Chimney and fireplace service in Barrington
Barrington spans Cook and Lake counties, with a historic core and plenty of 1960s and 1970s homes. We inspect the chimney for free and price work in writing.
Barrington grew around a railroad station the Chicago and North Western built in 1854 and was chartered by the Illinois legislature on February 16, 1865. It sits in both Cook and Lake counties. The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey counts 4,424 homes in the village: 13.0 percent built before 1940, 24.2 percent in the 1960s and 20.0 percent in the 1970s, for a median year built of 1971.
Gas heats 85.3 percent of homes, and 68.0 percent of the housing is detached single-family. The older houses near the center have masonry chimneys with clay flues; later houses often have factory-built or gas fireplaces. At the free inspection we check whichever you have and write down a price before any work.
The historic village core
The Village of Barrington Historic District was set up in 2001 to protect and preserve the village's historic areas. Many houses there predate 1940 and have brick chimneys with old lime mortar and clay tile flues that now vent a modern furnace and water heater.
On those chimneys we repoint with mortar softer than the brick, as the National Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 recommends, and replace damaged brick with a matching one. Tuckpointing typically runs $500 to $2,500 and a stainless liner $900 to $3,800. If your house is in the historic district, we check what the village requires before work starts.
Trees, caps and animals
The Arbor Day Foundation has named Barrington a Tree City USA every year since 1986, and the canopy that comes with that drops leaves, twigs and seed pods into uncapped flues, and gives squirrels and raccoons an easy way onto the roof.
A cap keeps them out. A prefab metal cap typically runs $200 to $650, a custom cap $425 to $850, and removing an animal from a chimney $600 to $1,500. We look for nests and debris in every flue at the free inspection.
Where we work in Barrington
Historic village core · Downtown Barrington · Barrington Highlands · Hough Street · Lake Zurich Road area · Northwest Highway · Cook County side · Lake County side
FAQ
Barrington chimney questions
Is my chimney in the Barrington historic district treated differently?
It can be. The village set up its historic district in 2001, and work on houses there may need extra review. We check what the village requires for your address before any work and help with photos and a scope if needed.
We hear animals in the chimney. What should we do?
Don't light a fire. Animal removal typically runs $600 to $1,500, and afterward a cap keeps them from coming back. We check for nests at the free inspection.
How much does a chimney cleaning cost in Barrington?
We price it at the free inspection, once we've seen the flue, and you have the price in writing before any work. Booking is Sunday to Friday in 3-hour windows, and we call to confirm.
Who do I call if I smell gas?
Leave the house first, then call Nicor Gas at 888-642-6748 and 911 from outside.
Book online
Book in Barrington. The inspection is free.
Free inspection in a 3-hour window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5. We call to confirm before we arrive.