Lombard has 19th-century origins and extensive postwar growth. Chimneys span 150 years of housing development.
Lombard was incorporated in 1869 and houses approximately 44,000 residents in DuPage County. The village has 19th-century origins as a railroad suburb plus extensive postwar and recent construction.
Housing spans 1880s through 1940s prewar village-core stock, postwar 1940s through 1970s ranches, and continuing custom infill.
Each architectural period in Lombard has predictable chimney failure modes after enough decades of weather. Here is what to look for.
Original lime-rich mortar joints in Lombard'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.
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 Lombard.
Side-of-house exterior chimneys take maximum freeze-thaw exposure. In Lombard mortar joints and flashing fail before the brick itself. Repointing on a 30 to 40 year cadence is normal for this stock.
Multi-elevation roofs in Lombard's mid-century stock create complex flashing geometry around chimney penetrations. Flashing failures are the most common source of interior water damage that homeowners trace to the chimney.
Most Lombard 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 Lombard addresses.
USDA Zone 6a; inland DuPage County climate with 30 to 40 freeze-thaw cycles per winter.
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