Can I just wait until the stain dries?

A stain that dries out has not been fixed. The next rain or thaw will bring the water back, and the masonry keeps taking damage in the meantime. It is better to have the entry point traced.

Why does the leak seem worse after a thaw in Skokie?

Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds. When snow and ice melt, the water runs into cracks in the crown, joints and flashing that were opened up by the winter cold.

Does an older Skokie brick home make a leak more likely?

Older homes have had more winters of freeze-thaw and road salt on the masonry. Many Skokie homes date from the post-WWII era through the 1960s, so worn mortar, crowns and flashing are worth checking.

Will the repair need a permit?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally. Rebuilding or substantially altering a chimney above the roofline commonly needs one, while routine inspection generally does not. Check with your local building department before work begins.

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service, so we are not the contractor. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, and they inspect, quote and do the work. Illinois does not license chimney repair at the state level, and requirements are set locally, so ask the technician what applies and confirm with your building department.

Water coming in in Skokie, IL

Much of Skokie's housing is post-WWII brick and brick-and-frame bungalows, Cape Cods and ranches, and aging chimneys are one of the common maintenance issues on homes like these. A damp patch on the ceiling next to the chimney almost certainly means water is getting in at the chimney itself. The usual entry points are the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, the crown at the top, a missing or failed cap, or worn mortar joints and brick.

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Skokie has cold, snowy winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and heavy road-salt use is hard on chimney masonry. Water gets into a small crack, freezes, and widens it. Illinois also gets wind-driven rain and snow, which get in at the crown, flashing and cap where ordinary rain would run past. The stain on your ceiling is often the last sign of damage that started above the roofline some time ago.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace. A wet, damaged chimney should be looked at before you light another fire in it.
Keep clear of the base of the chimney. A chimney that has been wet for a long time can become structurally unsound, and falling brick is a hazard at the base.
Do not seal over the stain or smear sealant on the outside. Covering the damage hides the problem while the water keeps coming in, so the entry point needs to be traced first.
Get outside and call 911 if anyone feels unwell. Headache, dizziness or nausea while a fireplace, furnace or water heater is running can mean carbon monoxide, and that is not a wait-and-see situation.

What the technician does

The technician inspects firstAn independent sweep or mason looks at the chimney and traces where the water is actually getting in. The leak is found, not painted over.
You get the price before work startsThe estimate is free. The technician gives you the price after the inspection, and nothing begins until you approve it.
Flashing is replacedFailed flashing is replaced and counter-flashed into the mortar joint, so water cannot run behind it.
Crown and cap are dealt withA cracked crown is repaired or recast, and a cap is fitted to keep rain and snow out of the flue.
Masonry is repairedWorn joints are repointed and spalled brick is replaced. Where it suits the chimney, a breathable water repellent can be applied.

Why this happens in in Skokie, IL

Skokie is an inner-ring Chicago suburb with mature, older housing, so original chimneys that have been through many winters are common. Freeze-thaw and road salt work on brick and mortar every cold season. Heavy rain events across Cook County add to the load. If your home is one of the older masonry ones, the crown, flashing and joints are the first places to check.

Demand for chimney and masonry repair in Skokie typically picks up in spring after the thaw and storm season, when damage from winter shows. Severe summer thunderstorms bring wind and hail, and that can take a toll on caps and flashing. Illinois masonry rebuilding and crown repair are mostly done in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Ask the technician what can be done now and what is better scheduled for warmer weather.

Questions people ask

Can I just wait until the stain dries?: A stain that dries out has not been fixed. The next rain or thaw will bring the water back, and the masonry keeps taking damage in the meantime. It is better to have the entry point traced.
Why does the leak seem worse after a thaw in Skokie?: Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds. When snow and ice melt, the water runs into cracks in the crown, joints and flashing that were opened up by the winter cold.
Does an older Skokie brick home make a leak more likely?: Older homes have had more winters of freeze-thaw and road salt on the masonry. Many Skokie homes date from the post-WWII era through the 1960s, so worn mortar, crowns and flashing are worth checking.
Will the repair need a permit?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally. Rebuilding or substantially altering a chimney above the roofline commonly needs one, while routine inspection generally does not. Check with your local building department before work begins.
Who does the work?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service, so we are not the contractor. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, and they inspect, quote and do the work. Illinois does not license chimney repair at the state level, and requirements are set locally, so ask the technician what applies and confirm with your building department.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange a local technician for your leak. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.