger issue is diagnosis. You can’t see a flue problem from the ground, and guessing wrong means spending thousands on the wrong fix. A flue liner that’s compromised is also a genuine safety risk. A failing liner can allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to enter the home. That’s not a scare line; it’s what a compromised flue does.
What you can do safely is shine a flashlight up the flue from the firebox and look for obvious flaking, debris, or dark staining. If you see anything questionable, call us at (754) 354-1451. We’ll run a camera, show you the footage, and tell you honestly whether HeatShield is the right call or whether you need a different fix. Nathan Corliss grew up in Los Angeles and learned this trade through the vocational programs at LA Trade-Technical College. He’s been inspecting chimneys for going on two decades, and he’s seen enough bad liner work to know that showing the customer the camera footage before recommending a repair is the only honest way to do business. Say the price first, explain the work second, put it all in writing, that is the whole business model.
FAQs
A properly applied HeatShield resurfacing can last 15 to 20 years in Fort Lauderdale, though the salt air and humidity mean we recommend an annual inspection to catch any early spalling before it spreads. Call (754) 354-1451 and we can take a look at what you have.
Yes, localized damage to a HeatShield liner can often be patched and resurfaced without replacing the entire flue surface, but only if the underlying liner is still structurally sound. We’ll confirm that with a camera inspection before recommending anything.
Most HeatShield jobs are completed in a single day, with the actual application taking 4 to 6 hours depending on flue height and access; the material also needs cure time before the fireplace is used again. For a specific timeline, call (754) 354-1451 with your address and we’ll give you a straight answer.
We keep HeatShield Cerfractory material in our inventory, along with DuraFlex and Gelco products for full relines, so most Fort Lauderdale jobs don’t require a waiting period for parts. Call (754) 354-1451 and we can confirm availability for your specific project.
If your HeatShield liner is failing, don’t wait for the next chimney fire or a carbon monoxide detector going off at 2 a.m. to act. Call Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale at (754) 354-1451. We’ll put a camera up your flue, show you exactly what we see, and give you a written price before any work starts. You’ll know the number before you commit to anything, and that’s the way we’ve done it since 2002.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner, Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale at Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.