Chimney inspection that starts with your question in South Middle River
Know what is sound, what needs repair and what could not be seen before you approve anything.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Moments that call for a safety inspection
- Cracks in the crown or brick
- A house sale or purchase underway
- Flaking brick faces on the chimney
- A chimney that seems to lean
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Chimney inspection findings you can act on
Inspecting a stucco-finished chimney
A chimney finished in stucco may cover masonry block or a framed chase. The two assemblies behave differently, and a crack means more on one than the other. Staining, bulges or soft spots can point to water behind the finish.
We tap and look where the finish can be reached and ask what you know about how the chimney was built. If the assembly behind the stucco cannot be confirmed, the record says so. Any repair recommendation explains which layer it addresses.
A chimney inspection for a home sale
When a house is being bought or sold, the chimney questions are usually specific. Share what the buyer, seller or agent needs to know before the visit. The scope is agreed at the start, so the inspection answers those questions.
Findings are explained on site and written down, and any repair comes with a free written estimate. We describe the condition we saw. We do not issue a pass or fail for the whole chimney, and concealed parts stay described as concealed.
Inspecting for the source of a chimney odor
A smell from the fireplace can come from deposits, water in the masonry, debris on the smoke shelf or air moving down the flue. The source decides the fix, so it is worth finding before anything is cleaned or sealed.
Tell us when the smell appears: after rain, with the air conditioning on or only when a fire is lit. We look at the flue, the shelf, the damper and the top with that pattern in mind. The findings say which source is most likely and what would address it.
Heat reaching behind the firebox
Firebrick and panels are there to keep the heat of the fire inside the firebox. Cracks, missing pieces and open joints let heat reach the masonry or framing behind. Scorch marks or darkened wood near the fireplace are a warning sign.
We look closely at the firebox surface and at any nearby trim or framing we can see. If heat may be reaching combustible material, we explain the risk and suggest not using the fireplace until it is repaired. Heat damage behind a firebox is often hidden, so we explain what can and cannot be confirmed.
Parts checked during your inspection
- Crown condition at the chimney top
- Cap, screen and fasteners
- Hearth and hearth extension
- Visible clearances to combustible material
Chimney safety inspection questions
Do you inspect factory-built fireplaces too?
Yes. We look for the listing label and the model, check the panels, firebox, damper and visible chimney sections, and compare them with the manual. Repairs have to use the manufacturer's listed parts.
How do you decide which repairs come before others?
We rank findings by their effect on safe use, then by how quickly they will worsen. A fault that lets heat reach combustible material comes before a cosmetic one. You get the reasons with each item.
Does the inspection include looking at the flue lining?
Yes, along the length that can be seen from each end. We note cracks, open joints, missing sections and heat damage, and we say how far the view reached.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo