Wayne County
Chimney sweep, inspection and repair in Garden City
Garden City went from about 9,000 people in 1950 to 38,000 in 1960, and most of its houses are small brick ranches and bungalows from those years, on narrow lots off Ford Road, Middlebelt and Merriman.
From garden plots to ranch lots
Garden City was laid out on the English garden city idea, with home sites of about an acre so a family could grow its own fruit and vegetables. That didn't last. Most lots were split up as the city filled in, and some are now as narrow as 40 feet. The biggest wave came in the 1950s, when the population more than quadrupled.
The result is block after block of small brick ranches and bungalows, most with a single chimney. On many of them that chimney carries the furnace or water heater flue as well as the fireplace. Our guide on a water heater in an old chimney is worth reading before you replace the furnace.
Narrow lots and ladders
On a 40-foot lot, the space between two houses can be a few feet of grass and a fence. That changes where a ladder can go. We can usually reach the roof from the driveway side or the back yard. If the side yard is fenced, there's a dog out back, or the neighbor's car sits in a shared drive, tell us when you book so we plan the setup before we arrive.
An open flue
A lot of chimneys from the 1950s were built without a cap, and many still don't have one. Rain goes straight down the flue, and birds and squirrels treat it like a hollow tree. If you hear chirping or scratching, call us before you light a fire. A chimney cap is a small part that solves both problems.
Not every chimney is brick
Some chimneys from those years are concrete block, like the one in the photo, with a single clay flue tile on top. The crown on top takes the same weather either way. A cleaning and inspection looks at the crown, the flue tile and the flashing no matter what the chimney is built from.
Crown and cap work
On these small chimneys the crown and the cap are the repairs we quote most. We show you the photos from the roof and tell you whether a coating will hold or the crown needs replacing before we quote anything.
Getting to you
We work across Garden City on Ford Road, Middlebelt, Merriman, Cherry Hill, Warren and Inkster, and pair Garden City visits with jobs in Westland and Livonia. Book online and pick a 3-hour arrival window, or call for same-day availability when the schedule allows.
Garden City and the cities around it
We work across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
Every area we serveServices in Garden City
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 Garden City house sits a few feet from the neighbor's. Can you still get to the chimney?
Usually, yes. On a narrow lot we set the ladder from the driveway side or the back yard. If the side yard is fenced, there's a dog out back, or you share a driveway, mention it when you book and we'll plan the setup before we get there.
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 Garden City
Pick a day and a 3-hour arrival window online. If you'd rather talk it through, call (248) 266-9991.