St. Paul is where our Twin Cities crew is based, and it’s where we can get a technician on your roof the fastest. That matters most for the kind of inspection the vast majority of St. Paul homeowners actually need: the annual Level 1 checkup. Whether you’re in a Victorian off Summit Avenue, a mid-century bungalow in Mac-Groveland, or one of the new builds going up at Highland Bridge, a Level 1 inspection is the right starting point every single year — it’s a routine visual and physical check of the flue interior, firebox, damper, and exterior masonry that confirms your chimney is structurally sound and clear of obstruction before burning season.
Because we’re headquartered here in St. Paul rather than driving in from another suburb, this is consistently where we have the most same-week and next-day openings, and it’s not unusual for us to sweep across three or four different neighborhoods in a single day. That local density is exactly why home age and architectural style don’t change our answer to “which inspection do I need?” the way they might in a market dominated by one housing type. A Level 1 inspection is designed to be the standard annual check for any chimney used under normal conditions, regardless of whether the house was built in 1905 or 2024 — and if our technician does spot something during that visual check that warrants a closer look, such as a Level 2 video scan, we’ll explain exactly why before recommending anything more than the routine visit.
That combination — fast scheduling plus a straightforward, honest read on which inspection level actually applies — is what most St. Paul homeowners are looking for. You get a written report of what we found and, if anything needs attention, a flat-fee estimate before we do any further work.
What We Check
- Flue interior — a visual check for creosote buildup, cracks, and obstruction along the accessible portions of the liner.
- Firebox & damper — confirming the damper opens and seals properly and the firebox shows no cracking or heat damage.
- Exterior masonry & crown — checking from the ground and roofline for cracking, spalling, or shifting brick after a Minnesota winter.
- Cap & flashing — verifying the cap and roofline flashing are intact and keeping snowmelt and ice-dam runoff out.
FAQs
Because St. Paul is where our Twin Cities shop is based, it’s where we can move fastest. Most St. Paul homeowners get a routine Level 1 inspection scheduled within a day or two, and we often have same-week openings across every neighborhood from Cathedral Hill to Highland Park.
If you suspect an ice dam has formed near your chimney, don’t wait for spring thaw to confirm it. We can inspect the flashing and crown for active leak paths in winter, and catching it early often means a small flashing repair instead of interior water damage by the time the snow melts.