Fourth-Generation Chimney Work, Done to Code

Who We Are

We started as a single chimney sweep in 1947, passed down through four generations. Each learned the trade on Minnesota roofs; we handle sweeps, inspections, relining, and masonry repair across the metro; our crews know the difference between a cosmetic crack and a structural problem, and they'll tell you which one you're looking at.

Every technician carries CSIA certification. Every installation follows NFPA 211. We don't guess at draft calculations, and we don't shortcut flashing details. The physics either works or it doesn't, and a Minnesota winter will find the mistake.

What We Do

We sweep and inspect chimneys before the first burn of the season. We install liners when a flue has failed. We rebuild crowns and repoint brick when the masonry gives out. We also diagnose draft problems, replace dampers, and handle gas-vented appliances.

Two distinct seasons for two distinct jobs. Sweeps and inspections spike from September as households book before the first burn. And again in January when something goes wrong. Masonry runs the other way: mortar will not cure below roughly 40 degrees. So crown rebuilds and tuckpointing are May-to-September work and the book fills by March.

Minnesota adopts the International Mechanical Code through the Minnesota Mechanical Code, Minnesota Rules chapter 1346; liner installations and structural chimney rebuilds are permitted work almost everywhere in the metro; sweeps and inspections are not. The configured typical permit fee is $110.

Why Minnesota Matters

A continental climate with long, dry, very cold winters and warm humid summers. Heating season runs from early October into late April. And the first hard freeze usually lands in the second week of October. The local climate profile records 45 freeze-thaw cycles. That cycle splits mortar joints and spalls brick faster than almost any other force.

The local climate profile lists freeze-thaw spalling as a hazard. The local climate profile lists ice dams at the flashing as a hazard. The local climate profile lists negative pressure in tightened envelopes as a hazard. Each one changes how we build, inspect, and repair. A crown detail that works in Atlanta will fail here by March.

How We Work

We show up on time, carry our own ladders, and clean up when we're done. You get a written report after every inspection, with photos of anything that needs attention. If a repair can wait, we'll tell you. If it can't, we'll explain why.

We don't upsell. We don't recommend work you don't need. We've turned down jobs because the chimney was fine. That's how you stay in business for four generations.