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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterHeatShield Chimney Cap & Crown in Elmhurst: What to Know First
We provide independent HeatShield chimney cap and crown service in Elmhurst, with most jobs completed in one visit after a camera-scan inspection. A written price and scope are delivered before any work starts, and every job carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise under the Haven Standard. This page is for HeatShield owners in Elmhurst and nearby western suburbs who need cap installation, crown repair, or coating work and want to know what it actually costs and what documentation they’ll walk away with. Call (708) 498-3199 for a free estimate.
How HeatShield Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- ProForm stainless multi-flue caps - fastener fatigue in freeze-thaw cycles. The ProForm line uses 18-gauge stainless with stamped mounting ears. In Elmhurst, where January nights drop below 10°F and March brings rapid freeze-thaw, those ears work-harden at the bolt holes. We’ve found cracks propagating from the third bolt on north-facing caps by year six. We replace with Grade 316 stainless hardware and add a neoprene isolation washer, or source a Gelco equivalent with thicker-gauge ears when the flue spacing allows.
- HeatShield Cerfractory foam crowns - surface crazing after improper water cure. The Cerfractory slurry needs a 72-hour mist cure. Contractors who skip this step in July heat get a crown that looks fine at month three and maps with hairline cracks by month eighteen. We grind back to sound substrate, reapply with proper curing protocol, and document the cure schedule in your written warranty.
- Factory-built chase covers - galvanic separation at the drip edge. HeatShield’s galvanized chase covers for prefab units develop a telltale rust ring where the drip edge meets the field. It’s not the paint failing; it’s the edge roll trapping condensation from Elmhurst’s lake-effect humidity. We fit a stainless drip-edge retrofit or replace with a copper-edged unit from our Famco supply.
- ProForm mesh screens - weld corrosion at the cross points. The 5/8-inch mesh on ProForm caps uses spot welds that collect acidic condensation from wood-burning flues. In Elmhurst’s older bungalows near York Woods, where homeowners burn seasoned oak six months a year, we’ve pulled screens with 40 percent weld failure at year four. We source replacement mesh in 304 stainless with continuous-seam construction, or fit an Olympia Chimney equivalent screen when the frame is still sound.
- Cerfractory crown coatings - delamination over active leaks. HeatShield’s coating system bonds mechanically to sound concrete. Applied over a cap with a failed seal or a flue tile with a hidden crack, it traps water and spalls in sheets by the second winter. We run the camera first, identify the moisture source, repair the underlying defect, then coat. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires that photo record so you see the crack we found before we cover it.
Our HeatShield Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, day or night. We book a two-hour window and text when your tech is en route.
- 2
Camera-scan inspection. NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with full flue documentation. We check crown integrity, cap fit, flue condition, and moisture paths. The camera doesn’t editorialize. Neither do I.
- 3
Written price and scope. Before any tool comes off the truck, you get a written price, written scope, and written warranty. Haven Standard Clause 1: have it in writing. No exceptions.
- 4
Parts decision. We stock common HeatShield hardware and maintain accounts with DuraFlex, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney for same-day alternatives. If your ProForm cap is discontinued, we show you the OEM equivalent and the aftermarket option, with warranty implications for each.
- 5
Repair and test. Cap or crown work is completed, joints are checked with a smoke pencil, and water dispersion is verified with a controlled hose test where accessible.
- 6
Documentation and cleanup. Photo record uploaded, written warranty delivered, work area cleaned. Your copy and ours. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, same as we’ve done since 2009.
Before
AfterWhat HeatShield Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Elmhurst
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| ProForm cap replacement (standard single-flue) | $340-$520 |
| Multi-flue ProForm cap replacement | $580-$890 |
| Cerfractory crown coating (up to 24 sq ft) | $1,200-$1,800 |
| Crown rebuild with Cerfractory overlay | $2,400-$3,600 |
| Chase cover replacement (prefab unit) | $680-$1,150 |
| Mesh screen replacement only (ProForm frame retained) | $180-$290 |
Price moves with access height, crown square footage, and whether the flue tile needs repair before capping. Every estimate is free, written, and delivered before work starts. Call (708) 498-3199 for your exact number.
Why Elmhurst Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Elmhurst for HeatShield Work
We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a growing share of our Elmhurst calls involve HeatShield products installed in the 2015-2020 window. Corrine Halstead built this crew on the principle that footage settles arguments before prices do. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and assigned by name; you get a text when they’re on the way. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if the crown coating cracks or the cap seal fails, we make it right. And our Free Second Opinion on any written estimate lets you bring us a competitor’s quote and compare it against our documented findings. We also service DuraFlex and Gelco systems, so if your HeatShield line is discontinued, we have a solution that fits.
FAQs
HeatShield’s installation warranty is tied to the original installing contractor’s workmanship, not the product itself. As an independent HeatShield service provider, we document our repairs with photos and written scope so any future warranty claim has a clear record of what was found and what was done. For parts we source, we provide our own 365-Day Done Right Promise under the Haven Standard.
Some ProForm sizes were phased out in 2019. We maintain inventory of common sizes and can fabricate adapters or source cross-compatible caps from Gelco or Olympia Chimney with equivalent or better gauge stainless. We’ll show you both options in writing before you decide.
We determine this with a sounding hammer and camera inspection. If the crown has surface crazing but no structural cracks and the concrete sounds solid, coating is appropriate. If we find spalling deeper than 3/8 inch, exposed rebar, or a separated flue tile, rebuild is the honest recommendation. You’ll see the footage before we discuss price.
Most cap replacements are completed in two to three hours. Crown coatings require a full day for prep, application, and initial cure, plus a 72-hour mist cure you perform. We leave written instructions and check in by text. Call (708) 498-3199 to schedule - estimates are free.
A cracked crown funnels water into the chimney structure. In Elmhurst’s climate, that freeze-thaw cycle opens cracks wider each winter and can destroy a flue liner in three to five years. The repair cost typically doubles once water reaches the smoke chamber. We don’t pressure; we show you the camera footage and let you decide with a real number in hand.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Elmhurst at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, serving Elmhurst and nearby areas.