Elmhurst has one of the largest historic housing inventories in DuPage County. 19th-century origins through extensive postwar growth.
Elmhurst was incorporated in 1882 and houses approximately 46,000 residents in DuPage County. The city has 19th-century origins as a railroad suburb and contains substantial pre-WWII housing alongside extensive postwar construction.
Housing spans 1880s through 1930s Victorian, Foursquare, and bungalow stock; postwar 1940s through 1970s ranches and Cape Cods; and 1990s through 2010s tear-down rebuilds.
Each architectural period in Elmhurst has predictable chimney failure modes after enough decades of weather. Here is what to look for.
Original lime-rich mortar joints in Elmhurst's oldest chimneys have lost binder over more than a century of weather. Tuckpointing requires Type N (ASTM C270) lime-rich mortar to match. High-Portland-cement mortar will spall the historic brick within five to ten years.
Elmhurst's pre-WWII brick chimneys have century-old lime-rich mortar. Type N (ASTM C270) is the correct repointing match for historic Common Brick.
Center-of-roof chimneys with heavy postwar use show creosote-glazed flue tile and crown cracks. Annual NFPA 211 Level 1 inspection plus crown sealing is the right cadence for this stock in Elmhurst.
Side-of-house exterior chimneys take maximum freeze-thaw exposure. In Elmhurst mortar joints and flashing fail before the brick itself. Repointing on a 30 to 40 year cadence is normal for this stock.
Most Elmhurst chimneys can be repaired rather than replaced. The decision usually comes down to four structural questions answered on site.
The full residential service catalog, dispatched from our Park Ridge office to Elmhurst addresses.
USDA Zone 6a; inland DuPage County climate with 30 to 40 freeze-thaw cycles per winter.
Our crews dispatch the same way to these neighbors.
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