Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterFamco Crown Repair: The Orland Park Owner’s Guide
Famco chimney crown repair in Orland Park typically runs $340-$780 installed, depending on crown size and whether the flue needs reframing underneath. We stock Famco-compatible crown repair kits on our trucks and can usually complete the job in a single visit once we’ve camera-scanned the flue and confirmed the damage pattern. Most Orland Park homeowners discover the problem during their first fire of the season, when water that seeped through a cracked crown all summer finally reaches the firebox and shows up as steam, staining, or a musty smell they can’t trace.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco crowns are cast-concrete or fabricated metal caps that seal the top of the chimney where the flue tile exits. The most common units we see in Orland Park are the Famco CC-series concrete crowns (CC-8 through CC-16, indicating the flue opening diameter in inches) and the older Famco MC metal crowns used on pre-fab chimney systems from the 1990s and early 2000s. The CC-series has a distinct raised lip around the flue opening; the MC-series sits flat with a welded collar.
To identify yours, check the crown underside for a stamped model number, or measure the flue opening width and the overall crown dimensions. A critical compatibility gotcha: Famco CC-12 crowns were produced in two flange depths between 2008 and 2014, a 2-inch and a 2.75-inch overhang. The wrong one leaves a gap at the chimney shoulder that funnels water straight in. We carry both specs in Orland Park and match on-site before cutting anything.
We source Famco-compatible crowns through our Haven buying network, along with OEM-grade equivalents from Olympia Chimney and Gelco when the original spec is discontinued. Emberly Chimney Cleaners Orland Park is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Famco.
Signs Your Famco Crown Repair Is Failing
- Hairline cracks radiating from the flue opening. These start as thermal stress fractures from daily heating and cooling cycles, then widen each freeze-thaw season. In Orland Park, we see them accelerate after winters with heavy temperature swings like 2022 and 2024.
- Spalling or flaking on the crown surface. The concrete matrix breaks down when water penetrates and expands. Once the surface starts shedding, the internal rebar or wire mesh is exposed to rust, which widens cracks from the inside out.
- Water staining on the ceiling near the chimney breast. This means water has already gotten past the crown, through the chimney structure, and into the framing. The crown is no longer the primary leak path; it’s a failed leak path.
- Deteriorated mortar joints between the crown and the top course of brick. The crown should overhang the chimney shoulder by at least 2 inches with a drip edge below. When that joint opens, water runs behind the crown and saturates the brick.
- Missing or rusted metal flue collar on MC-series crowns. The collar is the only seal between the crown and the flue tile. Once it separates, every rain event dumps water directly into the flue.
BeforeAfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Scope | Price Range (Orland Park) |
|---|---|
| Famco CC-series crown replacement, standard size (8-12″ flue) | $340-$520 |
| Famco CC-series crown replacement, large size (14-16″ flue or multi-flue) | $480-$680 |
| MC-series metal crown replacement with collar | $380-$580 |
| Flue tile reframing or shoulder rebuild (added when needed) | $180-$320 |
| NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection and photo documentation | Included |
What drives the range: crown size, whether the shoulder brick needs repointing, and whether we find hidden flue damage once the old crown is off. We quote the full scope in writing before starting, including materials sourced through our Haven buying network from Famco, Olympia Chimney, or Gelco. Every Famco crown repair carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise and a written warranty under Haven Standard Clause 1.
DIY or Call Us?
Here’s what you can safely check yourself: from the ground with binoculars, look for visible cracks, missing chunks, or a crown that no longer overhangs the brick. If you have safe roof access and a stable ladder, you can measure the flue opening and crown dimensions for us over the phone.
Here’s where DIY goes wrong: removing a cast-concrete Famco crown requires breaking it free without damaging the flue tile or the top course of brick beneath it. One mis-struck blow and you’re looking at a flue replacement. The new crown must be formed, poured, or fitted level with proper slope for drainage, and the flue collar sealed with high-temp refractory caulk rated to 2000°F. Get the seal wrong and you’ve built a water trap. We don’t recommend owner installation.
Call (708) 294-2571 and we’ll camera-scan first, quote in writing, and handle the roof work with background-checked, uniformed technicians. License info is on every page we publish.
FAQs
A properly installed Famco concrete crown typically lasts 15-25 years in the Chicago climate, though we’ve seen premature failure at 8-10 years when the original pour had too much water in the mix or no drip edge. Orland Park’s freeze-thaw cycles, especially the rapid swings of late winter, are the main accelerator. Call (708) 294-2571 for an exact condition assessment - estimates are free.
Hairline cracks under 1/16 inch can sometimes be sealed with a breathable crown coating if the underlying concrete is sound and the steel reinforcement isn’t exposed. Once cracking is widespread, the crown is spalling, or water has reached the flue, coating is a temporary patch that hides accelerating damage. We show you the camera footage and quote both options when repair is genuinely viable.
Most Famco crown replacements are completed in 3-5 hours of on-site work, not counting the initial camera inspection. Concrete crowns need 24-48 hours to cure before the fireplace can be used; metal MC-series replacements are ready same day. We schedule so you’re not without heat overnight.
We stock the common CC-8 through CC-14 sizes and both flange depths, plus MC-series collars and full crowns. Unusual sizes or discontinued models we source next-day through our Haven buying network. If we don’t have it, we don’t charge a return trip - one visit, one written price, done under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Orland Park at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Orland Park, serving Orland Park and nearby areas.