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
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Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Atlanta, GA
Photos don’t lie. We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and the camera tells the story every time. What follows are real jobs from around Atlanta, documented under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, which requires a photo record on every visit. When you see the difference, you’ll understand why we don’t start work until you’ve seen the price in writing.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, Buckhead
The flue liner in this 1987 Buckhead home was coated with Class III creosote, a hardened, tar-like glaze that forms when wood burns at low temperatures and creosote condenses in layers over multiple seasons. It’s the most dangerous buildup type because it ignites at lower temperatures and burns intensely. Our technician ran a rotary chain system through the flue, then followed with a poly brush to restore full diameter. The after photos show bare terracotta flue tiles with clean mortar joints. The homeowner received the full photo set, a written scope, and a written warranty before we packed up.
Smoke Chamber Parging, Virginia-Highland
This Virginia-Highland bungalow had a corbeled brick smoke chamber, the area above the firebox that funnels smoke into the flue. The corbelling, stepped brickwork common in pre-1960 Atlanta construction, creates turbulence and collects creosote in sharp corners. We applied HeatShield cerfractory foam, a refractory material rated to 3,000°F, smoothing the chamber to a parabolic profile that meets current NFPA 211 standards. The camera scan before and after shows the difference in surface area and flow pattern. Materials sourced through Haven’s buying network with Olympia Chimney and HeatShield.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild, Decatur
The concrete crown on this Decatur ranch had spider-web cracking and a reverse slope that pooled water against the flue liner. In Atlanta’s freeze-thaw cycle, that water works into the crown, spalls the surface, and eventually reaches the chimney structure below. We stripped the old crown, formed a new pour with a 2-inch overhang and drip edge to shed water clear of the brick, and set a Gelco stainless cap with mesh screening. The before photos show water staining on the exterior brick below the crown line. The after photos show clean brick and a crown that’ll outlast the next decade of Georgia weather.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement, East Atlanta
The factory-built fireplace in this East Atlanta renovation had cracked refractory panels, the heat-resistant concrete slabs that line the firebox. Cracks exceed 1/8 inch mean the panels no longer protect surrounding combustibles and the fireplace should not be used. We sourced matching panels through Copperfield’s distribution network, installed to manufacturer clearances, and ran a full Level 2 inspection with interior camera scan of the flue. The homeowner got the cracked-panel photos, the installed-panel photos, and a written warranty stamped under the Haven Standard’s 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Chimney Liner Resurfacing, Midtown High-Rise
This Midtown condo building had a shared masonry flue with eroded mortar joints between terracotta tiles, a condition we see often in Atlanta’s pre-war stock where coal conversions and decades of gas venting have accelerated deterioration. Gaps between flue tiles allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to leak into wall cavities or adjacent units. We installed a DuraFlex stainless liner with poured insulation fill, creating a continuous, sealed venting path rated for all fuel types. The camera footage shows the joint gaps before and the smooth liner wall after. The building manager received the full photo archive and a written scope for the HOA records.
Annual Sweep with Animal Exclusion, Sandy Springs
A family of squirrels had nested above the smoke shelf in this Sandy Springs chimney, a common spring occurrence when Atlanta’s tree canopy puts rooflines at eye level for wildlife. The nest blocked proper draft and introduced combustible material into the flue. We removed the nest, ran a full sweep to Class I creosote standards, and installed a Famco stainless cap with 3/4-inch mesh to prevent re-entry while maintaining proper draft. The before photos show nesting material packed above the damper. The after photos show a clean flue and a cap that handles our Georgia pollen season without clogging.
What Every Job Includes
These aren’t cherry-picked highlights. Every chimney cleaning and inspection we perform in Atlanta follows the same protocol established in 2009:
- Written price before work starts - Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, the H.A.V.E.N. principle “Have it in writing.” You’ll see the exact scope and exact price before anyone touches your chimney.
- NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection - interior camera scan of the flue, firebox, smoke chamber, and accessible exterior.
- Documented photo record - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires it on every job, not as an upsell. You get the photos.
- 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 and we’ll review it at no charge.
Materials come from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, procured through Haven’s buying network to keep customer prices honest. No markup theatre, no mystery sourcing.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
BeforeAfterWant Results Like These?
Call (470) 435-7984. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll book your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection, deliver a written price before any work starts, and document everything with the photo record that Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires. Corrine Halstead and the team at Level Two Chimney Atlanta have been doing this since 2009. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither do we.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Atlanta, serving Atlanta since 2009.