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
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Baltimore, MD
We’ve cleaned chimneys in Baltimore for over 42 years, and we’re still not numb to the difference a proper sweep makes. Creosote that looks like it belongs in a geology exhibit. Caps rusted through from decades of harbor humidity. What follows is what we actually pull out of flues, and what your fireplace can look like when we’re done.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Creosote Removal, Federal Hill Rowhouse
The homeowner on William Street burned cordwood three winters straight without a sweep. We found Stage 2 glazed creosote a quarter-inch thick in spots, the kind that flakes off in sheets and clogs the flue. Our rotary system with polypropylene brushes broke it loose, and the camera inspection afterward showed clean terra cotta all the way up. Done right, and we stand behind it.
Chimney Cap Replacement, Roland Park
Roland Park gets more wind exposure than most Baltimore neighborhoods, and this cap had given up entirely. Water was pooling on the smoke shelf, and a family of squirrels had started nesting in the flue. We fitted a new Copperfield stainless cap with 5/8-inch mesh, sealed the crown with CrownCoat, and the Level-2 camera showed a dry flue for the first time in years. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict.
Smoke Chamber Parging, Hampden
The 1890s Hampden cottage had a classic corbeled smoke chamber, brick stepped inward like a staircase. Every fire sent smoke swirling in the corners before it could draft upward. We used HeatShield Cerfractory Foam to parge it smooth, bringing the walls to the 8-inch maximum offset the code allows. The homeowner noticed the difference the first evening, no more smoke haze in the living room. We’ll be there when we say.
Flue Liner Repair, Canton Waterfront
Canton’s older homes sit close to the water, and the salt air accelerates everything. This liner had a crack running three feet, visible on camera as a bright line where daylight shouldn’t be. Rather than push a full rebuild the owner didn’t need, we installed a DuraFlex stainless insert with proper insulation, sized to the appliance. A square deal: no surprises on the bill, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
Firebox Rebuild, Mount Vernon
The Mount Vernon brownstone’s firebox had been patched with regular Portland mortar by a previous owner, and it was crumbling from the heat cycles. We pulled the damaged brick, laid new medium-duty firebrick in proper refractory mortar, and brought the throat opening back to spec. Most jobs completed in a single visit, this one took two because we don’t rush curing time. In writing, no arguing.
Crown Rebuild, Fells Point Historic
Fells Point’s tight alley access means everything comes over the roof or through a second-floor window. The crown on this 1910 chimney had cracked clean through, and water was running down inside the brickwork, freezing, and spalling the face brick. We formed and poured a new crown with proper slope, a 2-inch overhang, and a drip edge that kicks water clear of the masonry. Russell Haines has seen too many Baltimore chimneys fail from crown neglect, it’s the cheapest insurance against a rebuild.
Want Results Like These?
Every project here started with a camera inspection and a conversation. No work gets recommended without photos you can see yourself, and we’ll tell you straight when something can wait another season. Call (410) 849-6273, a live person answers 24 hours a day. Ask about our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up, or schedule a free second opinion if you’ve got another company’s estimate in hand.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Baltimore since 1984.