Chimney sweep in Deephaven, MN for weekend fireplaces, older masonry and wooded lake lots
A Deephaven fireplace that gets lit only on weekends still needs a sweep before the holidays. Brickstone Chimney Sweep cleans and inspects masonry chimneys, repairs crowns and caps, and removes animals from flues. Call and we will find a time.
Does a weekend fireplace need a chimney sweep every year?
Yes, once a year, ahead of the first fire. Seasonal use still leaves soot, and a summer of damp air and nesting animals leaves more.
Deephaven sits on the eastern shore of Lake Minnetonka. If your fireplace gets lit only on weekends or holidays, it has had all week to collect a bird nest, leaves or a squirrel.
Our crew sweeps the flue, brushes the firebox, checks the damper and looks up the shaft for blockage before anyone strikes a match. If you are opening a cottage for the first time in a season, it is the first job worth doing.
See chimney sweeping for what the visit covers.
Why is the top of my older chimney crumbling?
Water gets into the crown and joints, freezes, and pushes the stone and mortar apart. The fix starts at the top.
Deephaven has history. Charles Gibson settled here in 1876, and large estates such as Walden went up in the early days. Older houses tend to have masonry that has been through many Minnesota winters.
On older chimneys we look first at the crown, because a cracked crown lets water run straight down the stack. We then check mortar joints, flashing and any stone that has started to flake. Repairs range from replacing a cap to tuckpointing and rebuilding the top courses.
A cap is simple protection for a masonry chimney. If yours is missing or rusted, we cover that in chimney cap installation.
Do tall trees and lake wind change what my chimney needs?
They raise the odds of an animal in the flue and a damaged cap. A well-fitted cap with a screen deals with both.
Wooded lots put branches over roofs. Squirrels cross from limb to chimney top in a second. Lakeshore wind adds its own wear to caps and flashing.
If you hear scratching, we remove the animal and clean the flue. If it is a chimney swift, a protected bird, we wait for the young to leave before capping. Either way you end up with a screened cap that keeps the flue clear.
Which Deephaven homes do you work on?
Lake cottages, estate-era houses and newer homes alike.
Minnetonka Boulevard is the main road through town, and the old Cottagewood General Store, open since 1895, is a landmark many neighbors steer by. From Chanhassen our crew heads east and works wherever you live in Deephaven.
If you bought an older place, a chimney inspection before the first fire tells you what you own. We also work in nearby Minnetonka and Excelsior.
Deephaven chimney questions
I am opening a lake cottage for the season. What should I check first?
Have the flue swept and inspected before the first fire. Look for animals, damp, and any crack inside the firebox. We handle the sweep and the check.
My older home has a masonry chimney. Can you repair brick or stone?
Yes. We inspect the brick or stone, mortar and crown, then repair what is loose or failing. We match the repair to what the chimney needs, from a small tuckpoint to a rebuilt top.
What does a squirrel in the flue sound like?
Scratching, scurrying or a thump that travels up and down. Call us and we will remove the animal and fit a cap.
Should I get a Level 2 inspection before buying a lakeside house?
If the house is older, or the fireplace has not been used in years, a Level 2 gives the clearest picture. It looks all the way inside the flue. Ask us about our inspections.
Is a chimney cap really needed near the water?
Yes. Screened caps stop rain, leaves and animals, and wind off the lake is hard on an uncapped flue.
Can you sweep both the main house and a guest cottage?
Yes. Tell us how many chimneys and stoves you have when you call and we will plan the visit.
Map of Deephaven, MN
From one end of Deephaven to the other, call and we set a time.
Services in Deephaven
- Chimney sweeping
- Chimney inspection
- Chimney repair
- Gas fireplace repair
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Chimney caps
- Chimney liners
- Chimney leak repair
South Lake Minnetonka
Further reading
Map of Deephaven, MN
From one end of Deephaven to the other, call and we set a time.
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time
Further reading