Before & After Gallery - Hearthstone Chimney Co.

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Waltham, MA

We’ve cleaned chimneys in Waltham since 1984. Over 42 years, you learn that creosote doesn’t lie, cracked flues don’t fix themselves, and a homeowner with a flashlight and a phone camera can spot trouble faster than any sales pitch. The photos below show what we found, what we did, and how we left each system. No staging, no stock imagery. Just the work.

Call (781) 905-8338

Recent Transformations

Stage-3 Glazed Creosote Removal, Waltham Highlands

The homeowner in Waltham Highlands burned seasoned hardwood all winter but skipped sweeping for three years. By the time we arrived, the creosote had baked into a glossy, stage-3 glaze that standard brushes wouldn’t touch. We used a rotary chain system to break the glaze loose, followed by a HEPA vacuum sweep and a Level-2 camera inspection. The flue was clean, but we also found a cracked tile at the second bend. We showed the photo, explained the options, and scheduled the repair. Done right - and we stand behind it.

Fireplace Smoke Stain Restoration, South Side Waltham

A family on the South Side called us because their living room smelled like a campfire even when the fireplace was cold. The smoke chamber was severely corbelled, causing turbulence that pushed soot into the room. We swept the system, parged the smoke chamber with HeatShield cerfractory foam to smooth the transition, and sealed the minor gaps in the firebox brick. The draft pulled properly for the first time in years. They sent a note two weeks later saying they could finally use the white couch again.

Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild, Warrendale

The Warrendale house had a crown that looked like a dried riverbed and no cap at all. Rain had been washing down the flue for at least two seasons, leaving rust stains on the damper and starting to degrade the clay flue liner. We removed the damaged crown, poured a new one with a proper drip edge and expansion joint, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with mesh screening. The water intrusion stopped immediately. We documented the flue condition with camera photos so the homeowner could see the liner was still sound - no upsell, just facts.

Animal Nest and Debris Clearance, Beaver Brook Area

In early October, a Beaver Brook homeowner heard scratching above the firebox and smelled something organic when the wind blew a certain way. We found a squirrel nest packed tight above the smoke shelf, complete with stored acorns and compacted leaves. We removed the material by hand and vacuum, inspected for any animal entry, and installed a proper cap with screening. The flue was otherwise in good shape. We told them the truth: this could have been a chimney fire or a carbon monoxide backup if they’d lit a fire before calling. They booked their annual sweep on the spot.

Prefabricated Fireplace Deep Clean, Waltham West

A Waltham West homeowner with a prefabricated metal fireplace thought these systems didn’t need sweeping. The ash bed was six inches deep and the metal firebox panels were heat-discolored beyond normal wear. We cleared the ash, cleaned the refractory panels, and ran a camera up the manufactured flue to check for corrosion at the joints. The unit was a Heatilator from the early 2000s, and we had the documentation on file. We verified clearances to combustibles, replaced the degraded door gasket, and showed the homeowner the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. Prefab systems fail differently than masonry - they fail faster when neglected. Now they know.

Historic Chimney Restoration, Waltham Central

This Waltham Central chimney was built in the 1920s with Boston brick and lime mortar. Decades of Portland cement repointing had trapped moisture, causing the faces to spall and the mortar to crumble. We ground out the incompatible mortar, repointed with a custom-matched lime-based mix, and poured a proper crown with a drip edge. The flue was lined with an Olympia Chimney stainless steel liner to bring it to modern code. Historic chimneys in Waltham need craftsmen who understand the materials, not contractors who slap on whatever’s in the truck. We documented every stage with photos the owner could share with their insurance and historic commission.

Want Results Like These?

Every job starts with a look. Call (781) 905-8338 and you’ll reach a live person, any hour of any day. We’ll schedule your sweep, run a Level-2 camera inspection with photos you can see, and give you a plain-English verdict on what needs attention now, what can wait, and what doesn’t need doing at all. A square deal: no surprises on the bill. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers everything in writing. We’ll be there when we say.

Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Waltham since 1984.