Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown Nationwide

Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown in Evanston: What to Know First

We provide independent Olympia Chimney chimney cap and crown service across Evanston, from standard cap swaps on the 1000 Series to full crown rebuilds on older 600 Series masonry stacks. Most Olympia Chimney cap and crown jobs in Evanston run $340 to $890 depending on whether we’re coating a hairline crown crack or fabricating a multi-flue cap for a non-standard flue spread. Every job starts with a written price, a camera inspection down the flue, and a photo record you keep - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, same as we’ve done since 2009.

Call (708) 234-1174

This page is for Olympia Chimney owners in Evanston who’ve noticed rust streaks on the brick, water in the firebox, or a cap that’s come loose after a lakefront wind event. Corrine Halstead and our crew have handled Olympia Chimney products on Evanston’s older homes near the lakefront historic district and in the newer builds west of Ridge Avenue. If you’re seeing something, call us at (708) 234-1174. We’ll look before we quote, and quote before we work.

How Olympia Chimney Products Fail - and How We Fix Them

• 1000 Series stainless caps: The mesh on these caps is 18-gauge, which holds up fine inland but takes a beating in Evanston’s lake-effect wind cycles. We’ve found the mesh separating at the weld seam on homes within four blocks of Lake Michigan, usually after three to five winters. We replace with a heavier 304 stainless mesh or source direct from Olympia Chimney’s parts network if the homeowner wants to keep the warranty chain intact.
• 600 Series galvanized caps: These were common on Evanston builds from the late 1990s through about 2010. The galvanized coating fails at the drip edge first, showing as orange streaks down the brick. Once that starts, the underlying steel rusts through in about 18 months. We don’t coat these - we pull and replace with stainless or aluminum, depending on what the flue configuration allows.
• Crown wash separation on Olympia Chimney paired systems: When an Olympia Chimney cap sits on a crown that was poured as a thin wash (common on spec homes near Dempster Street), thermal cycling pops the cap loose even when the cap itself is fine. We diagnose this with a camera check of the flue interior for water intrusion, then rebuild the crown with proper slope and drip edge before resetting or replacing the cap.
• Multi-flue cap sizing errors: Olympia Chimney’s multi-flue caps come in standard widths, but Evanston’s 1920s duplexes and coach houses often have flue spreads that don’t match the catalog. We’ve seen caps ordered by model number alone that left a 2-inch gap on one side, funneling water straight to the brick. We measure on-site, then fabricate or source through our Haven buying network if Olympia Chimney doesn’t stock the odd size.
• Chimney crown spalling under Olympia Chimney chase covers: On factory-built systems with Olympia Chimney chase covers, the crown (or chase top) is often poured concrete that spalls when water gets behind the cover’s corner folds. The symptom looks like a cap leak but it’s crown failure underneath. We pull the cover, assess the crown substrate, and only reinstall the original cover if the metal hasn’t fatigued at the stress points.

Our Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown Process

1. 1
   Call and schedule. A live person answers, day or night. We book a window, assign a named technician, and text when they’re en route.
2. 2
   Camera inspection first. NFPA 211 Level 2 - camera down the flue, documented photo record. We check for water damage, liner condition, and creosote class before touching the cap or crown. The camera doesn’t negotiate - and neither does creosote.
3. 3
   Written price, written scope. We show you what we found, explain the parts options (OEM Olympia Chimney, or quality aftermarket from Gelco or Famco if the fit is better), and deliver a written price before any work starts. Haven Standard Clause 1.
4. 4
   The repair. Cap replacement, crown coating with HeatShield or CrownCoat, or full crown rebuild. We fabricate custom solutions on-site when the catalog doesn’t fit your Evanston flue spread.
5. 5
   Post-work test and documentation. Camera run to confirm no debris dropped, water test on the crown if applicable, photo record uploaded to your job file. You get the documentation; we keep the backup.
6. 6
   365-Day Done Right Promise. If it’s not done right, we make it right. Stamped on every job.

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What Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Evanston

These are Evanston market ranges based on jobs we’ve run from the lakefront to west of the Metra tracks. Your exact price depends on what the camera shows and what your flue configuration demands. We don’t guess from a photo - we measure, we look, we write it down. Call (708) 234-1174 for a free estimate; the inspection and written quote cost nothing.

Why Evanston Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Evanston for Olympia Chimney Work

We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, every one with a written price first and a photo record after. Corrine Halstead and our crew know Olympia Chimney’s product lines because we’ve serviced them in Evanston’s actual housing stock - the tight flue spreads in vintage brick two-flues, the chase covers on 1990s townhomes near McCormick Boulevard, the wind-beaten caps on lakefront properties.

We’re independent. We source Olympia Chimney parts when they’re the right fit, but we’re not locked to their catalog. Through our Haven buying network, we also pull from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Famco, and Copperfield - whatever solves the problem honestly and keeps the price fair. Background-checked, uniformed technicians. License number on every page. A real person on the phone, always. And if you have a competitor’s written estimate, we’ll give you a free second opinion.

FAQs

Does using Level Two Chimney Evanston void my Olympia Chimney warranty?

No - manufacturer warranties on chimney caps cover defects in materials and workmanship, not who installed them. As an independent Olympia Chimney service provider, we document every part serial number and install to manufacturer spec. If a defect shows up, you have the paperwork to file a claim directly with Olympia Chimney.

How long does Olympia Chimney cap replacement take?

Most standard single-flue cap replacements in Evanston take 90 minutes to two hours from ladder set to final photo. Custom multi-flue caps or crown rebuilds underneath can run a half day. We tell you the time estimate in the written scope, before we start.

Can you match an old Olympia Chimney cap that’s no longer made?

Often yes, through our Haven buying network or custom fabrication. The 600 Series galvanized caps are largely discontinued, but we can fabricate stainless equivalents that fit the same flue specs. We’ll show you both options - OEM-available or custom - with prices for each.

How do I know if my crown needs coating or full rebuild?

We tap-test and camera-check. Hairline cracks with solid substrate underneath get a flexible coating. Spalling, separation, or water intrusion to the flue liner means rebuild. We show you the camera footage and explain which category you’re in - no recommendation without evidence you can see.

What happens if I wait on a cracked crown or loose cap?

Water gets in. In Evanston’s freeze-thaw cycle, that means spalling brick, rusted dampers, and eventually flue liner damage that’s far more expensive than the cap or crown repair. Carbon monoxide risk rises if the liner cracks. Call (708) 234-1174 for a free inspection - we’ll tell you honestly if it can wait or if it can’t.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Evanston at Level Two Chimney Evanston, serving Evanston and nearby areas.