Chimney Repair in Chicago, Illinois
Freeze-thaw masonry repair, chimney sweeping, inspections and rebuilds for Chicago's brick bungalows, two-flats, greystones and suburban homes.
- Licensed & Insured
- Free Written Estimates
- Local Chicago Technicians
- Workmanship Warranty
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Get Your Free Chimney Estimate
Fill in your details and we'll get back to you about your chimney — wherever you're located in our service areas.
Free written estimate
An itemized price in writing before any work begins — no obligation to book.
Flat-rate, honest pricing
Published prices on sweeps and inspections. No surprise add-ons after we arrive.
Licensed, insured & warrantied
Fully insured technicians and a workmanship warranty on every repair we perform.
Same-day & next-day slots
Local dispatch means fast scheduling, tight arrival windows and a call before we come.
Why Chicago Chimneys Need a Different Approach
Chicago is one of the hardest cities in America on a masonry chimney. Between November and March the city routinely swings above and below freezing dozens of times, and every one of those cycles pushes water deeper into brick and mortar before expanding it into ice. That is why so many Chicago chimneys show spalled brick faces, crumbling mortar joints and a cracked crown long before the rest of the house shows any wear.
The city's housing stock makes it worse. Much of Chicago's classic brick — the soft, salmon-colored Chicago common brick used behind the facades of bungalows, two-flats and greystones — was never intended to sit exposed above the roofline for a century. Once the outer face fails, water moves fast. Captain Chimney Repair works on these chimneys specifically: we repoint with mortar matched to soft historic brick rather than a hard modern mix that would crack the brick further.
What Makes Chicago Chimneys Fail
Freeze-Thaw Spalling
Water absorbed in fall freezes and expands over winter, popping the face off brick. Left alone, spalling moves from cosmetic to structural in a few seasons.
Soft Chicago Common Brick
Historic bungalows and two-flats use a soft, porous brick. It needs a lime-rich, flexible mortar — a hard Portland mix will destroy it.
Lake-Effect Wind & Moisture
Driving wind off Lake Michigan pushes rain and snow horizontally into the chimney's windward face, so leaks often show on only one side of the stack.
Ice Dams & Flashing Failure
Snow melting and refreezing at the roofline lifts flashing away from the chimney, sending water down the chase into ceilings and attics.
Unlined & Undersized Flues
Pre-war chimneys were often built with no clay liner at all. Adding a modern stainless liner is usually required before a fireplace or furnace can be safely reconnected.
Shared Two-Flat Stacks
Multi-unit buildings often run two or three flues in one stack. Deteriorated dividing walls let smoke and carbon monoxide cross between units.
Not Sure What Your Chicago Chimney Needs?
Tell a local technician what you see, smell or hear. We’ll help you identify the safest next step and explain the options before you commit.
Prefer to send details?
Share what you're seeing and we'll contact you to confirm the right next step.
Send My Chimney DetailsWhat's Wrong With Your Chimney?
Answer two quick questions and get an instant read on the likely cause, how urgent it is, and what it usually takes to fix in Chicago.
Step 1 of 3
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Complete Chimney Services for Chicago Homeowners
Every service below is performed in Chicago and the surrounding Chicagoland area, with a free written estimate before any work begins.
Chimney Repair Chicago
Chimney Repair & Tuckpointing
Repointing failed mortar joints with a soft, historically appropriate mix, replacing spalled brick, and rebuilding damaged crowns so the stack sheds water again.
Get a quoteChimney Sweep Chicago
Chimney Sweep & Cleaning
Full creosote and soot removal before heating season. Critical for wood-burning fireplaces in older Chicago homes where flues are narrow and draw slowly.
Get a quoteChimney Inspection Chicago
Chimney Inspection
Level 1 and Level 2 inspections, including camera scans of the flue — commonly requested for Chicago-area real estate closings and after a chimney fire.
Get a quoteChimney Rebuild Chicago
Chimney Rebuild & Restoration
Partial or full rebuild above the roofline when freeze damage has gone too deep to repoint, matched to the original brick and coursing wherever possible.
Get a quoteFireplace Repair Chicago
Fireplace Repair
Firebox rebuilds, damper repair and replacement, stainless liner installation, and gas fireplace service for wood, gas and converted units.
Get a quoteChimney Leak Repair Chicago
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracking water to its actual entry point — crown, flashing, cap, or saturated brick — then sealing it. Water stains on a bedroom ceiling usually start at the chimney.
Get a quoteFive Steps From Your Call to a Fixed Chimney
No mystery pricing and no guesswork. Here is exactly how a Chicago job runs from the first phone call to the final walkthrough.
1. Call or send your details
Tell us what you're seeing. We ask the right questions up front so the right technician and materials show up.
2. Photo-documented inspection
We inspect the crown, flashing, masonry, cap and flue — and photograph everything so you see it with your own eyes.
3. Free written estimate
A clear, itemized price in writing before anything starts. No pressure, no surprise add-ons, no obligation.
4. The repair, done right
Matched materials, drop cloths inside, a clean worksite outside, and a tidy hand-back when we're finished.
5. Walkthrough & warranty
After photos, a walkthrough of what changed, and a workmanship warranty you can hold us to.
Chimney Projects We've Completed
Every job is photo-documented before and after, so Chicago homeowners can see exactly what was wrong and exactly what we fixed.
CompletedMasonry Rebuild
Deteriorated brick removed and rebuilt with matched mortar.
CompletedChase Rebuild & Repaint
Rotted chase rebuilt, sealed and finished with a new cap.
CompletedCrown & Cap Replacement
Cracked crown covered and sealed with a new metal cap.
CompletedCap & Step Flashing
New chimney cap plus fresh step flashing to stop leaks.
CompletedChase Cover Swap
Rusted-through cover replaced with new galvanized steel.
CompletedMulti-Flue Crown Restoration
Three flues re-capped and crown fully restored.
CompletedStucco Chimney Flashing
Watertight flashing detail on a standing-seam roof.
CompletedCustom Cover Fabrication
Cover fabricated on site for an oversized chimney.
What Homeowners Say About Us
5.0 average rating
Serving Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding area
“Our 1920s brick chimney had a cracked crown and water was getting in. They sealed and rebuilt the crown before the freeze hit. Honest pricing, no pressure, and they cleaned up after themselves.”
Patricia L.
Chimney Crown Repair · Oak Park · 1 month ago
“Brown stains on the ceiling every spring rain. Turned out to be flashing, not the roof. They fixed it in a morning and came back after the next storm to make sure it was dry. That meant a lot.”
Angela R.
Chimney Leak Repair · Naperville · 2 months ago
“Birds were nesting in our chimney every spring. New stainless cap went on the same week I called, and it looks like it belongs on the house. No more scratching at 6am.”
Denise K.
Chimney Cap Installation · Lincoln Park · 3 months ago
Flat-Rate Pricing for Chicago Homes
$99
Chimney Sweep & Cleaning
$79
Full Level 2 Inspection
$59
Standard Inspection
10% Heroes Discount for military, veterans, police, firefighters, EMTs and seniors 65+.
Chicago Neighborhoods & Suburbs We Serve
Captain Chimney Repair dispatches technicians throughout Chicagoland. We do not operate a walk-in office in Chicago — all work is scheduled by phone and performed at your home.
- Lincoln Park
- Logan Square
- Hyde Park
- Beverly
- Portage Park
- Jefferson Park
- Albany Park
- Bridgeport
- Oak Park
- Evanston
- Skokie
- Berwyn
- Elmhurst
- Naperville
- Arlington Heights
- Cicero
Questions From Chicago Homeowners
Still unsure? Call and ask — we answer honestly, even when the answer is that you don't need the repair yet.
(708) 708-8368Masonry work needs temperatures consistently above roughly 40°F for mortar to cure properly, so the window in Chicago runs from about April through October. Book repairs in spring and summer; save inspections and sweeps for late summer and early fall before heating season starts.
That is spalling, and it is caused by freeze-thaw cycling. Water soaks into the porous brick, freezes overnight and pushes the face off. Once you can see sandy, crumbling brick, the chimney needs repointing and brick replacement before the damage reaches the flue.
It is not universally mandated, but Chicago-area buyers and inspectors routinely flag chimneys, and a Level 2 inspection report resolves the issue before it delays closing. We provide written documentation you can hand to the buyer's agent.
Only if the dividing walls between flues have deteriorated, which is common in older Chicago multi-unit buildings. A camera inspection tells you quickly whether smoke or carbon monoxide can migrate between units.
Yes. We serve the city and Chicagoland suburbs including Oak Park, Evanston, Skokie, Berwyn, Elmhurst, Naperville and Arlington Heights. Call (708) 708-8368 to confirm coverage for your address.
More Chimney Services in Chicago
- Chimney Sweep Chicago
- Chimney Inspection Chicago
- Chimney Leak Repair Chicago
- Fireplace Repair Chicago
- Gas Fireplace Repair Chicago
- Chimney Cap Installation Chicago
- Chimney Liner Replacement Chicago
- Chimney Crown Repair Chicago
Other Markets We Serve
Back to Captain Chimney Repair home for all services, project photos and reviews.
Book Your Chicago Chimney Service Today
Free written estimates, honest assessments and workmanship we stand behind — for homeowners across Chicagoland.