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 Oakland, CA
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve photographed every one. The difference between a neglected flue and a properly swept system isn’t subtle, and it isn’t just cosmetic. What follows are real conditions we’ve documented in Oakland homes, with the photo records that Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires us to deliver on every job.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, Rockridge
The homeowner in Rockridge smelled smoke in the upstairs bedroom whenever the fireplace was running. We found Class III glazed creosote, that hard, shiny layer that forms when vaporized tar condenses and cures on the flue liner surface. It’s the most combustible form of creosote, and in Oakland’s mild winters where fires burn low and slow, it’s common. We used rotary chain whips and mechanical brushing to break the glaze, then ran our camera the full length of the flue. The photo record showed bare terra cotta with no cracks or spalling. Written scope: sweep and Level 2 inspection. Written price: $285. Done in three hours.
Smoke Chamber Parging and Firebox Restoration, Montclair
This Montclair fireplace had been “working fine” for twenty years. The smoke chamber, that upside-down funnel above the firebox, was corbelled brick with no parging, the mortar joints eroded by decades of acidic condensation. Smoke was cooling and depositing creosote on the rough surfaces instead of drafting smoothly into the flue. We applied HeatShield Cerfractory Foam, a UL-listed refractory compound that smooths the chamber walls and seals gaps. The camera scan afterward confirmed no voids. The homeowner received photos of the before condition, the application process, and the finished chamber, plus the written 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Chimney Cap Replacement with Animal Exclusion, Maxwell Park
A Maxwell Park call came in at 6 a.m., live person picked it up. Raccoon in the chimney, again. The existing cap was a big-box galvanized unit, three years old, already rusted through at the corners. The mesh was torn where the animal had pulled it back. We removed the cap, cleaned the smoke shelf of nesting material and dried vegetation, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with 5/8-inch spark arrestor mesh, the specification Oakland’s wildland-urban interface zone prefers. The new cap overhangs the crown by two inches, directing water away from the masonry. Raccoon hasn’t been back. The photo record includes the debris on the smoke shelf, the rust pattern on the old cap, and the installed unit from roof level.
Flue Liner Degradation and HeatShield Relining, Redwood Heights
The Redwood Heights homeowner had a home inspection report flagging the chimney for “possible liner issues.” We ran the camera and found what we often find in 1950s Oakland construction: clay flue tiles with thermal shock cracking, mortar eroded at the joints, and minor spalling where the flue gases had begun attacking the clay surface. Full liner replacement would have been $4,200. The condition didn’t warrant it. We performed HeatShield joint repair, filling the gaps between tiles, then applied a cerfractory resurfacing layer to seal the spalled areas. The camera scan afterward showed a continuous, smooth flue surface. Written price before we started: $1,650. The photo record includes the crack mapping, the application footage, and the post-repair scan. Work that can safely wait, we say so. This couldn’t.
Crown Rebuild with Proper Overhang and Drip Edge, Glenview
Glenview gets more rain than the Oakland average, and this crown was doing nothing to stop it. The concrete slab was poured flush with the flue tiles, no overhang, no drip edge, and a crack running east-west that let water straight into the chimney structure. We formed and poured a new crown with a minimum 2-inch overhang past the masonry wall, sloped at 1/4 inch per foot for drainage, and tooled a drip edge underneath to prevent water from running back to the brick. The flue tile extends 2 inches above the crown with a proper flue gap seal. Photos show the old crack pattern, the formed pour, and the cured crown from ladder and roof angles. Materials from Olympia Chimney, procured through Haven’s buying network.
Annual Maintenance Sweep, Laurel District
Not every job is a rescue. This Laurel District homeowner sweeps annually, and it shows. The flue had moderate soot and fine ash from a season of weekend fires, no glazed creosote, no liner degradation. We ran brushes and vacuums, inspected the smoke chamber and firebox, and completed the NFPA 211 Level 2 camera scan. The photo record shows a clean system that will stay clean with regular maintenance. Written price: $245. Time on site: ninety minutes. This is what prevention looks like, and it’s the cheapest chimney service we offer.
Want Results Like These?
Every job starts with a written price, a written scope, and a written warranty before anyone touches your chimney. You’ll get the photo record, the camera footage, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped on every invoice. Call (628) 300-1701 and a live person will pick up, 24 hours a day. Or bring us any competitor’s written estimate for a Free Second Opinion.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Oakland, serving Oakland since 2009.