Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

It's all in the details. Daco's Real Stone veneering is perfect to add durable designer accents to almost any surface without having to pay the price of full thickness real stone

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Double sided fireplace with crossvilles laminum tile for minimal grout lines and reclaimed mantles. Recessed outlets are installed on top of the mantle to provide plug in's for seasonal items.

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Entering the back yard is like entering an English garden. To ensure a seamless look between the original new parts of the house, we built the covered patio using the same German schist stone and timber framed stucco. Further, the stone’s pointing matches the original historic stone, and we used a gray grout for a weathered, aged look. The space is finished off with spiraled lattice iron works and all slate roof. At the end of the roof is an open truss timber frame in a cathedral design. Copper flashing at the joints protects the wood from water sitting in the spaces and eventually rotting the joints. The patio itself features a flagstone floor, built in gas grill, and the other side of the Rumford fireplace found in the family room. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Hilltop Georgian Perched on a secluded wooded hill, this new house pays homage to 18th century Georgian architecture while clean contemporary lines situate it squarely in the 21st century. A hilly drive leads to a courtyard surrounded by a brick knee wall, lending the 6,000 square-foot house a sense of place. Formal arrival spaces are complemented by informal ones in the rear, ideal for our clients and their young family. Two symmetrical wings on either side of the main entrance provide a beautifully balanced structure. The house is clad in buck joint clapboard, a neoclassical treatment that creates an unbroken, elegant façade as well as a textural contrast to the clapboard-clad wings. Jeff McNamara

Can you spot the caulk?!?!? Our installation team at G&S takes great pride in having spot-on caulk jobs!
Trendy home office photo in Bridgeport

Super Traxx Sand Coating is a coating that can help your outdoor surfaces. It can give your driveway, sidewalk, patio, garage floor, and outdoor deck a facelift, that’s non-slip, looks great and lasts longer. This coating method provides an alternative to paying for new concrete or installation fees every couple of years. Super Traxx is an extremely low maintenance solution that will increase the lifespan of your outdoor flooring and amenities. Super Traxx will increase the life of your outdoor surfaces, because it is a durable, and more importantly, weather resistant coating. This coating will be able to handle whatever mother nature throws its way. Super Traxx will decrease the likelihood of cracks and spalling in your concrete. Our sand coating is a seamless solution that will fill fractures, expansion joints, and saw cuts in concrete. It is also chemical resistant and durable enough to withstand the application of salt or cleaning chemicals. Your outdoor flooring will stand up to heavy traffic for years to come!

Most failed paver patios in the Charlotte area don't fail because of the pavers. They fail because of what was skipped underneath. When you see a finished patio, you're looking at the final 2 inches of a 10-inch build. Here's the work that decides how long it lasts: Excavation. 8 to 12 inches below the final surface, down to stable soil. A patio built on topsoil sinks. A patio built on compacted ground doesn't. Base layer. 4 to 6 inches of crushed stone, compacted in lifts. This is the structural backbone — the deeper and denser it is, the straighter the surface stays. Bedding sand. A 1-inch precisely screeded layer of sharp sand. Not decorative — it locks the pavers in place and allows micro-adjustments without disturbing the base. Edge restraint + polymeric sand. The perimeter restraint keeps pavers from spreading sideways. Polymeric sand swept into the joints seals against weeds, insects, and water migration. What you pay for is the 2 inches on top. What makes it last is the 10 inches underneath. That's the difference between a patio that holds up for two decades and one that sinks near the downspout in year three.

The Reis Chair is a masterpiece of structure, paying tribute to early modernism's gravity-defying skyscrapers. Designed by our studio in Istanbul to have a cantilevered base, the Reis offers the comfort of an armchair without the old-line stuffiness or bulk of upholstery. Weighty bar stock steel lends the chair its strength and boasts seamless joints and hidden hardware. A lengthy triple-plate chroming process ensures a resilient, rust-resistant mirror-quality finish. The padded seat is upholstered in with various fabric/material options for long-enduring appearance retention and ease of maintenance-two especially important features for offices and waiting areas.

Standard annual or mechanical Chimney cleaning for gas and wood burning fireplaces typically works to remove any type of buildup as well as checking for the structural integrity of the chimney. Maintaining an annual chimney cleaning will meet the national safety standard set by the NFPA, CSIA, IRC and NCSG, helping homeowners avoid chimney fires and blockages. Why does safety matter? Did you know that there was a chimney fire in Marengo in January? Or a chimney fire at a Peotone home at the end of March? Or a log cabin fire caused by the chimney in June? That’s just a few that happened in the past 7 months. Why Does a Chimney Cleaning Matter? Chimney sweeps also known as chimney cleanings, fireplace cleanings, or fireplace sweeps. Regardless of what you call it, it still means the same thing. Chimney cleaning for gas and wood burning fireplaces serve 3 key purposes: confirming structural integrity removing flammable deposits and obstruction-free assurance. Homeowners with gas or wood burning fireplaces benefit from each of these safeguards. The National Fire Protection Association addresses this directly through NFPA 211, a widely recognized fire safety code. The standard states that chimneys, fireplaces, and vents require inspection at least once a year for soundness, free from deposits, and correct clearances, with cleaning, maintenance, and repairs to be done whenever needed. This annual requirement applies equally to gas and wood burning fireplaces. Organizations including the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the National Chimney Sweep Guild, International Residential code and the National Fire Protection Association each reference this standard as the requirement for home fire safety. Free 14-Point Certified Written Inspection Every chimney sweep completed through Superior Chimney includes a complimentary 14-point certified written inspection along with photo documentation delivered to you by email. This documentation gives homeowners a clear visual record of their chimney system. The written report covers the condition of the flue liner, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, firebox, chimney crown, and chimney cap, among other components examined during a standard visit. Photo documentation captures each area so homeowners can review the findings independently of the technician’s verbal summary. Written inspection reports allow families to track the condition of their fireplace chimney system over time. Chimney Cleaning and Structural Integrity A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technician, such as Superior Chimney technicians, visually examines the chimney from the top opening to the firebox below, gaining a full evaluation of the interior. When chimney rods and brushes pass through the chimney system, loose pieces of fire clay tile, damaged tile joints, or crumbling brick sometimes fall down into the fireplace. This debris can mean there is an integrity problem. By knowing this is a problem, will protect families and their homes. Now it’s time to take care of it and call in a certified chimney technician. Fireplace Cleaning and Creosote Removal Creosote, is the technical name for soot. Soot forms as a natural byproduct of burning wood. Smoke traveling upward through the chimney and leaves deposits of creosote along the interior walls. With every fire, a little more gets built up. The issue with creosote is that it is highly flammable and is the leading cause of chimney fires nationwide. Removing the buildup through regular chimney cleanings keeps a fireplace serviceable for continuous use throughout the spring, fall and winter seasons. Standard and mechanical chimney cleanings pay close attention to the flue liner, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, and firebox in a single service visit. Superior Chimney performs each fireplace chimney inspection using a no-mess process that protects the home during service. This keeps soot contained within specialized equipment rather than the living room. An Obstruction Free Chimney Several conditions create blockages within a chimney system. Bird, squirrel, bat and raccoon nesting material, feces, and debris frequently accumulate inside an unprotected flue, especially during spring and summer months when the fireplace sits unused. Excessive creosote accumulation or a collapsed chimney liner can restrict proper airflow. Homeowners that address obstructions with a chimney inspection will be able to maintain proper draft and ventilation with their gas or wood burning fireplace. This will reduce the risk of smoke backing into the home. Gas Chimney Cleaning Compared to Wood burning Chimney Cleaning Gas and wood burning fireplaces share the same annual chimney inspection requirement. Whether you are burning wood, gas or a “pile of shirts” there is still heat and flame that requires worthy firewalls to protect the home from heat transfer. Fire worthiness and checking the firewall integrity is priority. Wood burning fireplaces generate creosote that builds along the flue liner with every fire. Gas fireplace systems accumulate lighter deposits along with potential venting obstructions, since gas appliances rely heavily on venting for safe combustion byproduct release. Each system accumulates different residues that need attention. A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technician from Superior Chimney adjusts the specific cleaning approach based on fuel type. However, the same core safety elements apply: structural integrity, deposit removal, and clear airflow. What Happens During a Chimney Cleaning? A typical chimney inspection begins with a walkthrough of the fireplace and the chimney on top of the roof, allowing the technician to record any visible concerns the homeowner reported in advance as well as any new findings. The certified technician then covers the immediate hearth area with protective material before setting up specialized equipment designed to contain creosote throughout the cleaning and inspection. Chimney rods and brushes pass through the flue liner to loosen and remove creosote deposits along the smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and damper. The certified technician inspects each section closely for loose or crumbling firewall, cracked joints, or other signs of weak structural damage. A final walkthrough of the firebox and chimney completes the visual inspection. Photo documentation captures each component, and the certified written report is sent to the homeowner by email. This consistent process gives homeowners the documentation they need to compare year to year. Chimney Cleaning Safety Standards The table below summarizes the organizations that set national chimney safety standards, along with their specific requirements for fireplace chimney sweeps. NFPA211 National Fire Protection Association Annual inspection for soundness, deposit buildup, and correct clearances; cleaning and repairs completed as needed CSIA Chimney Safety Institute of America Certifies technicians through testing on chimney and venting system knowledge NCSG National Chimney Sweep Guild Establishes trade standards and best practices for chimney sweep professionals How Often Should You Schedule a Chimney Cleaning and Inspection? CSIA recommends scheduling chimney cleaning and inspection annually by CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps. This recommendation applies to gas and wood burning fireplaces, regardless of how frequently a household uses the fireplace and especially in freeze/thaw geographic areas. Regular chimney sweeps save lives, since a clean fireplace chimney rarely catches fire. CSIA encourages homeowners to rely on Certified Chimney Sweeps, as these technicians undergo regular testing on the complexities of chimney and venting systems throughout their careers. Frequently Asked Questions What is included in a chimney sweep? A chimney sweep includes the flue liner, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, and firebox, removing creosote while checking for obstructions and structural concerns throughout the chimney system (NOT the ashpit). How often should gas and wood burning fireplaces receive chimney sweeps? CSIA, NFPA, IRC and NCSG guidelines each call for chimney sweeps at least once a year for gas and wood burning fireplace systems. Why does creosote removal matter for fireplace safety? Creosote is highly flammable and builds along the interior walls of a fireplace chimney with every fire, creating conditions that lead directly to chimney fires when left in place over time. Creosote is unburned particles from the combustion chamber. Who should perform a fireplace chimney sweep? CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technicians complete fireplace chimney sweeps after passing regular testing on chimney and venting system knowledge, meeting the certification standard recognized across the industry. Does a fireplace chimney sweep remove animal nests and debris? No, a fireplace chimney sweep addresses soot and creosote, while significant nesting material, feces, or collapsed liner debris often calls for dedicated obstruction removal alongside the standard service. What does the free 14-point inspection include? The complimentary 14-point certified written inspection documents the flue liner, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, firebox, crown, and cap through photo evidence delivered directly by email for homeowner records. Choose Superior Chimney for Your Certified Chimney Inspection All service technicians completing chimney sweeps through Superior Chimney hold National Certification through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), reflecting the training standard recommended by fire safety organizations nationwide. Scheduling regular chimney sweeps to clean gas and wood burning fireplace systems protects a home from fire risk, preserves the structural integrity of the chimney, and keeps airflow clear for proper, continuous use throughout the year. Contact us today to schedule a chimney inspection at 877-244-6349.