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 Wakefield, MA
Photos don’t lie. We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and the camera sees what the naked eye misses. Every job in this gallery includes the documented photo record required by Clause 4 of the Haven Standard. You’ll see what we found, what we did, and exactly what the flue looked like when we finished.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, Wakefield Center
The homeowner in Wakefield Center smelled smoke in the second-floor hallway every time they ran their fireplace. Our camera scan showed Class III glazed creosote, a hardened, tar-like deposit that forms when wood burns slowly at low temperatures and can’t be removed with standard brushing. We applied a professional-grade creosote modifier to break the glaze bond, then used a rotary mechanical system to restore the flue surface. The documented photo record showed the full 3/8-inch buildup before and the clean terracotta after. Written price before work started: $340-$420 for this level of remediation.
Smoke Chamber Parging, Greenwood Neighborhood
A family near Lake Quannapowitt reported smoke puffing into the living room on windy days. The smoke chamber, the area above the damper that funnels smoke into the flue, was built with rough corbelled brick that created turbulence. We applied Smoke Chamber Parge from HeatShield, a UL-listed refractory material that smooths the chamber walls to NFPA 211 standards. The camera footage before showed the jagged brick profile; after, a smooth transition that draws properly even in a northeast wind off the lake. The written scope included the parging work, photo documentation, and a 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped under Haven Standard Clause 1.
Stainless Steel Liner Debris Blockage, North Wakefield
The call came in after a smoke detector triggered during a routine fire. A previous owner had installed a stainless steel liner but never maintained it. Our camera found a 40% blockage: compacted soot layers topped with nesting material, likely from a previous spring. We removed the obstruction with a rotary chain system sized to the 6-inch diameter, then ran a draft gauge to confirm proper draw. The photo record shows the packed liner and the mirror-finish stainless after. The homeowner walked away with camera footage, draft readings, and a written condition assessment. If a competitor’s quote says you need a new liner, bring it to us for a Free Second Opinion.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement, Wakefield Highlands
The refractory panels in this prefabricated fireplace had cracked through thermal cycling, common in Wakefield’s freeze-thaw climate where chimneys cool overnight and heat rapidly on weekend mornings. Cracked panels are a genuine fire hazard; they no longer contain radiant heat to the firebox. We sourced replacement panels through Haven’s buying network, matched to the manufacturer spec, and installed them with proper clearances. The before photos show the heat-compromised corners; the after set shows tight seams and the documented panel part numbers. Written price before work: $280-$380 for panel replacement on this unit.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild, Montrose Area
No cap, a spalling crown, and water stains on the flue tiles. This Montrose chimney had taken years of Massachusetts coastal weather without protection. Spalling is when freeze-thaw cycles pop the surface off concrete or brick. We removed the compromised crown, poured a new one with a proper drip edge to shed water away from the masonry, and installed a stainless steel chimney cap from Gelco with mesh screening. The interior camera scan six weeks later showed the flue tiles drying. The photo record, included standard under Clause 4, documented every stage.
Annual Sweep with Level 2 Inspection, Downtown Wakefield
Not every job is a disaster. This downtown Wakefield homeowner books the annual sweep every September, before burning season. The 1/4-inch soot accumulation was normal for a season of weekend fires with properly seasoned hardwood. We swept with a poly brush system matched to the flue diameter, ran the Level 2 camera scan per NFPA 211, and archived the photo record. No sales pitch, no invented urgency. The flue was sound, the liner intact, and the homeowner had documented proof for their insurance file. Standard sweep with Level 2 inspection in Wakefield: $180-$240, written price confirmed before we scheduled.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here follows the same process: written price before work starts, background-checked uniformed technician, camera inspection with photo record, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped under the Haven Standard. Call (978) 861-1012 to schedule your chimney cleaning in Wakefield. A live person answers 24/7. Estimates are free, and we honor our Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Wakefield, serving Wakefield and the North Shore since 2009.