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
AfterGelco Chimney Cap & Crown in Elmhurst: What to Know First
We provide independent Gelco chimney cap and crown service in Elmhurst, with most cap replacements completed in a single visit and crown repairs scheduled within a few days of inspection. Every job starts with a written price before any work begins, backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise. This page is for Elmhurst homeowners who already own a Gelco cap or crown and need honest answers about what’s failing, what it costs to fix, and whether the repair can wait. Call (708) 498-3199 for a free estimate, or read on for the specifics.
How Gelco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Gelco Multi-Flue Caps (Model M-8 through M-14 series): The expanded metal mesh on these caps is galvanized steel, which sounds durable but traps moisture against the flue walls during Elmhurst’s freeze-thaw cycles. We’ve pulled M-series caps off York Woods bungalows where the mesh had rusted through at the welds while the stainless lid still looked new. We replace with 304 stainless mesh or full stainless construction, depending on what the inspection shows.
- Gelco Single-Flue Caps with Overhang (SC series): The SC line uses a lighter-gauge lid that can deform under heavy ice load. After the February 2021 storm, we replaced seven SC caps in Elmhurst that had bent enough to create a gap for squirrels. Our fix is either a reinforced lid upgrade or switching to a steeper-pitch design that sheds ice instead of collecting it.
- Gelco Crown Seal coating failures: Gelco’s brush-on crown sealant is often applied too thin by homeowners or general contractors who don’t understand that concrete crowns need to breathe. We’ve found alligator cracking on crowns that were “sealed” three seasons prior. We strip the failed coating, repair the underlying concrete with proper Portland cement mix rated for chimney exposure, then apply a vapor-permeable treatment.
- Gelco band-around-brick mounting systems: The tension band on older Gelco caps relies on a single stainless screw that seizes in place after five to seven years of creosote exposure. In Elmhurst’s tighter flue configurations, especially the 8×12 and 13×13 sizes common in 1920s construction, a seized band means cutting the cap off rather than removing it cleanly. We carry band replacement hardware and keep a cold chisel set specifically for this extraction.
- Gelco wind band attachment points: The factory wind band, meant to secure caps in high-exposure installations, attaches through the mesh sides on pre-2015 models. Those attachment holes become stress concentrators; we’ve seen mesh tear propagate from the wind band hole straight to the frame corner. We either relocate the band to the frame rail on repair, or spec a post-2015 cap with integrated wind band bosses if replacement makes more sense.
Our Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Process
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Call and schedule. A live person answers. We ask for the cap model if you know it, the flue dimensions if you don’t, and whether you’re seeing water, animals, or masonry debris.
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NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera. Corrine Halstead or one of our techs runs the camera down the flue before touching the cap. We’ve found cracked flue liners hidden beneath intact Gelco caps more than once in Elmhurst, and no cap job starts until we know what the flue looks like. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job.
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Written price, written scope. We hand you a single-page estimate naming the part (OEM Gelco, compatible aftermarket, or upgraded stainless), the labor, and the warranty. No work starts until you have it in writing. Haven Standard Clause 1.
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Parts decision and procurement. For standard Gelco sizes, we stock compatible caps through our Haven buying network. For custom flues or homeowner-requested OEM, we order direct and schedule installation for when the part arrives. We also carry DuraFlex and HeatShield materials if the inspection reveals liner or smoke chamber issues that should be addressed while we’re on the roof.
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Installation and documentation. We remove the old cap, inspect the crown surface underneath, repair or coat as scoped, install the new assembly, and photograph the completed work from three angles plus the camera footage. You get the photo set by text or email before we pack up.
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Warranty and follow-up. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers labor and materials. We keep your file, your photos, and your written warranty on record. If something’s not right, we make it right.
Before
AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Elmhurst
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gelco single-flue cap replacement (standard size) | $280 - $420 | Flue height above crown, need for new mounting hardware, stainless vs. galvanized mesh |
| Gelco multi-flue cap replacement | $480 - $780 | Overall dimensions, number of flues, custom screening for non-standard flue spacing |
| Crown repair (localized spalling/cracks) | $340 - $580 | Crown size, depth of damage, need for formwork on overhanging edges |
| Crown coating / resurfacing | $420 - $680 | Surface prep required, number of lifts, vapor-permeable vs. standard treatment |
| Cap + crown combined (common on older Elmhurst homes) | $720 - $1,180 | Access difficulty, roof pitch, whether flue liner work is also needed |
These are Elmhurst-specific ranges based on our 2024-2025 jobs, not national averages. A rusted band or seized fastener adds $40-$90 for extraction time. If the inspection shows the crown is sound and only the cap needs replacement, we’ll say so plainly. The camera doesn’t editorialize. Neither do I. Call (708) 498-3199 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Why Elmhurst Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Elmhurst for Gelco Work
We’ve been on roofs in Elmhurst since 2009, including the older bungalows near York Woods where flue configurations don’t match modern standard sizes. Corrine Halstead learned the trade at BOCES Vocational Technical Center and built this crew specifically to handle the documentation and pricing transparency she couldn’t find when she was starting out. Every Gelco job gets the same inspection standard: camera down the flue, written price before work starts, photo record on completion. If your Gelco cap is part of a larger system issue, we also work with DuraFlex liner materials and HeatShield resurfacing products, sourced through our Haven buying network to keep pricing honest. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to everything we touch. Calls are answered live, 24/7.
FAQs
Gelco’s original manufacturer warranty on materials is typically 5-10 years from installation and covers defects in the product itself, not rust from Elmhurst’s freeze-thaw exposure or animal damage. As an independent Gelco service provider, our repairs don’t void existing material warranties, but we can’t extend Gelco’s factory coverage either. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers our labor and any parts we supply. Call (708) 498-3199 if you need help determining whether your cap is still under original warranty.
Most standard single-flue replacements take 45-90 minutes on site, including inspection of the crown underneath. Multi-flue caps or jobs requiring crown repair typically run 2-4 hours. We don’t rush the camera inspection to hit a time target. Call (708) 498-3199 to schedule - we’ll give you a realistic window based on your specific flue configuration.
We can source OEM Gelco caps through our Haven buying network for standard sizes, and we stock quality aftermarket stainless caps that match Gelco dimensions for faster turnaround. For Elmhurst’s non-standard flue sizes, especially the 8×12 and 13×13 common in pre-war construction, aftermarket custom fabrication is often the only practical option. We explain the trade-off in writing before you decide: OEM maintains brand consistency, quality aftermarket often outlasts the original on mesh and hardware. Call (708) 498-3199 and we’ll check availability for your specific model.
Pull the cap and look for these three things: hairline cracks wider than a credit card edge, spalling (flaking concrete) that exposes aggregate, or a slope that ponds water instead of shedding it. We find these issues on about 40% of Elmhurst cap removals, especially on homes with original crowns from the 1960s-1980s. Our inspection includes crown assessment before any cap work is priced. If the crown is sound, we say so and quote only the cap. Call (708) 498-3199 for a free inspection.
A rusted cap mesh lets squirrels and rain into the flue; a cracked crown lets water into the masonry structure itself. In Elmhurst’s climate, water that enters in October freezes by December, expanding cracks and accelerating spalling. We’ve documented chimney faces requiring rebuilds that started with a single crown crack ignored for three seasons. That said, not every crack is urgent. Our camera inspection shows you exactly what’s happening inside the flue and whether the crown damage is cosmetic or structural. Call (708) 498-3199 and we’ll give you a straight answer on timing.
Ready to get your Gelco cap or crown sorted? Call (708) 498-3199 for a free estimate. A live person will answer, schedule your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection, and you’ll have a written price before any work begins.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Elmhurst at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, serving Elmhurst and nearby areas.