Before & After Gallery - Hearthstone Chimney Co.

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Taunton, MA

We’ve been sweeping chimneys in Taunton since 1984, and one thing hasn’t changed: most homeowners don’t know what’s up there until someone shows them. These projects aren’t staged. They’re what we find on ordinary calls across the city, from the older capes near Taunton Green to the split-levels off Route 44. The difference a proper cleaning and inspection makes is usually dramatic, and it’s always documented.

Call (774) 310-4281

Recent Transformations

Stage 3 Creosote Removal, Weir Village

The homeowner in Weir Village had been burning regularly for three winters without a sweep. When we ran the camera, the flue was coated with Stage 3 glazed creosote, a hard, tar-like layer that standard brushing won’t touch. We applied a professional-grade creosote modifier, let it break down the glaze, then mechanically cleaned the flue with specialized chain whips. The after photos show bare terracotta liner with clear joints, and the homeowner got a written pass on the inspection with no recommendations for additional work.

Fireplace Smoke Stain Restoration, East Taunton

A family near East Taunton’s Watson Pond had given up using their fireplace because smoke kept backing into the room. The brick surround was blackened halfway up the wall. We found a partially blocked smoke chamber and a damaged throat damper that wasn’t sealing. After sweeping the flue, we hand-cleaned the smoke chamber, adjusted the damper mechanism, and treated the stained brick with a non-acidic restoration cleaner. They burned their first clean fire that evening. Photos from the Level-2 inspection went into their file, and we noted the damper adjustment so there’s a record for next year.

Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild, Whittenton

The Whittenton neighborhood has some of Taunton’s oldest housing stock, and this chimney was typical of the area: a poured concrete crown that had cracked through to the brick below, letting water run straight into the structure every time it rained. We removed the failed crown down to sound substrate, formed and poured a new concrete crown with a proper drip edge and slope, then installed a Gelco stainless steel chimney cap with mesh screening. The before photos show water damage tracking down the brick face; the after photos show clean lines and a cap that’ll outlast the next roof.

Flue Liner Gap Repair with HeatShield, Oakland

An Oakland area homeowner called after a home inspector flagged “possible flue liner issues” during a sale. Our Level-2 camera inspection found gaps between clay tiles and eroded mortar joints that were letting combustion gases leak into the chimney cavity. Rather than a full liner replacement, which would have been unnecessary, we cleaned the flue and applied HeatShield cerfractory sealant, then ran the camera again to verify a continuous, sealed surface. The buyer’s inspector accepted the photo documentation, and the sale closed on schedule. The seller saved thousands, and the new owners have a liner that’s rated for another generation of use.

Animal Nesting and Flue Obstruction, North Taunton

The call came in May from North Taunton, right after the homeowner noticed debris falling into the firebox and a smell they couldn’t locate. We found a squirrel nest packed tight in the flue, with the animal long gone but the remains blocking draft and creating a fire hazard. We removed the nesting material, swept the flue, and disinfected the firebox. Then we installed a Famco chimney cap with proper mesh sizing to keep wildlife out while maintaining adequate draft. The before photo shows a flue you couldn’t drop a baseball through; the after shows a clear passage with the new cap visible from the roofline.

Prefabricated Fireplace Deep Cleaning, Westville

Prefabricated fireplaces in Westville’s 1980s and 90s developments often get treated like masonry units, but they’re not. This one had never been properly cleaned, and the refractory panels were caked with carbon deposits that can actually insulate heat and cause panel cracking. We disassembled the accessible components, cleaned the firebox and refractory surfaces with methods safe for metal fabrication, inspected the chase cap for rust, and ran a camera through the metal flue. The panels were still within serviceable thickness, so we documented the measurements and cleaned everything to factory-like condition. The homeowner now has baseline photos for comparison at the next sweep.

What Every Project Includes

Whether we’re dealing with routine creosote or a complex repair, our process doesn’t change. Every visit gets a Level-2 camera inspection with photos you can see and a plain-English verdict. We document what we find, explain what it means, and tell you plainly when work can wait. No recommendations without evidence, no pressure to book additional services. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers everything in writing, with no arguing. If it’s not right, we come back.

We’re insured and bonded, our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and most jobs are completed in a single visit. The price on the estimate is the price on the invoice. We’ve worked this way in Taunton for over 42 years because we plan to be here for thirty more.

Want Results Like These?

Call (774) 310-4281 anytime. A live person answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll schedule your sweep, run the camera, and show you exactly what’s in your chimney. If there’s work to be done, you’ll see why. If everything’s sound, you’ll have the photos to prove it. Either way, you’ll know where you stand.

Ask about our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up, $50 off any repair over $250, or a free second opinion if you’ve already got a written estimate. Senior and veteran discounts are always 5%.

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