Exterior Chimney Ideas, Shown on a Photo of Your House

An old brick, stucco or wood-clad chimney can date the whole side of a house. Upload a photo and describe the finish you want: paint or limewash, smooth stucco, metal panels, or siding that matches the house. AiExterior draws it on your photo and usually keeps the chimney shape, roof and walls as they are, so you can compare ideas before you call a painter or a mason.

Upload a photo of your chimney Restyle the whole exterior instead

Free sign-up with email or Google. You get 2 free renders in most countries; free renders are watermarked.

Before and after examples

Example images are AI-generated: both the sample houses and their redesigns. Results change from render to render, so treat them as concepts, not exact product matches.

AI-drawn stand-in of a white two-story house with clapboard siding and a tall red brick chimney with a wider lower base running up the side wall, topped by a grey concrete crown and a black cap — Example 1 (prompt 1 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): all the visible brick on the chimney was limewashed white, with the brick and mortar lines still faintly visible. Its height, width, wider lower base and position stayed the same, and the black cap and the metal flashing where it meets the roof were kept. Siding, roof, windows, gutters, downspout, shrubs and lawn kept. Not as asked: the grey concrete crown at the top was whitened along with the brick. Extra changes we did not ask for: a small patch of roof just left of the chimney, where it meets the roof ridge, came out pale, the siding on the left gable wall shows a few more waves, and the whole picture shifted very slightly.

The same house with the brick chimney limewashed white, brick lines still faintly visible, in the same shape and position with the black cap kept — Example 1 (prompt 1 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): all the visible brick on the chimney was limewashed white, with the brick and mortar lines still faintly visible. Its height, width, wider lower base and position stayed the same, and the black cap and the metal flashing where it meets the roof were kept. Siding, roof, windows, gutters, downspout, shrubs and lawn kept. Not as asked: the grey concrete crown at the top was whitened along with the brick. Extra changes we did not ask for: a small patch of roof just left of the chimney, where it meets the roof ridge, came out pale, the siding on the left gable wall shows a few more waves, and the whole picture shifted very slightly.

AI-drawn stand-in of a beige single-story ranch house with a wide tan stucco chimney on the end wall, its stucco cracked and stained, with a concrete top and round caps — Example 2 (prompt 2 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): the cracked, stained tan stucco on both visible sides of the chimney is now dark charcoal standing-seam metal, with no stucco, cracks or stains showing. The chimney kept its height, width and position, and the round caps on top were kept. Siding, roof, windows, front door, downspout, lawn and driveway kept. Not as asked: the concrete top was meant to stay as it was, but it came out as a dark grey band that looks like metal, in the same outline. Extra change we did not ask for: the whole picture shifted slightly.

The same ranch with the chimney clad in dark charcoal standing-seam metal panels in the same shape, height and position; siding, windows, door and lawn unchanged — Example 2 (prompt 2 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): the cracked, stained tan stucco on both visible sides of the chimney is now dark charcoal standing-seam metal, with no stucco, cracks or stains showing. The chimney kept its height, width and position, and the round caps on top were kept. Siding, roof, windows, front door, downspout, lawn and driveway kept. Not as asked: the concrete top was meant to stay as it was, but it came out as a dark grey band that looks like metal, in the same outline. Extra change we did not ask for: the whole picture shifted slightly.

AI-drawn stand-in of a sage green two-story house with a framed chimney chase on the side wall, clad in faded grey-brown vertical wood boards, with a metal cover and round flue cap on top — Example 3 (prompt 3 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): the faded vertical wood boards on the chimney chase were replaced with sage green lap siding that matches the house, with white trim on the corners. The chase kept its height, width, position and the ledge where the upper part meets the lower part, and the metal cover and round flue cap were kept. House siding color, roof, windows, shrubs and lawn kept. Extra changes we did not ask for: white trim was also added along the ledge and along the bottom of the chase, and the waves that already showed faintly in the siding on the left wall came out stronger. The whole picture also shifted very slightly.

The same house with the chimney chase clad in sage green lap siding that matches the house, with white corner trim; the chase shape, metal cover and flue cap kept — Example 3 (prompt 3 below; the before is an AI-drawn stand-in house, not a real photo): the faded vertical wood boards on the chimney chase were replaced with sage green lap siding that matches the house, with white trim on the corners. The chase kept its height, width, position and the ledge where the upper part meets the lower part, and the metal cover and round flue cap were kept. House siding color, roof, windows, shrubs and lawn kept. Extra changes we did not ask for: white trim was also added along the ledge and along the bottom of the chase, and the waves that already showed faintly in the siding on the left wall came out stronger. The whole picture also shifted very slightly.

Why update the outside of a chimney

A chimney on an outside wall is one of the tallest, most visible parts of a house, so a worn finish shows from the street. Red brick can clash with a new siding color, stucco picks up cracks and stains, and the wood boards on a framed chase fade and weather. Changing the finish is mostly about looks: the chimney keeps its job, and its new face can either blend into the house or stand out on purpose. This page covers paint, stucco, metal and siding. For stone on a chimney, see our stone veneer visualizer guide.

What the AI can and cannot do

It can change how the chimney looks in your photo: a paint or limewash color, a stucco coat, metal panels or new siding, while usually keeping its outline. That lets you see whether a white, dark or matching chimney suits your house before you spend anything.

It cannot inspect the chimney, check the flue, mortar or crown, tell whether the brick is safe to paint, or give you a price. It can also change parts you asked it to keep, as with the chimney tops in the first and second examples. Treat every result as a picture of the look, not a plan, and have a chimney professional look at the chimney itself.

How to try a new chimney finish on your house

Keep your house as it is and change only the chimney

The examples on this page used the same idea, one photo plus one written edit, but were run directly on an image model, not through this tool, so your results will look different.

Photograph the chimney in daylight from far enough back that the whole chimney, from the ground to the cap, fits in the frame along with some roof and wall on each side.
Open the photo enhancer, upload your photo, keep Standard Enhancement and click Generate Enhancement. This gives you a sharp copy of your house as it is.
Click Edit (the pencil button above the result) and paste one of the prompts below into Edit Instructions, or write your own. Name the new finish, and name the parts that must stay: the chimney shape, the cap or crown, the roof and the walls.
Check the whole image. Compare the chimney outline, the top and the roof around it with your photo. If something moved or changed color, run it again with clearer words.

The enhancement and the edit each use credits, so this route uses both free renders.

Or restyle the whole outside first

In the exterior designer, upload your photo, choose Facade under Select Mode, choose House under Building Type, pick a style (Modern, Minimalist, Rustic, Contemporary, Mediterranean or Scandinavian) and click Generate Design. The style redraws the whole outside at once, so expect new colors, trim and details, not just a new chimney finish. Then click Edit to fine-tune one thing. Each render and each edit counts as one render, so your free renders (2 in most countries) cover one style render plus one edit.

The exact prompts behind the examples

These are the edit prompts used for the three examples, word for word. Paste one into Edit Instructions and change the finish and colors to suit your house.

Prompt 1: white limewash on red brick

Change only the red brick chimney: coat all of its brick in a smooth white limewash, with the brick texture and mortar lines still showing faintly through. Keep the chimney's exact shape, height, width and position, the concrete crown and the black metal cap on top. Do not change anything else: the white siding, grey roof, windows, gutters, downspout, shrubs, lawn, sky and camera angle stay exactly the same.

Prompt 2: charcoal standing-seam metal over stucco (ranch)

Change only the tan stucco chimney: clad all of its sides in dark charcoal grey standing-seam metal panels with thin vertical seams, so no stucco, cracks or stains show. Keep the chimney's exact shape, height, width and position, and keep the concrete top and the round metal caps on it as they are. Do not change anything else: the beige siding, brown roof, windows, front door, downspout, lawn, driveway, sky and camera angle stay exactly the same.

Prompt 3: matching lap siding on a chimney chase

Change only the weathered wood boards on the chimney chase: replace them with horizontal lap siding in the same sage green as the house, with white corner trim boards on the corners of the chase. Keep the chase's exact shape, height, width and position, and keep the metal cover and the round flue cap on top. Do not change anything else: the house siding, white trim, roof, windows, shrubs, lawn, sky and camera angle stay exactly the same.

To write your own, keep the same shape: "Change only the chimney: [finish and color]. Keep the chimney's exact shape, height, width and position, and the cap on top. Do not change anything else." If the top of your chimney has a crown, pots or a cover you want to keep, name it, and still check it in the result, because the AI changed the top in two of our three examples.

Exterior chimney ideas by finish

Paint

Paint is the simplest way to change a brick or block chimney. A color that matches the siding or trim makes a big chimney fade into the house; a contrasting color, such as black on a white house, turns it into a feature. Use a paint made for exterior masonry on clean, dry brick, and repair loose mortar first. Once brick is painted, it usually needs repainting over the years, so be sure of the color before you start.

Limewash and whitewash

Limewash soaks into the brick instead of forming a film on top, so the brick texture and some of its color can show through, as in the first example. It gives an older, softer look than paint and suits farmhouse, colonial and cottage houses. It also weathers over time, which some people like and others do not, so ask a supplier how it will age on your brick.

Stucco

A smooth or lightly textured stucco coat hides worn brick or block and gives the chimney one clean face. It suits Spanish, Mediterranean and modern houses, and garden.eco calls it a smooth, fire-resistant finish that is popular on Mediterranean-style homes. An existing stucco chimney with cracks, like the before in the second example, should be checked by a pro before any new finish goes on, because cracks can point to movement or water behind the surface.

Metal cladding

Standing-seam metal or flat metal panels give a chimney a sharp, modern outline, especially in dark grey or black, as in the second example. Metal can also tie a chimney to a metal roof or dark window frames elsewhere on the house. Cladding a masonry chimney is a job for a contractor who knows both metal work and chimneys, since the panels need a sound base and proper flashing where they meet the roof.

Siding to match the house

Many newer houses have a framed chimney chase, a box built around a metal flue, rather than a brick chimney. Covering the chase in the same siding and color as the house, with trim on the corners, makes it look like part of the wall instead of an add-on, as in the third example. Ask a chimney professional which siding materials and gaps are safe near the flue before you choose. Our siding visualizer guide compares siding types for the whole house.

Stone

Stone veneer and faux-stone panels are a popular chimney finish too. We cover them, with a chimney example, on our stone veneer visualizer page.

Ideas by house style

Traditional and colonial houses

A white house with a red brick chimney is a classic pairing, and a white or soft grey limewash keeps the brick texture while making the house look lighter. Clay chimney pots on top add an old-house detail.

Ranch houses

On a long, low ranch the chimney is often the tallest thing on the house. Dark paint or metal makes it a bold feature, while a color close to the siding lets the roofline lead. Our ranch house exterior makeover guide covers the rest of the front.

Newer houses with a chimney chase

A chase in siding that matches the house is the quiet choice; a chase in a contrasting material, such as dark panels on a light house, makes it a design element. If the roof is due for replacement too, our roof visualizer guide shows how to preview roof colors on the same photo.

Before you start

Have the chimney inspected. Cracked crowns, loose bricks, crumbling mortar or a leaning chimney need a chimney professional before any new finish goes on.
Think about water. Flashing, the crown or chase cover, and the cap keep rain out. A new finish over a chimney that leaks only hides the problem.
Work at height safely. Most chimneys run above the roofline. Painting or cladding the upper part is often a job for a contractor with the right access equipment.
Check local rules. Some towns, historic districts and HOAs have rules about exterior colors and materials, so check before you order anything.

Sources: paint color suggestions follow Decor Snob's guide to exterior chimney paint colors (decorsnob.com); the notes on modern materials, metal accents and stucco follow garden.eco's exterior chimney ideas; chimney pots and quoins follow This Old House's chimney designs article (thisoldhouse.com); stone over an existing chimney follows GenStone's chimney makeover project spotlight (genstone.com).

Who this is for

Homeowners with a dated brick, stucco or wood-clad chimney who want to compare finishes before hiring a painter, mason or siding contractor, people getting a house ready to sell, and anyone who needs a picture to show a contractor or the rest of the family.

More exterior ideas

For a full list of updates for a dated home, read how to update your house exterior. To preview brick paint colors on a whole house, try the brick paint visualizer on colorvisualizerai.com. To restyle the whole outside at once, use the exterior designer.

You can also read the brick veneer visualizer page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you paint the outside of a brick chimney?

Yes, as long as the brick and mortar are sound and dry. Clean it first, fix loose or crumbling mortar, and use a paint or limewash made for exterior masonry. Decor Snob suggests asking a hardware store for a heavy-duty exterior chimney paint, and lists white, light gray, cream, beige or tan and black as popular choices for a natural look. Paint is hard to take off brick later, so preview the color first.

How do I make a chimney look modern?

Clean lines and fewer colors do most of the work: smooth stucco, a dark paint, or metal panels like the second example above. Garden.eco names steel and concrete as materials for a sleek, contemporary chimney, and suggests metal accents such as a copper cap or steel bands for contrast.

Can I cover a brick chimney with stone?

Yes. GenStone describes a sided chimney that was structurally sound, where stone veneer panels went straight over the existing surface instead of a rebuild, and says its panels can also go over brick if the surface is structural. Real stone is heavier and is usually a mason’s job. Our stone veneer visualizer page covers stone looks, including a chimney example, so this page does not repeat them.

What can go on a framed chimney chase?

A chase is a wood-framed box around a metal flue, so it is usually covered like a wall: lap siding, panels, stucco or stone. Matching the house siding, as in the third example, makes it blend in. Because there is a flue inside, ask a chimney professional or the flue maker which materials and clearances are safe for your chase.

What details make a chimney look finished?

The top and the corners. This Old House notes that clay chimney pots make a chimney taller and its opening narrower, which may help one that does not draw well, and that they are an architectural feature in their own right. It also points out that stone chimneys often have quoins, dressed stones running up each corner. A neat cap or chase cover finishes any chimney.

Will the AI change my chimney shape or roof?

Your prompt should say to keep the shape, and the AI usually keeps it, but small details can still change. In our examples the outlines stayed close to the originals, but the top of the chimney changed color in two of them and a patch of roof turned pale in one. Compare the before and after side by side, and run it again if the outline or anything you care about moved.

Is it free?

Signing up is free and gives you 5 credits, which is enough for 2 renders in most countries. Free renders carry an AiExterior watermark. If you want more renders or clean images, paid plans are available on the pricing page.

Do I need an account?

Yes. You need to sign in before a render starts, with an email code or your Google account. That is how the free credits are attached to you.

Try it on your own house

Upload a photo of your chimney

Free sign-up with email or Google. You get 2 free renders in most countries; free renders are watermarked.