Maplewood chimney service, from Gladstone to Carver Lake
Most Maplewood homes were built after World War II. About 32% date from 1940 to 1969 and about 47% from 1970 to 1999, so chimneys here come in many ages and types. We sweep, inspect and repair both brick chimneys and factory-built fireplaces.
When farms turned into neighborhoods
Maplewood was mostly farmland until the 1950s, when farmers began selling plots to developers. Highway 36 opened in 1955, and I-94 and I-694 followed in the early 1970s. The city plan shows that typical neighborhoods went up between 1960 and 1980.
A brick chimney from the 1950s or 1960s has now been through decades of freeze and thaw. The concrete crown on top is often the first part to fail. Small cracks let water into the brick and down the flue. Sealing or rebuilding the crown early heads off much bigger masonry work later.
Newer houses, different chimneys
Homes built in the 1970s through the 1990s may have a brick chimney, or a factory-built fireplace with a metal flue inside a framed chase. Metal flues need the right listed parts and the right clearances to wood. Watch for rust stains on the siding, a sagging chase cover or a cap that has blown off. Each one is a sign that water is getting in. Our chimney repair page covers what we fix.
The older corner of town
Gladstone was platted in 1887 at the Lake Phalen railroad junction, long before the suburb took shape. Only about 5% of homes citywide predate 1940. If yours is one of them, its chimney may have soft lime mortar and an unlined or clay-lined flue that deserves a closer look before heavy use.
Maplewood chimney checklist
- Crown sealing on 1950s and 1960s brick chimneys
- Flue liner check after a furnace swap
- Chase cover and cap checks on metal flues
- Sweeping before the first fire of fall
Not sure what kind of chimney you have? We can tell you at the first visit.
Maplewood chimney FAQ
My Maplewood home was built in the 1960s. What wears out first?
On brick chimneys of that age, the crown and the flashing are the most common trouble spots. Mortar joints near the top also wear faster, because they take the most weather.
We replaced our furnace. Does the chimney need a new liner?
It might. If the new furnace vents out a side wall, the water heater may now be the only thing using a flue built for two. That flue can be too large, which lets moisture condense inside. An inspection shows whether a smaller liner is needed.
Which Maplewood ZIP codes do you cover?
We serve Maplewood addresses in 55106, 55109, 55117 and 55119, from the north end near Maplewood Mall down to the Carver Lake area. Use our booking page to pick a time.
Get your Maplewood chimney swept
Cottage Grove and the east metro