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 Sherman Oaks, CA
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and every one of them left with a photo record under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard. The gallery below shows what we actually find in Sherman Oaks flues, and what they look like after we’re done. No staging, no stock photos - just the work.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - Sherman Oaks Hills
The homeowner on Mulholland Drive’s south slope had been burning oak and eucalyptus for three winters without a sweep. We found Class III glazed creosote - that’s the shiny, rock-hard tar deposit that forms when smoke condenses in a cool flue - coating the full 18-foot run of terracotta liner. Standard poly brushes just polish it. We used a rotary chain-flail system to fracture the glaze, followed by progressive poly brushing and HEPA vacuum extraction. The flue liner was restored to bare terracotta. Camera scan confirmed zero remaining deposits. Written scope, written price, and the photo record were delivered before we packed up.
Smoke Chamber Parging - Near Van Nuys Boulevard
This 1964 ranch near Van Nuys Boulevard had a smoke chamber - the inverted funnel above the firebox that funnels smoke into the flue - with corroded, falling parging and exposed brick corners. That turbulence causes creosote to accumulate where you can’t reach it, and it weakens draft. We removed the loose material, applied HeatShield Cerfractory Foam to restore the proper 45-degree slope, and finished with a smooth seal rated to 3,000°F. The NFPA 211 Level 2 camera scan afterward showed continuous smooth surfaces from firebox to flue cap. The homeowner got the photo record, the written warranty on materials, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped on the invoice.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild - South of Ventura Boulevard
A rental property manager called us south of Ventura Boulevard after tenants reported water stains on the ceiling below the fireplace. The concrete crown - the slab that tops the chimney and sheds water - had spalling surface damage and cracks running to the flue tile. The galvanized cap had rusted through at the seams. We removed the cap, cut back the damaged crown to sound concrete, poured a new crown with specified slope and drip edge, and installed a stainless steel cap with Gelco mesh screening sized to the flue. No more water intrusion. The photo record showed the pour, the cure, and the final install. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires that documentation; we’ve done it on every job since 2009.
Factory-Built Fireplace Flue Fire Recovery - Near Sepulveda Basin
The homeowner near the Sepulveda Basin heard a roaring sound in the wall and found the exterior chimney chase smoking. A contained chimney fire had thermally warped the galvanized flue pipe in their factory-built fireplace - that’s the metal chimney system common in homes built 1985 to 2005. We removed the damaged sections, ran a DuraFlex stainless steel liner sized to the appliance’s BTU rating, and rebuilt the chase top with proper clearances and a new cap. The critical finding: the original installation had an undersized flue for the insert that had been added later. We documented that in the written scope and the photo record so there’s no question about why the failure happened.
Fireplace Insert and Liner Installation - Magnolia Woods Area
A couple in the Magnolia Woods area wanted to convert their open masonry fireplace to an efficient insert. The chimney had no clay liner - just bare brick - and two decades of creosote buildup in the smoke chamber. We installed an insulated stainless steel liner from the insert collar to the cap, with proper clearances to combustibles per the manufacturer’s listing. The insulation maintains flue temperature to prevent the creosote condensation that caused the original problem. We ran the NFPA 211 Level 2 camera scan top to bottom, documented every joint and clearance in the photo record, and provided the written price, written scope, and written warranty before any work started. That’s Haven Standard Clause 1: Have it in writing.
Annual Maintenance Sweep - Long-established Home Near Beverly Glen
This is the job we do most often in Sherman Oaks. A homeowner near Beverly Glen burns three to four cords of seasoned almond and walnut each season and books us every spring. This year we found moderate Stage 1 creosote - the fluffy, brushable kind - and a damper that was warped enough to leak conditioned air when closed. We swept the flue, brushed the smoke chamber, adjusted the damper frame, and documented everything. The photo record goes into their file, and they’ll have dated proof of condition if they ever sell. It’s not dramatic work, but it’s the work that prevents dramatic problems. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard applies to maintenance sweeps exactly the same as rebuilds.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started with a phone call to (424) 414-6048. We’ll answer live, schedule a time that works, and deliver a written price before anyone touches your chimney. The camera scan, photo record, and 365-Day Done Right Promise come standard. Corrine Halstead and the team at Level Two Chimney Sherman Oaks have been working under the Haven Standard since 2009. Call (424) 414-6048 or book online - estimates are free, and you’ll know exactly what you’re paying before we start.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Sherman Oaks, serving Sherman Oaks since 2009.