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 Rockland County, NY
Photos tell the truth faster than any promise. When we pull the brush out of a flue in Nyack or chip glaze off a smoke chamber in Suffern, the change is visible on camera. Here’s a look at real Chimney Cleaning jobs we’ve handled across Rockland County. The before shots are never pretty. The after shots are what we leave behind.
Recent Transformations
Glazed Creosote Removal in a Nyack Colonial
The homeowner had burned unseasoned wood for three winters. The creosote had hardened into a shiny, tar-like glaze coating the upper third of the flue. Our initial sweep removed the surface soot, and then we used a rotary chain treatment to break down the glaze. The after camera footage showed bare flue tile from damper to cap.
First-Degree Creosote Cleanup Before Burning Season in Pearl River
The owner had not used the fireplace in two years and wanted it ready for winter. We found a half-inch of dry, flaky first-degree creosote coating the walls. A standard top-down sweep cleared it in one pass. The after footage showed clean tiles, and the draft improved noticeably when we test-lit a small piece of newspaper.
Animal Nest Removal and Full Sweep in Stony Point
A squirrel had built a nest about six feet down from the chimney crown. The homeowners noticed a strange smell and stopped using the fireplace. We pulled out two contractor bags of twigs, leaves, and nesting material, then did a full sweep of the flue. We also recommended a proper cap with mesh sides, which we installed the same visit.
Stage Two Creosote Buildup in a New City Raised Ranch
This one surprised me a little. The homeowner burned good, dry oak and had the chimney swept the previous fall. But a cold, rainy spring and intermittent fires created a crusty, granulated buildup. It was stubborn enough that a standard brush was not cutting it. We used a powered rotary whip to knock the crust off, then did a final vacuum pass.
Smoke Chamber Cleaning in a Congers Brick Ranch
The homeowner reported smoke pushing back into the living room on windy days. Part of the problem was a dirty smoke chamber, which many sweeps skip. Creosote had built up on the angled walls above the damper, narrowing the passage. We scraped and brushed the chamber, then showed the owner the camera footage of the before and after. The smoke smell on windy days stopped.
Want Results Like These?
Every one of these jobs came with camera footage and a plain-English verdict before and after the work. No guesswork, no pressure. If your chimney in Rockland County needs a sweep, call (845) 599-0832. Wendell or one of the crew will answer, and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Rockland County since 1999.