Fast, Reliable Chimney Repair Across Highland
Chimney repair in Highland, IL typically costs between $350 for minor mortar repointing and $4,500 for full chimney rebuilding, with most homeowners in ZIP 46322 spending $1,200-$2,800 for common repairs. We complete most Highland jobs in a single visit, and a live person answers our phones at (888) 289-6055 every hour of every day.
We’ve been driving to Highland for over 42 years. We know the mid-century ranches along Ridge Road, the brick cape cods tucked behind Main Square Park, and the two-story colonials near Highland High School. These homes were built fast during the 1950s-1970s boom, and their chimneys are now hitting a critical age. The original clay flue tiles, mortar crowns, and brick faces are failing in patterns we’ve documented again and again. When a Highland homeowner calls, we’re usually there the same day or next. That’s not a promise we make to every market. Highland’s density and our long history in Lake County make it possible.
Why Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Chicago Is Highland’s Preferred Chimney Repair Company
Highland homeowners don’t want a sales pitch. They want someone who shows up on time, explains what’s actually wrong, and fixes it without coming back. We’ve earned that reputation across Lake County by doing exactly that.
Our Chimney Repair team has completed thousands of jobs in communities like Highland, and our reviews from local customers consistently mention the same things: the technician arrived in a clean uniform, took photos we could see, and spoke in plain English. No jargon, no scare tactics.
Response time to Highland averages same-day or next-day because we’re already working in Hammond, Griffith, and Munster weekly. We don’t charge extra for the trip. Our no-hassle upfront pricing means the number on your estimate is the number on your invoice. And every repair is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing. If it’s not right, we come back. That’s been our standard since 2014.
Our Chimney Repair Services in Highland
Mortar Repointing
In Highland’s 1950s-1970s brick homes, mortar joints are often the first thing to go. Lake County’s freeze-thaw cycles, driven by Lake Michigan moisture, push water deep into the mortar. When temperatures drop, that water expands and cracks the joints from within. We’ve repointed chimneys on Highland colonials where the original lime mortar had turned to powder behind the brick face. Our technicians grind out the failed mortar to proper depth and repoint with color-matched professional-grade mortar formulated for our climate. Most repointing jobs in Highland run $350-$950 and finish in one day.
Spalling Brick Repair
Spalling - when brick faces flake and crumble - is epidemic on north- and west-facing chimneys in Highland. These walls never fully dry between Lake Michigan’s moist air and our hard winters. We see it constantly on the older ranches near Hohman Avenue and the cape cods off Indianapolis Boulevard. Spalling isn’t cosmetic. Once the brick face is compromised, freeze-thaw damage accelerates into the wall structure. We remove damaged brick, match replacement units to the original texture and color, and address the moisture source with proper waterproofing. Typical spalling repair in Highland ranges from $800-$2,200 depending on wall area and access.
Chimney Waterproofing
Highland’s lake-effect moisture is relentless. A chimney without proper waterproofing absorbs water like a sponge, and our freeze-thaw cycles do the rest. We apply professional-grade breathable sealers that block liquid water while letting vapor escape - critical for masonry that was saturated during decades of unprotected exposure. For Highland homes with significant absorption issues, we often combine waterproofing with crown rebuilding and flashing repair to create a complete water management system. Waterproofing alone typically runs $400-$750 for an average Highland chimney.
Flashing Repair
The metal where your chimney meets the roof is a common failure point in Highland’s older homes. Original flashing was often tarred or caulked as a shortcut, and those seals degrade after 20-30 years of thermal cycling. We remove failed flashing, inspect the underlying deck for rot (common in Highland’s mature shade-tree neighborhoods where leaves hold moisture), and install new step and counter flashing with proper integration into the roofing system. Flashing repair in Highland generally costs $450-$1,100.
Chimney Rebuilding
When deterioration exceeds what spot repair can address, we rebuild. In Highland, this most often means the upper courses above the roofline, where exposure is worst. We dismantle damaged sections course by course, salvage what we can, and rebuild with matching brick and proper structural ties. A partial rebuild on a typical Highland colonial runs $2,800-$4,500. Full rebuilds are rare but necessary when the foundation has shifted or multiple walls have failed. We document everything with photos and a plain-English verdict before we lift a trowel.
Tuckpointing
For Highland homeowners who want to preserve the original character of their 1950s-1970s brickwork, tuckpointing offers a precise solution. We cut narrow grooves into weathered mortar joints and fill them with fine lime putty in a contrasting color, recreating the crisp “ribbon” look common in period construction. It’s labor-intensive craftsmanship, and we price it accordingly - typically $1,200-$2,500 for a full chimney in Highland.
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.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Highland
We don’t use builder-grade substitutes. For Highland chimneys, we stock and install professional-grade materials from brands that have proven themselves in Lake County’s demanding climate: DuraFlex stainless steel liners for relining oversized clay flues, HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing systems for restoring damaged flue surfaces, and Gelco chimney caps and accessories built to shed our heavy snow and ice loads. We keep common sizes and fittings on our trucks, which means most Highland repairs don’t wait for parts. When we recommend a product, it’s because we’ve watched it perform through fifteen or twenty of our winters.
Common Chimney Repair Problems We See in Highland Homes
- Cracked clay flue tiles from freeze-thaw cycling. Lake County’s moist lake-effect winters drive repeated freeze-thaw stress through chimney structures. In Highland, we find cracked flue tiles in roughly 60% of unlined chimneys over 40 years old. The damage starts invisible and progresses until pieces obstruct the flue or fall into the firebox.
- Spalling brick on north- and west-facing exteriors. These walls catch the prevailing winds off Lake Michigan and never fully dry. We’ve replaced entire faces on chimneys in Highland’s older neighborhoods where the brick had degraded to a depth of two inches or more.
- Chronic creosote buildup in oversized flues. Highland’s mid-century homes often have flues designed for coal or fuel-oil appliances, now serving low-BTU gas systems. The oversized diameter produces sluggish draft and incomplete combustion, allowing creosote and condensation to accumulate on flue walls.
- Failed mortar crowns with improper slope or no overhang. Original crowns on Highland’s 1950s-1970s chimneys were often poured flat or with inadequate drip edges, directing water straight into the wall structure. We rebuild with proper pitch and overhang, using professional-grade crown mix formulated for our freeze-thaw exposure.
Pricing for Chimney Repair in Highland, IL
Here’s what chimney repair costs in Highland’s market, based on jobs we’ve completed across ZIP 46322:
| Service | Typical Range in Highland |
|---|---|
| Mortar repointing (spot) | $350 - $950 |
| Spalling brick repair | $800 - $2,200 |
| Chimney waterproofing | $400 - $750 |
| Flashing repair | $450 - $1,100 |
| Stainless steel liner installation (DuraFlex) | $2,200 - $3,800 |
| Partial chimney rebuild | $2,800 - $4,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $5,500 - $9,000 |
| Level-2 camera inspection with report | $250 - $350 |
Several factors push Highland jobs toward the higher or lower end. Access difficulty matters - steep roofs, tight setbacks between homes, or chimneys behind mature trees add labor. The extent of hidden damage we find after opening the wall is the biggest variable. That’s why we perform a Level-2 camera inspection before quoting any major repair. You’ll see the photos, hear the plain-English verdict, and get a fixed price. No surprises on the bill.
We also honor our standing offers: $50 off any repair over $250, a free second opinion on any written estimate, our $89 seasonal tune-up, and a permanent 5% senior and veteran discount. Call (888) 289-6055 for your free estimate.
We Also Serve Cities Near Highland
Our Chimney Repair in Highland service extends throughout Lake County and into neighboring communities. We regularly complete jobs in Hammond, Griffith, Lynwood, and Munster with the same response times and the same 90-Day Done Right Promise. If you’re unsure whether your address falls in our service area, call us. A live person will answer and tell you straight.
Serving Highland, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Highland area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Chimney Repair in Highland
The original clay-tile flues in Highland’s 1950s-1970s homes were sized for coal or fuel-oil appliances with high exhaust temperatures. When homeowners converted to natural gas in the 1970s-1980s, the lower-BTU gas appliances produced cooler, wetter exhaust that the oversized flues could not properly vent. Condensation collects on the flue walls, combines with sulfur traces to form dilute sulfuric acid, and slowly dissolves the clay from the inside. The exterior can look fine while the liner collapses without warning. We catch this with our Level-2 camera inspection. Call (888) 289-6055 to schedule - estimates are free.
Lake County’s proximity to Lake Michigan produces more freeze-thaw cycles than drier inland markets, which accelerates mortar and brick deterioration and often means more extensive repair is needed by the time homeowners notice a problem. A chimney that might need simple repointing in a drier climate often requires brick replacement and waterproofing in Highland. This typically adds 15-25% to comparable repair costs in less demanding environments. We account for this in our upfront pricing and specify materials rated for our exposure. Call (888) 289-6055 for an exact quote on your chimney.
Retrofit a stainless steel liner when your clay liner is cracked, flaking, or oversized for your current appliance - which describes most original flues in Highland homes built before 1975. Repair with HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing is only viable for liners with minor surface degradation and proper diameter for the appliance. We make this determination with a camera inspection that you watch with us. A DuraFlex stainless liner installed in a typical Highland chimney runs $2,200-$3,800 and solves both the deterioration and the sizing problem permanently. Call (888) 289-6055 to discuss which path fits your chimney.
Yes. We carry a range of lime-based mortar pigments and perform test patches before committing to the full job. Highland’s mid-century brick was laid with mortars that vary from warm buff to gray depending on the builder and sand source. We’ve matched original mortar on colonials near Main Square Park and ranches along Kennedy Avenue. The match won’t be perfect on weathered brick, but it’s close enough that the repair disappears into the wall. We’ll show you the test patch before we proceed. Call (888) 289-6055 to arrange a color match consultation.
Crown failure and upper-course mortar deterioration. Split-levels in Highland often have chimneys with minimal roof overhang protection, exposing the crown and top brick courses to direct weather. The original crowns were frequently poured without proper slope or reinforcing, and fifty years of Lake County freeze-thaw cycling has cracked them through. Water enters the crack, saturates the top courses, and destroys mortar joints from above. We see this pattern constantly in Highland’s split-level neighborhoods. Repair typically involves crown rebuilding, upper-course repointing, and waterproofing - usually $1,500-$2,800. Call (888) 289-6055 for a free inspection.
Highland’s chimneys are aging together. The 1950s-1970s housing stock that makes this community distinctive also creates a concentrated wave of maintenance needs that generic contractors don’t understand. We’ve spent over 42 years learning how these specific chimneys fail, what materials survive our climate, and how to explain the repair so homeowners can make a sound decision. That’s the craftsman’s approach. No flash, no shortcuts, just the thing done correctly.
We tackled a 1963 ranch on Hohman Avenue where the original oversized flue had been silently eaten from within by condensation-driven acid attack. After a camera inspection revealed advanced liner degradation, we installed a custom 6-inch DuraFlex stainless steel liner and rebuilt the crown, restoring draft and safety. The homeowner had no idea the flue was failing until our inspection - the exterior looked ordinary. This is why we document everything with photos and a plain-English verdict.
Ready to know what’s actually going on with your chimney? Call (888) 289-6055. A live person will answer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll schedule your free estimate at a time that works, show up when we say, and give you the straight story. Done right - and we stand behind it.
Written by the team at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Highland and Lake County since 2014.