Chimney Repair Service
Chicagoland is known for its beautiful historic architecture, but this also means many aging chimneys require repair. Chimney repair is essential, and Chimney Monkey is here to help, as these structures can suffer from various issues over time. Because chimneys stick out from the tops of buildings, they are more exposed to the elements and often need exterior repairs sooner than other parts of the structure.
A chimney doesn’t have to be visibly crumbling to need attention. Even hairline cracks in the masonry can allow water to seep in, which can lead to significant damage over time. Delaying repairs or preventative sealing can result in more extensive and costly masonry work in the future.
At Chimney Monkey, our skilled technicians can identify even the most subtle chimney issues to help ensure your home’s longevity and your family’s safety. Whether you have crumbling bricks, missing mortar joints, or poor chimney venting, it’s crucial to contact us promptly before the damage requires a complete chimney rebuild.
Chimney Crown Repair
A chimney is both an art and an engineering achievement, consisting of many components that can fail over time. Key parts like the chimney cap, crown, and chase cover are vital for maintaining your chimney’s health.
Chimney Cap
The chimney cap acts like a hat, preventing rain, debris, and animals from entering the flue. It’s essential for preventing water damage and ensuring your fireplace operates effectively, even in the rain.
Chase Cover
The chase cover protects the chimney from external elements like rain, snow, and hail. Typically made of galvanized sheet metal or stainless steel, it shields the top of the chimney like a lid, guarding it against weather damage.
Crown
The crown is the concrete fixture that seals the top of the chimney and holds everything together. It protects exposed masonry from precipitation. While high-quality crowns are durable, they can crack over time, compromising chimney health. Regular maintenance is essential to avoid costly repairs.
If you notice any signs of deterioration, call Chimney Monkey for a professional inspection and maintenance. We use an elastomeric coating to create a flexible, waterproof membrane that protects the crown and extends its lifespan.
Proudly Serving Chicago’s North Shore
With years of experience and thousands of satisfied customers, our team continues to deliver exceptional chimney care across the North Shore. We’re dedicated to protecting your home year-round while expanding our reach to new towns every season. Our growing team ensures prompt, reliable service—wherever you are.
Core Service Areas
Specifically, we proudly serve Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Northfield, Northbrook.
Extended Service Areas
We also cover Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Glenview, Hawthorn Woods, & Fort Sheridan.
Therefore, no matter where you live in the North Shore, Chimney Monkey is ready to help. In addition, our team ensures quick response in all listed areas. Likewise, we adapt to local needs for safer results.
📞 Call Chimney Monkey at (847) 994-4388 and let us take care of your chimney needs!
What chimney repair actually involves
Chimney repair covers everything above and around the flue that keeps water out and combustion gases in. That means the crown at the top, the brick and mortar of the stack, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, the cap over the flue, the smoke chamber, and the liner running through the middle. A chimney rarely fails in one dramatic way. It fails slowly, in one of these components, and the first symptom a homeowner notices is usually water somewhere it should not be.
The failures we see most on North Shore chimneys
Cracked crowns. The concrete wash at the top is the roof of your chimney. When it cracks, water runs straight down between the flue tile and the brickwork.
Spalling brick. Faces pop off the brick because trapped moisture froze behind them. Once the hard outer face is gone the brick absorbs water faster and the damage accelerates.
Open mortar joints. Mortar is sacrificial and does not last as long as brick. Repointing before the joints go deep is far cheaper than rebuilding later. See tuckpointing.
Failed flashing. The metal seal where chimney meets roof is the single most common source of ceiling stains blamed on the roof.
Damaged liners. Cracked clay tiles or a corroded metal liner let heat and flue gases reach framing timbers. This is the failure that turns a maintenance issue into a safety one.
We diagnose before we quote
Guessing at chimney damage is how homeowners end up paying for a rebuild they did not need. We inspect first, including camera work inside the flue where the symptoms suggest it, and the report comes back with photographs. A chimney inspection is the right first step whenever you have bought a house, had a chimney fire, changed heating appliance, or seen damp appear near the chimney breast.
Repair, repoint or rebuild
Most chimneys we look at need repair rather than replacement. Repointing and crown work will often buy fifteen or twenty more years. A rebuild above the roofline becomes the sensible option when brick has spalled through, when the stack is visibly leaning, or when repointing would simply be filling joints between failing units. We will tell you which of the three you are looking at, and why. Related work: masonry repair and crack, settlement and leak repairs.
What affects the cost
Height and access drive price more than anything else, because a three-storey stack on a steep slate roof needs staging that a single-storey ranch does not. After that it is the extent of the masonry, whether the crown is being patched or rebuilt, whether a liner is involved, and the season. We quote per job after inspection, not from a phone description.
Chimney repair questions we get asked
Does my chimney need repair or just a sweep? A sweep removes soot and creosote. Repair addresses structure. Ceiling stains near the chimney, damp on the chimney breast, debris in the firebox or a rusted damper point to repair.
Why does Chicago weather wreck chimneys? Freeze-thaw cycling. Masonry absorbs water, it freezes and expands overnight, and each cycle opens the joints further.
Can you repair in winter? Emergency sealing and making safe, yes, year round. Repointing and crown rebuilds need mortar to cure above roughly forty degrees, so they are scheduled spring through autumn.
How long does it take? A crown repair or flashing reseal is usually one day. Repointing a full stack, two to three. A partial rebuild above the roofline, several days depending on weather.
To arrange an inspection or a repair estimate across Cook and Lake Counties, call 847 994 4388.
What Chimney Repair Costs
Repair pricing starts with an inspection, because nobody can quote masonry they have not seen. A Level 1 inspection is $205 and a Level 2 with a camera survey is $295 as of July 2026. Relining is the one repair we can give you a reliable rule of thumb for: a fireplace liner runs roughly $200 per linear foot, so most complete liner jobs land between $3,000 and $4,000 depending on flue height and whether the existing clay tile has to be broken out. Tuckpointing, crown replacement, firebox work and above-roof rebuilds are quoted in writing after inspection, with photographs of the defect attached. Call 847-994-4388.
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