Before & After Gallery - Hearthstone Chimney Co.

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Bridgewater, NJ

We’re not big on bragging. We’d rather show you what a proper chimney cleaning actually looks like. These are real jobs we’ve completed in Bridgewater and the surrounding towns, with the kind of buildup, damage, and repair work we see week after week. The photos tell the story better than we ever could.

Call (908) 589-8342

Recent Transformations

Stage-3 Glazed Creosote Removal, Chimney Flue

This was a Bridgewater home near the Somerville border where the homeowners had been burning seasoned hardwood for fifteen years without a proper sweep. The glazed creosote had baked onto the flue tiles in a thick, tar-like layer that standard brushes couldn’t touch. We used a rotary mechanical cleaning system with chains to break up the glaze, then followed with a HEPA vacuum and a Level-2 camera inspection to confirm we’d gotten every last section. The flue went from roughly 60% blocked to fully open, and the photos from our camera gave the homeowners clear evidence of the difference.

Smoke Chamber Parging Repair & Firebox Restoration

A family in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater called us because smoke was backing up into their living room on windy days. The smoke chamber, that critical area above the damper, had never been parged properly. The corbeled brick was rough and full of gaps, creating turbulence that killed the draft. We used HeatShield Cerfractory Foam to smooth and seal the chamber, then rebuilt damaged firebox brick with matching refractory mortar. The smoke draw improved immediately, and the homeowners stopped getting that faint smoky smell in their upholstery.

Chimney Cap & Crown Replacement with Flue Cleaning

This chimney on a 1980s colonial near Chimney Rock Road had a rusted-through galvanized cap and a concrete crown that was crumbling at the edges. Water had been running down the flue for years, mixing with soot to form acidic sludge on the smoke shelf. We cleaned the flue and smoke shelf thoroughly, rebuilt the crown with proper slope and drip edge, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with mesh screening. The squirrels that had been nesting in the flue every spring won’t be getting back in.

Prefabricated Fireplace Flue Relining with Soot Removal

Prefabricated fireplaces in Bridgewater’s newer developments, especially around the Finderne area, often get neglected because homeowners assume they’re maintenance-free. This unit had a disconnected flue pipe dumping exhaust into the chase, with soot coating every interior surface. We cleaned the chase, installed a properly sized DuraFlex stainless steel liner with correct connections at the fireplace and termination, and sealed the chase top. The unit finally vented the way the manufacturer intended, and the homeowners could use their fireplace without that nagging worry about where the exhaust was actually going.

Fireplace Smoke Stain Removal & Hearth Cleaning

A historic home near the Old Mill neighborhood had a working fireplace that hadn’t been properly cleaned in decades. The brick surround was blackened with smoke stains, the hearth was embedded with ash and creosote, and the mortar joints were crumbling from acidic condensation. We used specialized chemical cleaners to lift the smoke staining without damaging the antique brick, repointed the failing mortar with matching lime-based mortar, and gave the hearth a thorough sweep and seal. The fireplace looked like it belonged in the room again, not like something that had been abandoned to the elements.

Chimney Liner Inspection Failure & Stainless Steel Replacement

This was a Level-2 inspection in a Bridgewater Heights home where we’d been called for what the homeowner thought was a routine cleaning. Our camera found multiple cracked clay flue tiles and a missing section near the chimney shoulder where a previous chimney fire had done damage the owners never knew about. We stopped the cleaning, showed them the photos, and explained that sweeping a damaged liner can actually make things worse by dislodging debris into the gaps. We installed an Olympia Chimney stainless steel liner with proper insulation and a new top plate, then completed the cleaning. The camera run after installation confirmed everything was sealed and drawing correctly.

Want Results Like These?

Every job here started with a phone call and a straightforward conversation. We’ll look at your chimney with our camera, show you exactly what we find, and give you a plain-English verdict on what needs attention now versus what can wait. No pressure, no surprises on the bill, and everything backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Call (908) 589-8342 anytime, day or night. A live person answers.

Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Bridgewater and local communities since 1984.