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.
Caps & crowns
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Manhattan, NY
Photographs do what estimates can’t. They show a flue before a sweep, caked in creosote, and the same flue after, with a clean liner and an open smoke path. Every visit we make includes a documented photo record under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard. That archive now spans more than 38,000 inspections and cleanings since 2009 across Manhattan. Here’s a look at what that record actually shows.
Recent Transformations
Class III Creosote Removal in a Murray Hill Prewar Flue
The camera showed Class III creosote, which is the glazed, tar-like stage that resists standard brushing. It forms when flue temperatures cycle hot and cold, common in Manhattan prewars where fireplaces run intermittently through shoulder season. We used a rotary loop attachment to break the glaze, then swept the full length of the flue. The after photo isn’t just cosmetic. It’s the evidence that the smoke path is open and the fire risk from creosote ignition is gone. The homeowner walked away with both photos, the written scope, and a note that the liner itself was still structurally sound.
Heavy Ash and Soot Accumulation in a Chelsea Brownstone Fireplace
The owner had been burning through winter without a sweep in three years. The firebox held several inches of ash, and the smoke shelf, the flat ledge behind the damper that catches debris, was packed. That’s a draft problem waiting to happen. We removed the accumulation by hand and with a HEPA-filtered vacuum, then swept the flue and checked the damper for full range of motion. The result reads clearly in the photo: bare firebrick, an open smoke path, and a damper that actually seals. Written price before work started was $229 for this sweep, per the standard Manhattan flat rate.
Crown Spalling and Rain Damage on an Upper East Side Chimney
Spalling is what happens when water gets into the crown, freezes, and pops the surface off in small chunks. This roof-level crown on an Upper East Side six-story had been doing exactly that for several winters. The freeze-thaw cycle in Manhattan makes crowns on exposed roof lines especially vulnerable. We ground back the loose material, rebuilt the crown profile with a proper slope away from the flue, and sealed it. The after photo shows a crown that sheds water instead of absorbing it. That’s the difference between a $650 repair now and a $4,000-plus rebuild later.
Animal Nest Removal from a West Village Flue
The owner reported smoke backing into the living room. The camera found why: a full nest, mostly twigs and fabric scraps, wedged about six feet down from the flue tile. This is common in the West Village, where mature trees sit close to rooflines. We removed the nest, swept the flue, and installed a new stainless cap with mesh sides to keep birds out for good. The before and after photos tell the story in two frames: a blocked flue and an open one. The homeowner’s written scope included the cap recommendation with a fixed price before any removal started.
Glazed Creosote from an Oversized Wood Stove in Kips Bay
An oversized wood stove on a short flue run creates exactly the conditions for glazed creosote: low burn temperatures, long smolder times, and condensation on the flue walls. The before photo looked like the inside of a charcoal kiln. We ran a rotary loop with steel cable to break the glaze, then followed with a full sweep and a camera pass to confirm nothing remained. The after photo shows the flue walls clean enough to read the liner seams. This one took longer than a standard sweep, so the written price reflected the extra labor: $395, quoted and agreed before we set up.
Smoke Chamber Parging and Firebox Repair in Gramercy
The smoke chamber is the sloped section above the firebox that funnels smoke into the flue. In older Gramercy buildings, the parge coat, that smooth layer of mortar, often erodes over decades of heat cycling. This one had gaps wide enough to catch soot and slow the draft. We reparged the chamber using HeatShield material, which is rated for direct flame exposure and carries a manufacturer warranty. The after photo shows a smooth, continuous surface from firebox to flue. Written scope and warranty were in the owner’s hand before the trowel ever came out.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started the same way: a camera inspection, a written price delivered before any work began, and a photo record when it was done. That’s the Haven Standard, and it’s been our practice in Manhattan since 2009. If your chimney needs attention, call (862) 319-8047. Corrine Halstead and our Manhattan crew will show you what the camera sees, then tell you exactly what it costs.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Manhattan, serving Manhattan, NY since 2009.