Services
What I Do
Sweeping, inspections and repairs carried out properly, with an honest explanation of what your chimney needs and a fixed price before any work starts.
Chimney Sweeping in Charleston
Soot and creosote cleared from the flue with proper brushes and a vacuum, no mess left behind.
What's included
- Full brush sweep of flue and liner
- Vacuum to contain dust and soot
- Firebox and smoke shelf cleared
- Check for blockages as I go
- Debris bagged and removed
- Before/after visual check
I sweep from the firebox up, using the right size brush for your flue so the creosote and soot actually come off the walls rather than just getting stirred around. A vacuum stays running at the fireplace end the whole time, so dust doesn't end up on your furniture or floors.
Once the sweep is done I take a look at what came down and what's left in the flue, so you get a straight answer on whether it's clean and safe to use, or whether something else needs sorting first.
Chimney Inspections in Charleston
A proper look up the flue and around the outside brickwork to find cracks, blockages or damage early.
What's included
- Visual check of flue and liner
- Firebox and damper checked
- Exterior brick and mortar check
- Cap and crown looked over
- Check for animal or debris blockages
- Plain-English report of findings
An inspection means actually getting eyes on the flue, not just a guess based on age or how the fireplace looks from the room. I check the liner for cracks, the damper for how it's sealing, and the brickwork and mortar joints outside for signs of water getting in.
You get told exactly what I found and what it means, in plain terms, before we talk about whether anything needs doing. If it's fine, I say so.
Chimney Repairs in Charleston
Cracked liners, damaged mortar joints and worn dampers fixed properly, not just patched over.
What's included
- Liner cracks repaired or relined
- Mortar joint repointing
- Damper repair or replacement
- Firebox brick repairs
- Flashing repairs where chimney meets roof
- Fixed price agreed before work starts
Repairs range from a quick fix on a damper that's sticking to more involved work like relining a flue that's cracked or deteriorated. Whatever it is, I explain what's actually wrong and why, so you're not just taking my word for it.
You get a fixed price before I start, and the work gets done properly rather than patched to get by. If something bigger turns up once I'm into the job, you hear about it before I carry on, not after.
Flue & Liner Checks in Charleston
Checking the liner is intact and correctly sized so smoke and gases vent safely out of the house.
What's included
- Liner checked for cracks or gaps
- Correct sizing for your appliance checked
- Joints and seams inspected
- Draft checked at the firebox
- Blockages or debris cleared
- Recommendation on relining if needed
A damaged or wrong-sized liner is one of the more serious things a chimney can have wrong with it, since it's what keeps smoke and carbon monoxide going up and out rather than back into the house. I check the liner along its length where I can access it, and check the draft at the firebox to see it's pulling properly.
If a liner's cracked, gapped or undersized for the appliance connected to it, I'll tell you plainly and explain the options rather than just recommending the most expensive fix.
Cap & Crown Repair in Charleston
Damaged caps and crowns fixed or replaced to stop water, birds and debris getting into the flue.
What's included
- Cap replacement or repair
- Crown crack repair
- Mesh screening checked or fitted
- Water damage around the crown checked
- Sealant renewed where needed
- Flue capped correctly for the appliance
The cap and crown take the weather head-on, so they're often the first thing to crack or come loose. A damaged crown lets water into the brickwork below, and a missing or broken cap lets rain, birds and debris straight down the flue.
I check both while I'm up there, repair or replace as needed, and make sure the mesh screening is intact so nothing's finding its way back in once the job's done.
Safety Assessments in Charleston
An honest check of the whole chimney so you know it's safe to light a fire in with confidence.
What's included
- Full flue and liner check
- Structural check of the stack
- Carbon monoxide risk assessment
- Clearance checks around combustibles
- Draft and ventilation checked
- Clear verdict on safe use
A safety assessment pulls together everything, the flue, the liner, the structure and the clearances, into one straight answer about whether your chimney is safe to use as it is. I don't upsell work that isn't needed just because I'm already there.
If there's a problem, I'll tell you what it is and how serious it is, so you can decide what to do next with the full picture in front of you.
How It Works
Three steps, no pressure
1
Call or message
Tell me what's going on, whether it's a routine sweep, a smoky fireplace or something you've spotted that doesn't look right. I'll ask enough questions to know what I'm dealing with.
2
Free survey & fixed quote
I come out, take a proper look at the chimney inside and out, and give you a fixed price for whatever needs doing before any work starts.
3
The work
I get on with the job, keep things clean and contained as I go, and explain anything I find along the way so there are no surprises at the end.