Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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Before
AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Repair Across Lombard
Chimney repair in Lombard, IL typically costs $180 for minor mortar repointing up to $4,500 for partial rebuilding, with most homeowners spending between $800 and $2,200 for the repairs our crews perform most often. We dispatch to Lombard from our Chicago office, and most calls are scheduled within 48 hours. You can reach us at (708) 498-3199 for a free written estimate.
We’ve worked on chimneys across every Lombard neighborhood, from the original platted grid near downtown to the postwar ranch developments off Roosevelt Road and the split-level blocks north of North Avenue. The housing stock here is specific, and the problems we find are specific too. Our Chimney Repair team doesn’t guess at what’s wrong - we run a camera down the flue, show you the footage, and give you a written price before any work starts. That’s Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, and it’s how we’ve operated since 2009.
Why Level Two Chimney Elmhurst Is Lombard’s Preferred Chimney Repair Company
Lombard homeowners know their chimneys are old. What they don’t always know is whether the repair they’re being quoted is necessary. We built our reputation on removing that uncertainty. Every inspection follows NFPA 211 Level 2 protocol - camera scan, documented photo record, written findings - so you see exactly what we see.
Our reviews from Lombard customers consistently mention the same thing: the technician showed them the cracked tile or spalling brick on screen, explained what it meant, and left a written price with no pressure to book. The 365-Day Done Right Promise backs every job. If it’s not done right, we make it right.
Response time to Lombard is typically next-day or within 48 hours, depending on season. Calls are answered by a live person, 24/7 - not a voicemail tree. You’ll get a text when your technician is en route, along with their name and license number.
Local knowledge matters here. We know that a chimney on a 1960s ranch near Madison Street probably has an oversized flue from an oil-to-gas conversion. We know that pre-WWII homes in the original platted grid may have no liner at all. That context means we inspect with the right questions already in mind, and we don’t waste your time with generic recommendations.
Our Chimney Repair Services in Lombard
Mortar Repointing
The mortar joints in Lombard’s mid-century chimneys were never designed to survive 50+ annual freeze-thaw cycles. When water seeps into cracked mortar and expands, it opens gaps that let combustion gases leak into the chase. Repointing removes deteriorated mortar to a consistent depth and packs new, matched mortar into the joints. On a typical Lombard ranch chimney, repointing runs $800-$1,800 depending on accessibility and how many courses need work. We document the before condition with photos and show you the finished joints.
Spalling Brick Repair
Spalling - when brick faces flake or pop off from freeze-thaw damage - is epidemic on Lombard chimneys built between 1950 and 1975. The brick itself absorbs moisture, the temperature drops below freezing, and the surface layer fractures away. Left alone, spalling exposes the softer inner brick to accelerated deterioration and can compromise structural integrity. We remove spalled brick, match replacement brick for color and density, and rebuild the affected courses. Typical spalling repair in Lombard ranges from $1,200 for localized damage to $3,200 for multiple faces on a tall stack. We source materials through our Haven buying network to keep prices honest.
Chimney Waterproofing
Lombard’s climate pattern is particularly cruel to masonry: temperatures hover near freezing for days, creating repeated partial thaw and refreeze rather than a clean cold season. That cycling drives water deeper into porous brick with each round. Our waterproofing treatment uses a vapor-permeable silane/siloxane sealer that lets the chimney breathe while blocking liquid water entry. Application on a standard Lombard ranch chimney runs $450-$750 and includes cleaning the surface, repairing minor mortar gaps first, and applying two coats. We recommend it after repointing or spalling repair to protect the new work.
Flashing Repair
The junction where chimney meets roof is where most water intrusion starts, and on Lombard’s older homes the original flashing has often corroded or pulled loose from decades of expansion and contraction. We remove damaged flashing, inspect the underlying deck for rot, and install new step and counter flashing integrated with your roofing material. Flashing repair in Lombard typically runs $350-$850. We use copper or galvanized steel from Copperfield and Famco, sourced through our Haven network, and we photograph the completed work for your record.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Before
AfterTrusted Brands We Service in Lombard
We stock parts and materials from Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield - procured through Haven’s buying network specifically to keep customer prices honest. For Lombard homeowners, that means faster turnaround on repairs that require custom caps, dampers, or flashing kits. We don’t order after you’ve already waited; we carry what these chimneys typically need. When a liner job calls for DuraFlex stainless or a crown rebuild needs HeatShield refractory, we have the material on hand or can source it within 24 hours through our Chicago-area distribution.
Common Chimney Repair Problems We See in Lombard Homes
- Cracked clay tile liners from freeze-thaw cycling. Lombard’s 50+ annual freeze-thaw cycles attack the clay flue tiles installed in 1950-1975 chimneys. The tiles expand and contract at a different rate than the surrounding brick, and after decades they fracture. Our camera finds these cracks where a flashlight inspection never would.
- Oversized flues from oil-to-gas conversions. When a Lombard homeowner converted from oil to natural gas, the flue designed for hot oil exhaust became a cavern for cool gas exhaust. That cool gas condenses on tile walls, accelerating deterioration and producing glazed creosote that standard brushing won’t remove.
- Pre-WWII unlined chimneys with modern appliances tied in. In the original platted grid near downtown Lombard, we regularly pull chimneys built before WWII that have no flue liner at all. An unlined brick chase venting a gas furnace or insert is a carbon monoxide path no neighboring newer suburb deals with at this rate.
- Spalling brick and deteriorated mortar from decades of weather exposure. The same freeze-thaw cycling that cracks flue tiles destroys mortar joints and brick faces. By the time spalling is visible from the ground, water has already compromised multiple courses.
Pricing for Chimney Repair in Lombard, IL
| Service | Typical Range in Lombard |
|---|---|
| Mortar repointing (partial chimney) | $800 - $1,800 |
| Spalling brick repair (localized) | $1,200 - $3,200 |
| Chimney waterproofing | $450 - $750 |
| Flashing repair | $350 - $850 |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline) | $2,800 - $4,500 |
| NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera | $250 - $350 |
What moves a job toward the higher end: height and accessibility (steep roofs, tight side yards), extent of hidden damage found during opening, and whether the chimney has been previously repaired with incompatible materials. What we never do: add items after the written price is delivered. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard requires a written price, written scope, and written warranty before anyone starts - not after the tech is already in your home. Every estimate is free, and we offer a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote. Call (708) 498-3199 to schedule.
We Also Serve Cities Near Lombard
Our crews work throughout DuPage County and the near-western suburbs. We regularly perform Chimney Repair in Lombard and also serve Glen Ellyn, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, and Wheaton. Scheduling is coordinated from our Chicago office, with local technicians dispatched to each community.
Serving Lombard, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lombard area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Chimney Repair in Lombard
Not necessarily. Many 1950s clay tile liners in Lombard are cracked but still structurally sound enough for a stainless steel liner insert or a HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing rather than full removal and replacement. We run the camera first. If the tile is cracked but the shell is intact, we may recommend a liner insert at $1,800-$3,200 rather than a full tear-out at $4,000+. You’ll see the footage and get both options in writing. Call (708) 498-3199 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Water enters porous brick and mortar through hairline cracks. When temperatures drop below 32°F, that water expands by about 9%, forcing the crack wider. Lombard’s particular pattern - hovering near freezing for days rather than staying consistently cold - means this cycle repeats 50+ times per winter, each cycle driving water deeper and widening cracks further. Clay flue tiles are especially vulnerable because they expand and contract at a different rate than surrounding brick. The result is spalling brick, crumbling mortar, and fractured liners that a camera inspection reveals long before they’re visible from the ground.
Oil exhaust leaves the appliance at roughly 600-900°F and stays buoyant enough to exit quickly even in a large flue. Natural gas exhaust exits at 350-500°F and cools faster. In an oversized flue designed for oil, gas exhaust lingers, drops below its dew point, and condenses on tile walls. That condensation is acidic. It deteriorates mortar, accelerates tile cracking, and mixes with soot to form glazed creosote that standard brushing won’t remove. On a 1952 ranch off Westmore Avenue near downtown Lombard, our tech found exactly this pattern: a gas furnace tied into a flue sized for the home’s original oil burner, with cracked tile and second-degree creosote glazing above the smoke chamber. We documented it on screen before recommending a HeatShield liner and repointing the crown. The homeowner approved after seeing the footage, not a sales pitch.
First-degree creosote is dry, flaky soot that brushes off easily - what you’d expect from occasional fireplace use with dry hardwood. Third-degree creosote is a hard, tar-like glaze that forms when cool, oxygen-starved exhaust condenses in an oversized or poorly vented flue. It’s highly combustible and often requires chemical treatment or rotary removal rather than standard brushing. In Lombard, we see third-degree glazing most often in converted oil-to-gas chimneys where cool exhaust has been condensing for years. The presence of third-degree creosote doesn’t automatically mean a liner replacement, but it does mean the flue conditions that created it need correction. We show you the creosote class on camera and explain what caused it before recommending any repair.
Yes. Gas furnaces, water heaters, and fireplace inserts all vent combustion byproducts through your chimney. In Lombard’s pre-WWII and mid-century housing stock, we’ve found unlined chases, cracked clay tiles, and deteriorated mortar that allow carbon monoxide to leak into wall cavities or living spaces - regardless of whether the homeowner ever lights a fire. An NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera documentation takes about 90 minutes and gives you a written record of flue condition. For homes with original clay tile liners or suspected unlined construction, we consider it essential safety maintenance, not optional upkeep. Call (708) 498-3199 to book - estimates are free.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, serving Lombard and the western suburbs since 2009.