Washtenaw County
Chimney sweep, inspection and repair in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor has houses from the 1850s to the 1920s on the Old West Side, houses from the 1890s to the 1930s in Burns Park, and architect-designed modern houses from the 1950s and 1960s in Ann Arbor Hills.
The Old West Side and Burns Park
The Old West Side was laid out in the 1840s and built up through World War I, much of it by German families. Its houses date from about 1850 to 1925. Burns Park, south and east of campus, filled in from the 1890s through the 1930s. Chimneys on houses that old were often built without a flue liner, or had one added later, and some have been rebuilt above the roof at least once. An inspection tells you which you have.
Soft old brick and lime mortar near the top of the chimney wear the fastest. If you see white staining or brick flaking off up there, our guide to white stains and crumbling chimney brick explains what's going on.
Working in a historic district
The Old West Side is one of several historic districts in Ann Arbor. Exterior work in a district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city before it starts. City staff can approve minor work, and bigger jobs go to the Historic District Commission. When we quote chimney work in Ann Arbor, we'll ask whether the house is in a district and plan the job around the review.
Modern houses in Ann Arbor Hills
Between 1950 and 1970, architects tied to the University of Michigan, Robert Metcalf among them, designed modern houses all over Ann Arbor, and Ann Arbor Hills has a good share of them. Many have low-slope or flat roofs. Where a chimney comes through a flat roof, there's no slope to carry water away from it, so the flashing has to do all the work of keeping water out.
Repairs that fit the house
On a brick chimney from the 1800s, modern hard mortar can do more harm than good, so we match the masonry repair to the brick that's there. On a modern house, we keep the chimney's lines the way the architect drew them.
Buying a house in Ann Arbor
Older Ann Arbor houses and the 1950s moderns change hands with their original chimneys. A Level 2 inspection covers the chimney areas in the attic and basement and puts a camera through the flue. On a house built before liners were common, that camera view is the part a buyer most needs to see.
Getting to you
We come into Ann Arbor on Washtenaw, Packard, Stadium, Plymouth Road, Main Street and Jackson, and pair visits with Ypsilanti and Plymouth. Book online and pick a 3-hour arrival window, or call for same-day availability when the schedule allows.
Ann Arbor and the cities around it
We work across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
Every area we serveServices in Ann Arbor
Chimney cleaning
We sweep the chimney and inspect it on the same visit, then clean up before we leave.
$349
Chimney inspection
We inspect the chimney inside and out and walk you through what we found, in plain language.
$49
Level 2 chimney inspection
For home sales and system changes: the attic, basement and crawl spaces, and a camera through the flue.
$149
Questions
Our Ann Arbor house is a 1950s modern with a flat roof. What goes wrong with the chimney?
On a flat or low-slope roof there's no pitch to carry water away from the chimney, so the flashing does all the work. That's where we look first on the modern houses in Ann Arbor Hills and elsewhere in the city. If you've had a stain on the ceiling near the chimney, mention it when you book.
Do you offer same-day service?
Same-Day Availability When Schedule Allows. Call (248) 266-9991 and we'll tell you what we can do today.
Book a chimney visit in Ann Arbor
Pick a day and a 3-hour arrival window online. If you'd rather talk it through, call (248) 266-9991.