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
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Before
AfterDuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown in Joliet: What to Know First
We provide independent DuraFlex chimney cap and crown service in Joliet, typically scheduling within three to five business days and completing most jobs in a single visit. Every repair starts with a camera-scan inspection and a written price before any work begins - no exceptions, no surprises. If you own a DuraFlex chimney system and you’re seeing rust streaks, water stains on the firebox ceiling, or a crown that’s crumbling like old sidewalk, this page is for you. We service DuraFlex liners and components across Joliet, from the historic two-flats near the Iron Works to newer builds in Shorewood and Plainfield. Call (815) 620-5234 when you’re ready to see what the camera finds.
How DuraFlex Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- DuraFlex SW (stainless wrap) liner collars corrode at the cap interface. The SW series uses a lighter-gauge termination collar where it meets a standard cap. In Joliet, the freeze-thaw cycle between late November and March accelerates galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals contact. We see this most often on homes built between 2010 and 2018. Our fix: we cut back the damaged collar, fit a DuraFlex-compatible 304 stainless adapter, and seal with a high-temp silicone rated to 600°F - not the generic stuff that hardens and cracks in two seasons.
- DuraFlex Pro liner caps lose tension in their mesh spark arrestors. The Pro series uses a snap-ring mesh that fatigues after roughly six to eight years of thermal cycling. When the mesh sags, embers can escape and squirrels find their way in. We’ve pulled nests out of Pro caps in Joliet’s Cathedral Area and near Pilcher Park. We replace with an OEM-spec or Gelco equivalent that uses a welded mesh frame - no snap ring to fail.
- DuraFlex AL (aluminum) crowns spall where the wash meets the brick. The AL series was marketed for gas-only applications, but some Joliet homeowners had it installed for oil conversions. The aluminum crown wash doesn’t bond to clay flue tile the way a concrete crown does; it separates and lets water run behind it. We remove the aluminum wash, assess the flue tile, and pour a new concrete crown with a proper drip edge and overhang - the fix DuraFlex should have specified from the start.
- DuraFlex telescoping caps seize in the extended position. The telescoping feature on some DuraFlex multi-flue caps is handy for installation, but the inner sleeve traps condensation. In Joliet’s humid summers, that water sits and the sleeve welds itself solid. We’ve had to cut these free with a reciprocating saw. Our replacement uses a fixed-height Gelco or Famco cap with a properly sized flue stretcher - no moving parts to seize.
- DuraFlex factory chase covers rust through at the corners. The stamped steel chase covers shipped with DuraFlex factory-built chimneys have welded corners that pool water. After seven to ten Joliet winters, they pinhole and leak onto the firestop. We fabricate a replacement from a single sheet of 24-gauge galvanized steel or copper if the homeowner wants it, with cross-breaks to shed water and a proper storm collar - no welded corners, no pools.
Our DuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, checks availability in Joliet or nearby, and books a two-hour window. You get a text when your tech is en route.
- 2
Camera-scan inspection. We run a chimney camera from the firebox to the cap, per NFPA 211 Level 2. You see the footage on a tablet as we find it. The photo doesn’t argue. It just shows you what’s there.
- 3
Written scope and price. Before any tool comes out, you get a single-page document: what we found, what we’ll do, what parts we’ll use (OEM DuraFlex or quality aftermarket from our Haven buying network), and the exact price. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard - have it in writing.
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The repair. We match the cap or crown to your DuraFlex liner series and fuel type. Gas, oil, and wood each need different clearances and mesh specs. We don’t guess.
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Post-repair camera verification. We run the camera again to confirm the cap seats properly, the crown sheds water, and nothing obstructs the flue. Photos and footage go into your documented record - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, practiced since 2009.
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Cleanup and warranty. We haul away debris, leave the work area cleaner than we found it, and hand you a written warranty backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Before
AfterWhat DuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Joliet
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| DuraFlex cap replacement (single flue, standard size) | $340 - $580 | Height of chimney, condition of existing flue tile, stainless vs. galvanized |
| DuraFlex multi-flue cap (custom fit) | $620 - $1,100 | Flue count, mesh gauge, wind resistance rating for open Joliet lots |
| Crown repair (crack sealing + coating) | $480 - $780 | Crack depth, whether water has reached the rebar |
| Crown rebuild (full pour, DuraFlex AL or failed concrete) | $1,400 - $2,400 | Chimney width, scaffolding needs, decorative wash finish |
| Chase cover replacement (factory DuraFlex to custom) | $890 - $1,600 | Material (galvanized, stainless, copper), access complexity |
These are real 2024-2025 price ranges for the Joliet market, based on our Haven Standard pricing and material costs through DuraFlex, Gelco, and Famco suppliers. Every estimate is free, and we honor our Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote. Call (815) 620-5234 for your exact number - no obligation, no pressure.
Why Joliet Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Joliet for DuraFlex Work
We’ve inspected over 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a growing share of them run DuraFlex liners installed during the 2010s gas-conversion boom in Joliet and Will County. Corrine Halstead and our crew know the difference between a DuraFlex SW and a Pro termination, and we stock the adapters and caps that keep us from ordering wrong and billing you twice. If your DuraFlex part is backordered, we pivot to HeatShield or Gelco equivalents that meet or exceed OEM spec - no waiting six weeks for a factory box. Every tech is background-checked, uniformed, and carries a license number you can verify. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every cap and crown we touch: if it’s not right, we make it right, period.
FAQs
No - DuraFlex warranties the liner itself, not the cap, and using an independent service provider for cap or crown work does not affect liner coverage. We document every repair with photos and part numbers, so if a warranty question ever arises, you have a clear record of what was done when.
We source both. For caps and crowns, we often prefer Gelco or Famco equivalents with better corrosion resistance in Joliet’s climate, and we note the substitution on your written scope before work starts. If you specifically want OEM DuraFlex, we’ll order it and schedule accordingly.
Hairline surface cracks that haven’t reached the rebar can be sealed and coated. If the camera shows rust staining on the liner below, or if pieces of the crown are spalling off, the rebar is compromised and a full rebuild is the only sound fix. We show you the camera evidence and explain which category you’re in before quoting either option.
Most Joliet appointments are available within three to five business days, sooner if water is actively entering the firebox. We don’t play urgency games - we tell you honestly whether your situation can wait or should be addressed before the next hard rain.
A written invoice with scope and price, before-and-after photos, camera footage of the flue interior, and a written warranty under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this documented record on every job - it’s not an upsell, it’s standard.
Ready to see what your DuraFlex chimney cap and crown actually look like from the inside? Call (815) 620-5234 for a free estimate. We’ll run the camera, name the price in writing, and let you decide without pressure.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Joliet at Level Two Chimney Joliet, serving Joliet and nearby areas.