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.
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Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Hoffman Estates, IL
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve photographed every one. The shots below show what we find in Hoffman Estates flues, what we do about it, and what you get to keep in your records. No stock photos. No staging. Just the work.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - Hoffman Estates Colonial
The flue liner in this two-story colonial near Hilldale Drive was coated with Class III creosote, a hard, tar-like deposit that forms when wood burns slowly and exhaust cools before it exits. It’s the most combustible form of creosote and the leading cause of chimney fires in Hoffman Estates during shoulder seasons when homeowners bank fires overnight. We ran a rotary poly-chain whip system at controlled RPM to fracture the glaze without damaging the terracotta flue liner, then performed a camera-scan inspection to confirm bare liner surface from smoke chamber to crown. The homeowner received 23 photos, the camera footage, and a written scope showing zero liner degradation. Total time on site: 2.5 hours. Written price agreed before we unloaded the truck.
Smoke Chamber Parging - Ranch Home, Hoffman Estates
The smoke chamber above the firebox in this 1978 ranch near Bode Road was corbeled brick with deep mortar gaps, creating turbulence that deposited creosote in the shoulders and slowed draft. Per NFPA 211, an unpargeed smoke chamber with more than a half-inch of surface variation is a known hazard. We applied HeatShield Cerfractory Foam, a refractory compound rated to 3,000°F, using a custom-formed squeegee to achieve a smooth, sloped transition into the flue. The after photos show a continuous parabolic surface with no voids. Camera verification from the roof confirmed the flue liner crown was intact. This job qualified under our 365-Day Done Right Promise, stamped per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild - Hoffman Estates Townhome
The original concrete crown on this end-unit townhome near Hassell Road had spalled to exposed aggregate, and the galvanized cap had rusted through at the mesh. Water was entering the flue during Hoffman Estates’ freeze-thaw cycles, accelerating liner deterioration. We removed the crown to the top course of brick, poured a new 4-inch reinforced crown with a 2-inch drip edge, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with 3/4-inch mesh. The photo record shows the pour, the float finish, and the cap seated with stainless hardware. No water intrusion since. Written warranty included, as required by Haven Standard Clause 1.
Fireplace Smoke Stain Remediation - Hoffman Estates Split-Level
This split-level near Beverly Road had years of smoke wash on the firebox face and hearth extension from an oversized firebox opening relative to the flue capacity. The stains were baked into the brick and mortar. We masked the surrounding millwork, applied a buffered creosote solvent in stages, and mechanically cleaned with nylon brushes to preserve the brick glaze. The after photos show original brick color restored with no etching. We also documented the firebox-to-flue ratio and noted in the written report that a smoke guard would prevent recurrence. The homeowner opted to add one. Price for cleaning only was quoted in writing before we started; the smoke guard was a separate line item they could accept or decline.
Chimney Liner Inspection and Creosote Cleaning - Hoffman Estates Victorian
The unlined masonry flue in this 1920s Victorian near Higgins Road had 3/4-inch of flaky creosote accumulation and visible mortar loss between courses. We performed a full NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera scan, documenting liner condition at 12-inch intervals. The flue failed code for open combustion; we recommended a DuraFlex stainless steel liner with insulation blanket, sized to the appliance. The cleaning was completed same visit to remove immediate fire hazard, with photos showing creosote class, flue dimensions, and the three areas of mortar degradation. The homeowner received a written quote for the liner install with no pressure to book. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record; we’ve done it on every job since 2009.
Prefabricated Fireplace Cleaning and Panel Replacement - Hoffman Estates Condo
The refractory panels in this condo unit near Golf Road had cracked at the corners from thermal cycling, and the firebox was packed with ash and degraded insulation. Prefab units don’t tolerate panel cracks; they lose their UL listing and can overheat surrounding framing. We removed the damaged panels, cleaned the firebox to metal, and installed replacement panels sourced through Haven’s buying network. The after photos show intact panels with proper corner gaps per manufacturer spec, and the written scope notes the unit’s model number for future parts ordering. This is the kind of job where a homeowner might not know there’s a problem until we show them the camera footage. We showed them. They decided. That’s how it works.
What You Get on Every Job
Every transformation above includes the same deliverables, required by the Haven Standard since we started in Hoffman Estates:
- Written price before work starts - Clause 1. No exceptions. No “call for a quote.”
- Camera-scan inspection and photo record - Clause 4. You see what we see. You keep the files.
- Background-checked, uniformed technician - named on your invoice, license number on the page, text when en route.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise - if it’s not done right, we make it right. Stamped on every job.
- Free Second Opinion - bring us any competitor’s written estimate. We’ll review it.
Materials come from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, procured through Haven’s network to keep prices honest. We’ve been at this since 2009. The numbers don’t lie.
Before
AfterWant Results Like These?
Call (331) 200-4445. A live person answers, 24 hours a day. We’ll book your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection, quote your cleaning or repair in writing before we start, and leave you with photos you can actually use. Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Hoffman Estates.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Hoffman Estates, serving Hoffman Estates since 2009.