Chimney Masonry Repair for Skokie Homes

What chimney masonry repair covers

Masonry repair deals with the brick, mortar and crown of the chimney stack. Typical work includes repointing worn or missing mortar joints (tuckpointing) and replacing cracked or spalling bricks. It also includes repairing a cracked or damaged chimney crown so water stops soaking into the masonry below it. When the damage is too deep for spot repairs, the next step is rebuilding part of the stack. Our chimney masonry repair service page explains the full process and what each repair involves.

What Skokie's housing records mean for your chimney

Most homes are decades old

The CMAP Community Data Snapshot (American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimates) puts the median year built for Skokie housing at 1959. It also reports that 6.3% of units were built before 1940 and 64.7% were built between 1940 and 1969. The Village of Skokie's draft 2024 CDBG performance report (CAPER) estimates that 86% of Skokie's housing stock was built before 1978, and that figure covers both rental and owner-occupied homes.

Put simply, half of the homes were built in 1959 or earlier. Mortar joints and crowns are usually the first parts of a masonry chimney to wear. If an older stack hasn't had masonry work in a long time, have it looked at closely before small cracks turn into a leak or loose brick.

Brick is the norm, so the repair has to match

The Village of Skokie's Appearance Review Plan describes masonry as the predominant residential building material in the Village. It also requires new residential construction to have elevations of at least 51% masonry. On a brick house, a patch that doesn't match stands out. That makes brick size, brick color and mortar color part of the repair from the start.

Permits for masonry work in Skokie

The Village of Skokie's Building & Renovation Permits page lists tuckpointing and roof replacement under projects that do not need a permit. If your project goes beyond repointing, such as rebuilding part of the stack, check with the Village before work starts to find out whether a permit applies.

Selling a rental property: the chimney is on the Village checklist

The Village of Skokie's Rental Unit Pre-Sale Inspection checklist includes an exterior item for walls and chimney in good repair. This item is checked before a rental property sale. The Village inspects all rental property under the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code as amended in Village Code Section 22-181. Those inspections cover exterior walls and roofs plus mechanical systems (source: Village of Skokie, Property Maintenance Inspection Process and Code Information).

We take on commercial and property-manager work, so owners with more than one rental can schedule chimney repairs across their buildings.

When masonry repair is the right job, and when it isn't

• A cracked or crumbling crown, gaps in the mortar joints, or bricks that are flaking, spalling or loose: these are masonry repairs.
• A damaged chimney cap, or a metal cover on a framed chase rather than a brick stack: our guide to chimney cap vs chase cover explains the difference, and we replace and install both.
• Water stains inside with no visible masonry damage: the cause is often flashing or another component. Our page on chimney repair for homes in Skokie covers leaks, dampers, liners and flashing.
• A stack that leans or has widespread loose brick: spot repairs may not hold, and a partial or full rebuild may be the better fix.
• Not sure what you're looking at: an inspection shows what needs repair before any work is quoted.

Booking chimney masonry repair in Skokie

Before you book, you can read how chimney masonry repair works, from inspection to finished joints. You can also browse all our chimney and fireplace services in Skokie, from sweeping to dryer vents. When you're ready, call or request an estimate.