What you get in writing
The single most common complaint about this trade is that the diagnosis and the sales pitch arrive in the same sentence. This is what we leave behind instead. It is a real format, filled in with a sample visit.
Service record · sample
SystemMasonry fireplace, clay-lined
Cap and spark arrestorFine
CrownWatch
Flashing and roof penetrationFine
Exterior masonry and mortar jointsFine
Flue — creosote degreeDegree 2
Clay liner conditionFine
Damper operationFine
Smoke chamber and smoke shelfFine
Firebox brick and mortarFine
Hearth extensionFine
Clearance to combustiblesFine
Appliance connectionFine
Photographs of each findingAttached
What this report says, in one paragraph: the flue had normal degree 2 buildup for a season of use, now swept. The crown has hairline cracking that should be sealed before next winter — it is not urgent, but it will not improve on its own. Everything else checked out. No repair was quoted on site, and nothing was sold to you during the visit.
How to read the three marks
FineChecked, and sound. No action.
WatchNot a hazard today. Put it on next year's list, or handle it while somebody is already up there.
NowAffects safety or is actively letting water in. This is the only mark that should ever come with urgency.
If everything says FineThen everything says Fine. A visit that finds nothing is a good visit, not a wasted one.
Why this matters beyond your peace of mind
- Insurance adjusters ask for inspection records after a chimney fire
- A property sale calls for a Level 2 inspection under NFPA 211, and the buyer's agent will want it in writing
- It gives you something concrete to compare against if you ever get a second opinion
- It means next year's visit starts from what last year's found, instead of from scratch
A safer chimney starts with an honest look at it.
Booking takes a minute. Peak season here runs September through November.