Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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.
Trusted Chimney Repair for Schaumburg Homeowners
A cracked flue liner or a failing chimney crown isn’t something you feel in the drywall. It shows up as water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, a rusted damper, or the smell of smoke drifting back into the living room hours after the fire’s gone out. Those are the calls we get most often from Schaumburg homeowners, and they’re the exact problems Rob Szymanowski and our crew at Duke Chimney Sweep are built to solve. We do full our Chimney Repair in Schaumburg, from a simple spalling brick repoint to a complete DuraFlex liner retrofit, and we do it with the same specification-grade materials building contractors specify, not whatever the hardware store had on the shelf. If you’ve spotted something that doesn’t look right, call (844) 660-6510 and we’ll talk through what you’re seeing before we ever book a truck.
Chimney Cap Installation
Chimney Cap Installation is the process of fitting a weather-resistant cover over the top of your flue to keep rain, leaves, and animals from getting into the chimney system. In Schaumburg, where spring downpours and heavy snowmelt are annual realities, a missing or undersized cap is one of the most common causes of internal chimney damage we find. We install Copperfield caps sized to your flue’s exact dimensions, then secure them to the crown with a mechanical fastener system that holds up to the wind loads we see off the open plains west of Route 59. Most installations in Schaumburg run $350 to $700 depending on flue size and which cap style fits your venting configuration.
Single Flue Caps
Most Schaumburg homes with a single fireplace or furnace flue need a straightforward single-flue cap. We measure the outside diameter of your tile or metal liner, match the cap height for proper draft clearance, and torque the fasteners to spec. A properly fitted cap shouldn’t rattle in the wind or need adjusting season after season.
Multi-Flue and Custom Caps
Older Schaumburg colonials and ranches with separate fireplace and heating flues often need a multi-flue cap that spans the full crown width. We carry expanded sizes and can order custom footprint caps for unusually wide or offset masonry crowns. The goal is coverage that sheds water past the crown edge, not just over the flue opening.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Cap Replacement
Chimney Cap Replacement is swapping out a damaged or corroded cap for a new one before it stops doing its job. You know it’s time when the mesh sides have rusted through, the top is dented or blown off entirely, or you hear what sounds like birds nesting at the top of the flue. We see this a lot in Schaumburg neighborhoods with mature tree canopies, like the homes north of Golf Road where squirrel pressure on chimney tops is constant. Replacement typically costs $300 to $600 in Schaumburg depending on cap size and whether the old mounting hardware has to be cut off.
Mesh and Screen Condition
The mesh sides on a chimney cap serve two functions: keeping animals out and acting as a spark arrestor. Once the galvanized mesh rusts through, embers can escape and animals can enter through holes you can’t see from ground level. We check mesh integrity on every cap replacement and recommend replacement if the wire shows more than surface rust or any visible gaps.
Hardware and Fastener Issues
Caps that weren’t mechanically fastened, just friction-fit or caulked, fail early. We remove the old unit cleanly, evaluate the crown surface underneath, and install the new cap with stainless fasteners into drilled pilot holes. No caulk-only installations here, because caulk fails and the cap ends up in the yard after the first good noreaster.
Chimney Liner Installation
Chimney Liner Installation is the process of running a new flue liner, typically a flexible stainless steel system, down the inside of an existing chimney to restore safe venting. Older Schaumburg homes with original terra cotta tile flues commonly develop cracks, gaps between tiles, and missing mortar joints as the masonry settles through decades of freeze-thaw cycles. We install DuraFlex liner systems because they’re lined for wood, gas, and multi-fuel use and can navigate the offsets and irregular dimensions common in older flues. Liner installation in Schaumburg generally runs $2,500 to $5,000 depending on flue height, diameter, and whether an insulation wrap is needed.
When a Liner Beats Relining
Terra cotta tile that’s cracked at the top or has a single bad joint can sometimes be addressed with HeatShield resurfacing instead of a full liner. We camera-scan every flue before recommending track one way or the other. If the damage is localized and the structure is sound, we restore before we replace and save you the cost of a liner you don’t need.
Insulated vs. Non-Insulated
Gas appliances, high-efficiency units, and chimneys on exterior walls usually call for an insulated liner to maintain proper draft and minimize condensation. We stock both and make the call based on your fuel type and the clearances we measure during inspection. The work shows in the details, and liner insulation is one of those details that separates a long-lived retrofit from one that rusts out early.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair addresses the metal barrier where the chimney meets the roofline, which is the single most common entry point for roof leaks in Schaumburg, where freeze-thaw cycling works seams apart. Flashing fails in stages: first the caulk dries and cracks, then the metal separates from the masonry, then water finds its way under the shingles and down the chimney chase. We fabricate and install step flashing, counter-flashing, and apron flashing with proper over-bends and weep paths so water sheds away from the penetration rather than pooling against it. Flashing repair in Schaumburg typically costs $450 to $1,200 depending on chase size and whether shingles need to be lifted or replaced.
What a Leak Looks Like
You might notice a brown stain on the ceiling near the fireplace, bubbling paint on the wall adjacent to the chimney, or a musty smell in the attic after a hard rain. Water coming through flashing doesn’t always show up directly at the fireplace, because it travels along roof framing before it drips somewhere visible. If you see any of these signs, the flashing is the first place we look.
Fabrication to Fit
Every chimney is a slightly different size, and pre-made flashing kits from the big box store almost never fit the offset masonry lines of a real-world chimney. We cut and bend flashing on site to match your specific chimney dimensions, then seal the counter-flashing into a fresh chase cut in the mortar joint. That’s how flashing jobs get done once and stay watertight for twenty years.
Chimney Crown Repair
Chimney Crown Repair is rebuilding or resurfacing the concrete or mortar cap that sits on top of the chimney and keeps water from soaking down into the masonry below. In Schaumburg, crown damage is what we call a slow-motion failure: water pools in small cracks, freezes and expands through the winter, and by spring you have a crown with section losses, crumbling edges, and water working its way behind the brick faces. We clean out deteriorated areas, bond the new material to the old, and reshape with proper crown overhang and drip edge so water falls free of the chimney sides. Crown repair in Schaumburg ranges from $600 to $1,800 depending on the footprint and how much material has to be removed.
Why Drip Edges Matter
A crown that sits flush with the chimney face lets water run down the brick and soak into the mortar joints. We build the new crown edge with a minimum overhang and a cut drip lip so water falls off rather than clinging to the masonry. It’s the same detail crown manufacturers spec in new construction, and it’s the difference between a repair that lasts and a patch that fails in two years.
HeatShield Crown Treatment
When the structural crown base is still sound but the surface has heavy crazing or minor spalling, we use HeatShield resurfacer as a protective top layer. It bonds to the existing crown and sheds water while restoring a clean finished look. This is a repair-first option that extends the crown’s life without the mess and cost of a full teardown and re-pour.
Chimney Repair Companies
Chimney Repair Companies in the Schaumburg area range from national franchises with rotating crews to small one-person operations that work out of a van. What separates Duke Chimney Sweep is that we carry our own material inventory and never hand off repair work to a subcontractor. Rob Szymanowski leads a crew that’s been trained on the same professional-tier products we stock, so the person who diagnoses your chimney problem is the same person who fixes it. If you’re comparing repair companies, ask each one what liner brand they install, what resurfacer they use, and whether they camera-scan the flue before quoting. Those three questions will narrow the field fast.
What to Ask Before You Book
Request the specific product names: DuraFlex for liners, HeatShield for resurfacing, Gelco and Olympia Chimney for masonry components, Copperfield for caps and chase tops. A company that can’t name its material suppliers is using whatever the local supply house had on hand that week. Ask to see photos of previous repairs in Schaumburg, and ask who does the work, because some companies sub out their masonry repair to a day crew and shoulder the blame when it fails.
Single-Accountability Repair
We run from inspection through repair to final photo report under one name, one phone number, and one accountable owner. You don’t call a chimney sweep who then calls a mason who then calls a roofer. The full venting system is our scope, and we own the outcome from the first camera scan to the final water test on the crown.
Chimney Masonry Repair
Chimney Masonry Repair is the rebuilding, repointing, or replacement of the brick, stone, and mortar that forms the visible chimney structure. In Schaumburg, where winter temperatures swing from below zero to above freezing in a few days, masonry deteriorates faster than in milder climates: mortar blows out of joints, bricks spall and lose their face, and sections of the stack can start to lean or bow. We repoint with mortar matched for both color and compressive strength, replace broken bricks from our supply of reclaimed and new masonry, and rebuild when the damage has progressed too far to patch. Typical masonry repair in Schaumburg runs $800 to $3,000 depending on the affected area and whether chimney staging is required.
Repointing vs. Rebuilding
If the brick faces are intact but the mortar joints are eroding, repointing is the right fix: we grind out the old mortar to proper depth, pack in new material with a matched profile. If the bricks themselves are cracked, spalling, or loose, those units have to come out and get replaced. We’ll show you the damage on camera before we quote either scope, so you can see what’s needed with your own eyes.
Freeze-Thaw Damage Cycles
Water absorbed into brick and mortar through a failed crown or cracked cap expands when it freezes, and every winter cycle does a little more structural damage. By the time you see cracked brick faces or a visible lean, the interior is usually farther along. We look for the water entry point that’s feeding the damage, because fixing the masonry without closing the water source just buys you a few more seasons.
Brands We Service
We work with DuraFlex liner systems on retrofit and reline jobs because they come in standard and custom diameters that adapt to older Schaumburg flues with minor offsets, and they’re rated for the full range of residential fuels. HeatShield is our go-to for flue resurfacing when a full liner isn’t needed, and we’re trained on its application to CSIA-recommended standards. Copperfield supplies the caps and chase tops we install when the job calls for a manufactured unit built to exacting fit and finish.
Gelco and Olympia Chimney components round out the hardware we keep on hand for masonry and flashing repairs. The advantage for you is simple: whether you have a straightforward clay tile chimney, a prefabricated metal flue, or a masonry stack with mixed venting, we’re not running to the supply house to figure out what fits. We know these brands, we stock their parts, and we match the right material to your specific chimney rather than working backwards from whatever’s cheapest.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Water stains near the fireplace or chimney chase. Stains on ceiling drywall or wall surfaces adjacent to the chimney usually mean water is getting past the flashing or through the crown. It’s not just cosmetic: moisture inside the chimney cavity accelerates masonry decay and can damage framing. We’ll camera-scan the flue and trace the entry point before we quote a repair.
- Crumbling or spalling brick faces. When the surface of a brick starts flaking off or powdery dust accumulates at the chimney base, the masonry is absorbing water and failing from the inside out. In Schaumburg’s freeze-thaw climate, this doesn’t self-heal, it compounds. Loose brick near the top of the stack is a falling hazard, and should be addressed promptly.
- Smoke backing into the room. Smoke that drifts out of the fireplace opening during or after a burn points to a draft problem: a blocked flue, a too-tall chimney with insufficient draw, or a liner that’s cracked and losing suction. Rob Szymanowski treats smoke blowback as a venting system failure, not a nuisance, and will scope the flue to find the cause.
- A rusted or missing damper plate. Dampers rust shut, rust open, or warp from heat exposure over time. A damper that won’t close is an open hole to the roof in winter, and a damper that won’t open makes the fireplace unusable. We replace damper assemblies as part of a repair call and confirm proper operation before we leave.
- Strong chimney odor in humid weather. A smell like wet ash or old smoke that gets worse after rain usually means water is pooling in the smoke shelf or mixing with creosote deposits inside the flue. It’s a sign that the cap, crown, or flashing has failed somewhere above. The fix is repair, not just another sweep, and our inspection will show you where the water’s coming from.
Our Process, Step by Step
1. Visual and camera inspection. We start by examining the chimney from the roofline and the flue from the inside with a camera. The scan shows us cracks, gaps, deterioration, and blockages that aren’t visible from either end. You get a photo report, so you see what we see before any recommendation is made.
2. Damage assessment and honest recommendation. If the damage is localized, we tell you and suggest the most targeted repair that solves it, which is often HeatShield resurfacing or a repointing job. If the structure or liner is beyond spot repair, we say so plainly and explain why a DuraFlex liner or masonry rebuild is the right call. You’ll never get a teardown recommendation without photo evidence.
3. Transparent quote before work starts. Every repair scope comes with a written quote that breaks down materials, labor, and any equipment access we’ll need. We don’t run time-and-materials surprises, and we don’t start work until you’ve approved the number.
4. Specification-grade repair work. We repair with the materials we’d use on a building contractor’s spec sheet: heat-cured mortar mixes, stainless steel fasteners, and industry-rated components. The work is done by Duke Chimney Sweep’s own crew, not subcontracted out. No handoffs, no callbacks to a third party when something needs adjusting.
5. Final walk-through and photo report. When the job’s done, we show you what we fixed, what we could not fix (if anything remains for future scope), and what to expect from the chimney going forward. You’ll get the after photos alongside your before photos, and a real answer to the question every homeowner has: can I burn safely now?
How Much Does Chimney Repair Cost in Schaumburg?
How much Chimney Repair costs in Schaumburg varies by what’s actually wrong with the system, and that’s why we don’t give one-line prices over the phone without seeing the chimney. A chimney cap replacement usually lands between $300 and $600, while a cap installation from scratch runs $350 to $700 depending on flue size. Flashing repair work typically costs $450 to $1,200, and a crown repair in Schaumburg falls between $600 and $1,800 based on footprint and material removal. Full chimney liner installation is the biggest line item: $2,500 to $5,000 depending on flue height, diameter, and insulation needs. Masonry repair spans $800 to $3,000 depending on the affected area and whether staging or rebuild is required.
What moves the price is access, material, and condition. A chimney with a steep roof pitch or a tall stack costs more to work on safely. A chimney that needs DuraFlex liner material in an unusual diameter costs more than a standard 6-inch flue. And a chimney that’s been leaking for five years has more latent damage than one caught in the first season. The way to avoid overpaying is to work with a company that camera-scans before quoting, tells you when work can safely wait, and doesn’t push a rebuild where a restoration will hold. Our free estimates include the inspection, the photo report, and a straight answer on what needs doing now versus what can wait.
Our Service Area Near Schaumburg
Duke Chimney Sweep serves Schaumburg and the surrounding northwest suburbs, including Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Hanover Park, Medinah, South Barrington, Streamwood, Rolling Meadows, Bloomingdale, Itasca, Bartlett, and Palatine. We know the housing stock out here, the common chimney configurations in the older subdivisions, and the freeze-thaw cycles that drive most of our repair calls. We route service by neighborhood zone, so we can usually schedule a repair visit within a few business days depending on current demand. If you’re in a nearby town and not sure we cover you, call and ask. For residents looking beyond Schaumburg, we also provide Chimney Repair in Hoffman Estates and Chimney Repair in Roselle, with the same materials and the same crew. Our home page has the full picture of our three-service scope.
Serving Schaumburg, IL — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Schaumburg area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Repair in Schaumburg
Chimney repair is the work of fixing any structural or functional failure in the chimney system: the flue liner, the masonry stack, the cap, the crown, or the flashing that ties the chimney to the roof. It’s different from a chimney sweep, which is a cleaning service, though we often find repair needs during a sweep because we can see the flue from the inside. Most repair work in Schaumburg is driven by water entry and freeze-thaw damage. Call (844) 660-6510 for an inspection and we’ll show you exactly what your chimney needs.
Most Schaumburg chimney repairs are completed in a single day once materials are on site. A cap replacement or flashing repair usually runs two to four hours. A full DuraFlex liner installation is a longer job, often six to eight hours depending on the flue run and access. For a specific timeline on your chimney, call us and we’ll give you a realistic window.
Cost depends on the scope: cap work runs $300 to $700, flashing repair $450 to $1,200, crown repair $600 to $1,800, liner installation $2,500 to $5,000, and masonry repair $800 to $3,000. We quote from a camera inspection, not a guess over the phone. Estimates are free, and every quote is line-item with no hidden charges.
Yes, we stock and install DuraFlex flexible liner systems for wood, gas, and multi-fuel applications. We also use HeatShield resurfacer for flue restoration jobs that don’t need a full liner, and we carry Copperfield caps and Gelco and Olympia Chimney masonry components. If you have a different liner brand and need it repaired or replaced, we’ll assess it and recommend the right material for your venting setup.
For something like a fallen cap after a storm, a visible masonry crack that’s opened suddenly, or smoke backing into the house, call us right away and we’ll get someone out as soon as the schedule allows. We don’t run 24/7 emergency call centers, but we do prioritize dangerous conditions and sudden failures. If you’re not sure whether it’s urgent, call and describe what you see and we’ll guide you.
We stand behind the workmanship on every repair we do, and we’ll fix any issue that comes up from our installation. Specific warranty terms depend on the material and the repair type, so ask us for the terms on your job before we start. We’d rather put the guarantee in writing on your quote than speak in vague promises.
Clear the area around the fireplace so we can get tools and camera equipment in and out, and make sure we’ll have roof access if the repair involves the chimney top. If you have a gas fireplace, know where the gas valve is located. We’ll handle the rest, including drop protection and cleanup. You don’t need to be home the whole time, but we’ll want to show you the before and after photos during the final walk-through.
Schedule Your Chimney Repair Service in Schaumburg Today
If you’ve got a chimney problem you can see, smell, or hear, don’t wait through another Schaumburg winter cycle. Call Duke Chimney Sweep at (844) 660-6510 for a free, no-obligation estimate that starts with a camera inspection and ends with a straight answer you can trust. Rob Szymanowski and the crew are ready to show you what’s actually going on inside your chimney and fix it with specification-grade materials built for the long run.
Written by Rob Szymanowski, Owner at Duke Chimney Sweep, serving Schaumburg and the northwest suburbs.