Chimney and fireplace service in Winnetka
About half of Winnetka's homes were built before 1940, many by noted architects. We inspect each chimney for free and price any work in writing first.
Winnetka's first houses went up in 1836, the village was incorporated in 1869 with 450 residents, and the building that followed left an old, almost entirely single-family housing stock. The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey counts 48.8 percent of Winnetka's 4,539 homes as built before 1940 and puts the median year built at 1942. Detached single-family houses make up 88.5 percent of the village's housing.
Utility gas heats 87.4 percent of homes, higher than Evanston's 75.3 percent. Many large Winnetka houses have several fireplaces plus a boiler and water heater, so a single chimney can hold three or four flues. At the free inspection we check each one from the roof and the firebox and write down a price before any work.
Architect-designed houses
Winnetka's neighborhoods include homes by George Washington Maher, Walter Burley Griffin, John S. Van Bergen, Howard Van Doren Shaw and David Adler, among others. Houses like these often have tall chimneys with corbelled tops, stone caps or decorative brick, and the goal of any repair is that nobody can tell where the old work ends.
We match brick and keep the mortar softer than the brick, as the National Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 recommends, because a hard modern mix forces the stress into old brick and spalls it. A custom cap or chase cover typically runs $425 to $850, and rebuilding the chimney from the roofline up $1,000 to $3,500.
Fireplaces that get used
If your fireplace still sees wood fires on winter weekends, it needs more attention than a decorative one. NFPA 211 calls for a yearly inspection, and the right moment to sweep depends on how much creosote has built up, which we measure at the free inspection.
Firebox repair typically runs $150 to $1,000, smoke chamber parging $800 to $2,000 or more, and a cap with a top-sealing damper $140 to $420. Freeze-thaw keeps the crowns busy too: O'Hare crosses the freezing line on about 78 days a year, derived from NOAA's 1991–2020 normals.
A border that runs through houses
Winnetka's northern border with Glencoe cuts through 58 homes, and owners there have long dealt with two villages. If your house is one of them, we check which village's rules apply before work starts.
Where we work in Winnetka
Hubbard Woods · Indian Hill · East Winnetka · Village Green · Crow Island · Elm Street · Sheridan Road · Tower Road
FAQ
Winnetka chimney questions
Can you repair a chimney on an architect-designed Winnetka house without changing its look?
That is the aim on any older house. We match brick color and size, match the mortar color and joint, and keep the mortar softer than the brick so the repair doesn't damage the original masonry. Photos and a written scope come with the free inspection.
How often should a Winnetka fireplace be swept?
NFPA 211 calls for an inspection every year, with cleaning when the buildup calls for it. A fireplace used most winter weekends usually needs a sweep each year. We price the cleaning at the free inspection, before any work.
Which carbon monoxide alarms does a Winnetka house need?
Illinois law requires a working CO alarm within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping in a home with a fireplace, fuel-burning heater or attached garage. The owner installs them. A house with several bedroom wings may need several alarms.
When can you come?
Sunday to Friday, in 3-hour windows of 8–11, 11–2 or 2–5. We call to confirm before the visit.
Book online
Book in Winnetka. 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.