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
AfterTrusted Chimney Cap & Crown for Evanston Homeowners
A Chimney Cap & Crown in Evanston typically costs $280-$890 depending on whether you need a cap replacement, crown coating, or full rebuild, and most jobs are completed in a single visit. At Level Two Chimney Evanston, we’ve inspected and serviced more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and every cap and crown job starts with a camera-scan inspection, a written price before any work begins, and a documented photo record when we’re done. Call us at (708) 234-1174 for a free estimate with no obligation.
Evanston’s lakefront position creates a specific problem for chimney caps and crowns: the temperature swings between Lake Michigan’s moderating influence and inland freeze-thaw cycles accelerate concrete spalling and metal fatigue faster than you’ll see in more sheltered suburbs. We’ve replaced caps in the home neighborhoods near Northwestern’s campus where wind-driven rain comes in at angles a standard cap can’t deflect, and we’ve rebuilt crowns in southeast Evanston where decades of salt-laden air have eroded the concrete paste. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and licensed; you’ll get a text when your tech is on the way, and the same person who quotes the job does the work.
What Our Chimney Cap & Crown Service Includes
Cap Installation
A chimney cap is a metal cover that sits over your flue opening to block rain, animals, and debris while letting smoke escape. You need one if your flue terminates without any cover, or if your existing cap was removed and never replaced. At Level Two Chimney Evanston, we measure your flue precisely, source caps through our Haven buying network from manufacturers like Chimney Cap & Crown in Wilmette suppliers including Gelco and Olympia Chimney, and secure them with stainless steel fasteners that won’t rust out in Evanston’s humid summers.
Cap Replacement
Cap replacement becomes necessary when the mesh screen rusts through, the lid blows off in a windstorm, or the mounting brackets corrode and loosen. In Evanston, we see this most often on caps installed more than 12 years ago with galvanized steel rather than stainless. We remove the old unit without damaging your flue tile, inspect the flue opening for hidden deterioration, and install a replacement sized to your exact flue dimensions with a lifetime warranty on materials.
Crown Repair
The crown is the concrete slab that tops your masonry chimney, sloped to shed water away from the flue. Cracks, spalling, or washboarding on the crown surface let water penetrate the brick courses below, causing freeze-thaw damage that can cost thousands to reverse. We grind out cracked areas, apply a bonding agent, and pour new high-strength concrete with a proper overhang and drip edge, following the slope and thickness specified in NFPA 211. Every crown repair includes camera documentation of the flue interior before we close it back up.
Crown Coating
Crown coating is a specialized elastomeric application for crowns with minor cracking or surface degradation that hasn’t yet compromised structural integrity. It’s not a substitute for rebuild on a failed crown, but it extends service life 5-10 years when applied correctly. We use HeatShield CrownCoat or equivalent flexible sealants that move with thermal expansion rather than cracking again, and we only recommend coating after confirming the crown’s internal structure is sound through physical sounding and moisture meter readings. You’ll get photos showing before condition, application thickness, and cured finish.
Multi-Flue Cap
A multi-flue cap spans two or more flue openings on a single chimney structure, common in Evanston’s older two-story homes with multiple fireplaces or a fireplace plus furnace vent. These require precise measurement of flue spacing, height differentials, and total chimney top dimensions. We fabricate or source multi-flue caps with adequate clearance above each flue, proper side-screening for draft, and mounting systems that don’t penetrate the crown. Our Haven Standard documentation includes a sketch of your chimney top with measurements, so any future service has a reference.
Custom Cap
Custom caps solve fit problems on non-standard flue shapes, oversized openings, or chimneys where off-the-shelf units can’t achieve proper clearance. We’ve fabricated custom copper and stainless caps for historic Evanston homes where the architectural review commission requires specific profiles, and for modern homes with unusual flue configurations. Every custom cap starts with a template we make on-site, followed by a written quote with dimensional drawing for your approval before fabrication begins. Lead time is typically 10-14 days, with temporary weather protection installed in the interim.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Cap & Crown
We source and service caps and crown materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney through Haven’s buying network, which keeps customer prices honest by eliminating distributor markups. We’ve installed hundreds of Gelco stainless caps on Evanston flues and stock their most common sizes for same-visit replacement when possible. HeatShield’s CrownCoat and resurfacing products are our standard for crown coating and minor rebuilds; we’ve applied their materials since 2012 and train technicians on their specific mixing and curing requirements. Olympia Chimney supplies our multi-flue and custom-fabricated caps with mill-certified stainless steel gauges and welded seams that outlast stamped alternatives.
Whether you have a Gelco, HeatShield, Olympia Chimney, or any other make of cap or crown, we can inspect it, repair it, or replace it with documented condition photos and a written price before any work starts. Our Chimney Cap & Crown in Glenview clients see the same material quality and pricing structure, maintained across our entire service area through centralized procurement under the Haven Standard.
Before
AfterSigns You Need Chimney Cap & Crown Right Now
- Water stains on your ceiling near the chimney breast. This indicates your cap is missing, damaged, or improperly fitted, or your crown has cracked enough to let significant water through. In Evanston’s freeze-thaw climate, each wet-dry cycle enlarges the pathway and compounds interior damage.
- Visible cracks or flaking on the crown surface. Concrete crowns should present a smooth, sloped surface with no exposed aggregate. Spalling, where the surface flakes away to reveal rough stone beneath, means the cement matrix has failed and water is reaching the reinforcing mesh or brick below.
- Rust stains running down your chimney brick. These streaks come from a corroding galvanized cap or deteriorating flue liner, both of which signal that water is getting in and staying in contact with metal components. Stainless steel caps won’t produce this symptom, so if you see rust, the cap is either wrong material or failing.
- Bird or animal sounds from your flue, or nesting debris in your firebox. A properly screened cap prevents entry. Squirrels, raccoons, and chimney swifts are active year-round in Evanston’s tree canopy, and a missing or damaged screen invites infestation that blocks draft and creates fire hazards.
- Your cap is visibly tilted, loose, or missing after high winds. Evanston’s lakefront exposure produces wind gusts that test any mounting system. A cap that moves is a cap that will fail completely, often taking flue tile with it when it departs.
Our Chimney Cap & Crown Process - Step by Step
- 1
Schedule and confirm. Call (708) 234-1174 and speak with a live person, 24 hours a day. We confirm your address in Evanston, note any access constraints like locked gates or steep roofs, and assign a named technician. You receive a text when they’re en route with estimated arrival.
- 2
Camera-scan inspection and documentation. Your technician performs an NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with a chimney camera down the flue, documenting crown condition, cap fit, flue tile integrity, and moisture evidence. This is Clause 4 of the Haven Standard: a photo record on every visit, running continuously since 2009. You see what we see.
- 3
Written price and scope before any work. We deliver a written quote with line-item pricing for cap replacement, crown repair, coating, or custom fabrication as needed. This is Haven Standard Clause 1: have it in writing before anyone starts. No verbal estimates, no price changes after work begins unless you add scope.
- 4
Execution with verified materials. Your technician installs or applies the specified materials, DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, or Olympia Chimney products sourced through our buying network. We photograph completed work from multiple angles, including close-ups of critical details like fastener torque, sealant bead continuity, and crown slope verification.
- 5
Final documentation and warranty. You receive a completed job packet: before-and-after photos, camera footage, written scope, and warranty terms. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies: if it’s not done right, we make it right. Your documented record stays in our archive for future reference or insurance claims.
How Much Does Chimney Cap & Crown Cost in Evanston?
A standard single-flue cap replacement in Evanston runs $280-$450 including removal, disposal, and installation of a stainless steel unit with mesh screening; see our Chimney Cap & Crown cost guide for full pricing details. Crown coating for minor surface cracking typically costs $340-$580 depending on crown diameter and number of coats required. Full crown repair or partial rebuild ranges $520-$890, while custom cap fabrication starts around $680 and scales with metal choice, complexity, and flue count.
Several factors move these ranges. Crown accessibility matters: a chimney on a steep roof above a two-story Evanston home requires more setup time than a single-story ranch. Crown size and condition affect material quantities; a 48-inch square crown with extensive spalling needs more repair material than a 30-inch unit with hairline cracks. Multi-flue caps cost more than single-flue due to larger material spans and more complex mounting. Custom caps in copper or with specific architectural profiles carry premium material and fabrication costs.
To avoid overpaying, get any competitor’s written estimate in hand and bring it to us for a free second opinion. We’ll review their scope against what we found in your flue and tell you where the differences are. Our price includes the camera inspection, photo documentation, and warranty; some competitors quote a cap installation price that doesn’t include removing the old unit or inspecting the flue beneath it. Everything is itemized in writing before work starts, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and why.
Chimney Cap & Crown Near Evanston - Our Service Area
Level Two Chimney Evanston serves homeowners throughout the North Shore and near-west suburbs, including Chimney Cap & Crown in Wilmette, Chimney Cap & Crown in Glenview, Park Ridge, Highland Park, Oak Park, Chicago’s north side, Arlington Heights, Elmhurst, Westchester, and Palatine. Response time to Evanston addresses is typically same-week scheduling, with emergency weather protection available within 24 hours for active leaks. Our technicians live in the area and know the local housing stock, from the 1890s Victorians near the lake to the mid-century ranches west of Ridge Avenue.
Serving Evanston, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Evanston area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, including Glenview Chimney Cap & Crown homes, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Cap & Crown in Evanston
Chimney cap and crown service covers the repair, replacement, or installation of the metal cap that covers your flue opening and the concrete slab that tops your masonry chimney. The cap keeps rain, animals, and debris out of your flue while allowing smoke to vent; the crown sheds water away from the flue and protects the brick structure below. Level Two Chimney Evanston inspects both components with a camera down the flue and provides written pricing before any work begins.
Most cap replacements and crown coatings are completed in 2-4 hours; full crown rebuilds or custom cap installations may require a full day. We schedule with a realistic time window and keep you updated if conditions reveal additional needed work. Call (708) 234-1174 for an exact quote, estimates are free.
Cap replacement runs $280-$450, crown coating $340-$580, crown repair or rebuild $520-$890, and custom caps start around $680. Your exact price depends on crown size, roof accessibility, material choice, and whether multiple flues are involved. We deliver a written, itemized quote after inspection, never before, so the price matches what we actually found. Call (708) 234-1174 for a free estimate.
Yes. We install, repair, and replace Gelco, HeatShield, and Olympia Chimney cap and crown products, and we source through Haven’s buying network to maintain honest pricing. If you have one of these brands or any other make, we can inspect it and recommend repair or replacement based on documented condition, not brand loyalty.
Yes. If you have water actively entering your home through the chimney, we can install temporary weather protection within 24 hours while scheduling permanent repair. Our live phone support runs 24/7, so you never reach voicemail when water is coming through your ceiling. Call (708) 234-1174 and we’ll dispatch a technician with temporary cap and tarping materials.
Every job is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right. Stainless steel caps carry a lifetime material warranty against corrosion and manufacturing defect. Crown repairs and coatings are warranted for 5 years against failure from normal weather exposure, provided the chimney receives recommended annual inspection. Warranty terms are written and included in your job documentation under Haven Standard Clause 1.
Clear a path to your fireplace or appliance so our technician can access the flue opening for camera inspection. If your chimney is on a steep or high roof, ensure gates are unlocked and pets are secured. You don’t need to be home for the entire appointment if you provide access instructions, though we prefer to review findings with you in person when possible. Call (708) 234-1174 to schedule, estimates are free with no obligation.
Schedule Your Chimney Cap & Crown Service in Evanston Today
Call Level Two Chimney Evanston at (708) 234-1174 for a free, no-obligation estimate. You’ll speak with a live person 24 hours a day, get a named technician assigned, and receive a written price before any work starts. Every job includes camera-scan inspection, documented photo record, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise. Corrine Halstead and our independently owned, background-checked team have served Evanston homeowners since 2009, and we’ll show you exactly what we find before asking for your decision.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Evanston, serving Evanston since 2009.