Chimney Repair & Rebuilds in the Chicago Suburbs

A red brick chimney with a concrete crown and black metal cap, built by WJC Construction

Signs your chimney needs work

A cracked or crumbling concrete crown on top
Missing mortar or loose bricks, especially near the top
White staining on the brick
Brick faces flaking or popping off
The chimney leaning or pulling away from the house
Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney
Pieces of brick or mortar on the roof, in the gutters or in the fireplace

How we do it

Inspect itWe look at the crown, brick, mortar and how the chimney meets the roof.
Recommend repair or rebuildSolid, straight chimneys can usually be tuckpointed and given a new crown. Loose, leaning or badly spalled chimneys get rebuilt from the roofline up.
Set up safelyWe protect the roof and the ground below before any brick or mortar comes off.
Do the masonryTuckpoint, replace damaged brick or tear down and relay the stack, then pour or patch the crown so it sheds water.
Clean upWe clear the debris from the roof, gutters and yard.

The parts of a chimney

Most chimney damage starts at the top. A cracked crown or open joints let water into the stack, and every freeze makes it worse.

We repair the crown, brick and mortar. Flue liners are a job for a certified chimney sweep, and flashing usually ties in with your roofing.

What's included

Chimney tuckpointing
Crown repair and new poured crowns
Replacing spalled or broken brick
Rebuilds from the roofline up
Full chimney tear-down and rebuild
Chimney caps

We handle the masonry. For flue liners, sweeping and inspections inside the flue, use a certified chimney sweep.

What affects the price

Every job is different, so we price it after we see it. These are the things that move the number:

Repair or rebuild, and how many courses come down
Chimney height and how steep the roof is
A patched crown or a new poured crown
Brick replacement and matching
Whether a new cap is needed

Estimates are free.

Homeowner guideChimney crown vs. chimney cap: what's the difference?People mix these two up all the time. They sit right next to each other on top of the chimney, but they do different jobs, and when either one fails, water gets in.

Questions about chimney repair

Can my chimney be repaired, or does it need a rebuild?

If the brick is solid and the chimney is straight, tuckpointing and a new crown usually do it. If bricks are loose, badly flaking or the chimney leans, the part above the roof usually gets taken down and rebuilt.

Why does my chimney have white stains?

That's efflorescence, salt carried out of the masonry by water. It means water is moving through the chimney, often through a cracked crown or open joints. Fixing where the water gets in matters more than cleaning the stain.

Do you fix chimney leaks?

Many chimney leaks come from the crown, open mortar joints or failed flashing. We repair the masonry. If the flashing is the problem, we'll point it out so your roofer can take care of it.

Do I need a permit for a chimney rebuild?

Many villages require one. We check with your village's building department before we start.

Where we do chimney repair

We work across Chicago and the suburbs, including:

Chimney repair & rebuilds