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 West Chester, PA
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009. Photos don’t lie about creosote buildup, cracked flue liners, or failed crowns. Every job in this gallery includes the documented photo record required by Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, dated and archived since the day we started.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - West Goshen Township
The homeowner burned seasoned hardwood but never had the flue swept in eleven years. We found Class III glazed creosote, a hard, tar-like deposit that forms when combustion gases condense on cool flue walls. It’s the fuel source in most chimney fires. We used mechanical rotary cleaning to break the glaze, then a chemical treatment to dissolve what remained. The NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection afterward showed bare flue tile with no remaining deposit. Written price was $285 before we started; photo record delivered same day.
Spalling Crown Rebuild with Cap Install - Marshallton
Water had been entering through a cracked, spalling crown for at least three winters. Spalling means the concrete surface flakes and crumbles from freeze-thaw cycles, common in Chester County’s wet winters and hard freezes. We removed the deteriorated crown down to solid substrate, poured a new concrete crown with proper overhang and drip edge, and installed a Gelco stainless steel chimney cap. The camera scan confirmed no water staining in the flue below. Total was $1,340, quoted in writing before we unloaded the ladder.
Smoke Chamber Parging - East Bradford
The smoke chamber, the area above the firebox that funnels smoke into the flue, had corbelled brick with deep mortar gaps. NFPA 211 calls for parging, smoothing the surface with refractory mortar to improve draft and reduce creosote accumulation. We applied HeatShield Cerfractory Foam, a refractory compound rated to 3,000 degrees, using their specialized inflation casting system. The after photos show a smooth, continuous parge coat. The job ran $890, and we included the camera footage showing the full smoke chamber circumference.
Clay Tile Liner Joint Repair - Westtown
Annual inspection revealed open mortar joints between clay flue tiles at the third course from the top. Gaps like this let combustion gases leak into chimney walls, a carbon monoxide risk in occupied spaces. Rather than full liner replacement, which would have run $3,800, we qualified the flue for HeatShield Joint Repair. We resurfaced the joints and applied a thin coat of cerfractory sealant to the full flue length. Camera verification showed continuous, sealed surface. Cost was $1,175 with written scope and five-year warranty.
Chimney Cap and Crown Replacement - Thornbury Township
A galvanized cap had rusted through, and water pooling on the flat crown had caused surface spalling. The cap was letting rain and animal entry directly onto the flue. We fabricated a new copper-finish stainless cap through our Famco supplier, rebuilt the crown with proper slope and drip edge, and sealed the crown-to-flue joint with flexible crown sealant. The materials came through Haven’s buying network, which keeps the price honest. Written quote was $765. Photos show the old cap’s rust holes beside the new assembly.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement - West Chester Borough
The factory-built fireplace had cracked refractory panels, the heat-resistant walls that protect surrounding framing. Cracks wider than a dime mean replacement, not repair, per manufacturer guidelines. We sourced matching panels through Olympia Chimney’s prefab catalog and installed them with proper clearances to combustibles. The before photo shows the crack running corner to corner; the after shows intact panels with the unit back in service. Price was $640, confirmed in writing before we ordered parts.
What Every Job Includes
These aren’t cherry-picked showcases. They’re standard work, documented the way Clause 4 requires. Every visit gets:
- NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection
- Written price before any work starts (Haven Standard Clause 1)
- Documented photo record, dated and archived
- Written scope and written warranty
- 365-Day Done Right Promise
Materials come from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, procured through Haven’s network. We don’t mark up retail and pretend it’s a discount.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Before
AfterWant Results Like These?
Call (610) 321-4570. A live person answers, 24 hours a day. We’ll schedule your inspection, give you a written price before we start, and show you exactly what we found with photos you can keep. Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written estimate.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney West Chester, serving West Chester since 2009.