Chimney repair in Aurora, IL
A rusted cap, a cracked crown, a corroded flue pipe or loose brick all let water in, and a Fox Valley winter turns that water into ice. We find what failed and repair it, from the cap down to the roof line.
- Caps, lids and flue pipes
- Crowns and flashing
- Brick and mortar joints
What needs fixing, and why it cannot wait
Most chimney damage starts at the top. Metal caps and flue pipes rust, crowns crack, and once water gets past them it soaks into the brick or runs down inside the chimney. In the Aurora area that water freezes and thaws many times every winter, and each cycle makes the damage a little worse.
These are the problems we repair most often.
- Caps and hoods that are rusted, dented or missing
- Metal flue pipes corroded at the top or where they meet the roof
- Cracked or crumbling crowns
- Flashing that has lifted or rusted where the chimney meets the roof
- Open mortar joints and bricks whose face is flaking off
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney
- Rust on the damper or water in the firebox after rain
What you get with Chimney repair
Water stays out
A sound cap, crown and flashing keep rain and snowmelt from reaching the brick, the flue and the ceiling below.
Stainless where it counts
Caps and lids in stainless steel last far longer than painted steel ones, which rust through within a few winters.
Photos and a written scope
We show you photos of the problem and put the repair in writing before work starts.
Fix it while it is small
A new cap or a sealed crown this year costs far less than the masonry and ceiling repairs that follow a few more winters of leaks.
Repairs we handle
Every repair starts with a look at the whole top of the chimney and the roof around it. Then the work is matched to what failed.
- Stainless steel caps and multi-flue lids, sized to the flue
- Replacement metal flue pipes, hoods and terminations
- Crown sealing, waterproof crown coatings and new crowns
- Flashing repair and new flashing at the roof line
- Tuckpointing of open mortar joints
- Replacing spalled or broken bricks
- Chase covers for factory-built chimneys
Metal flues and factory-built chimneys
Not every chimney is brick. Many homes vent a fireplace, stove or furnace through a metal pipe or a factory-built chimney inside a framed chase. Those systems have their own weak points: the termination cap, the chase cover and the joint where the pipe passes through the roof. When they rust, water runs straight down the pipe or into the chase. We replace the worn parts and seal the joints so the system sheds water again.
Chimney repair questions
How do I know if my chimney cap needs replacing?
Look for rust streaks, peeling paint, a dented or tilted top or a mesh screen with holes in it. If the cap is missing altogether, birds, leaves and rain are getting straight into the flue and it should be replaced soon.
Can a cracked crown be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Fine cracks can be sealed with a waterproof crown coating. A crown that is broken through, crumbling or too flat to shed water is removed and formed again on top of the existing brick.
Do you repair metal flue pipes?
Yes. We replace corroded sections, hoods and terminations and reseal the joint where the pipe passes through the roof, on flat and pitched roofs alike.
Can repairs be done in winter?
Caps, lids and metal parts can usually go on in any weather. Mortar and concrete need temperatures above freezing to cure, so masonry repairs are best done from spring to fall.
Why does my chimney leak only in heavy storms?
A light rain runs off, but a wind-driven storm forces water into the weakest point: usually a missing cap, a cracked crown or open flashing. We check each one so the repair goes where the water really enters.
Other services we provide
Chimney inspection
The whole system checked, from the cap and crown to the flue, damper and firebox, with photos.
Chimney sweep
Fireplace, stove and insert flues brushed clean of creosote, connector pipe included.
Chimney cleaning
Clogged caps, blocked vents and nests cleared, so the chimney draws the way it should.
Ready to keep the weather out of your chimney?
Fireplace, stove or insert? Say which, leave a number, and we call you to book the visit.