Chimney sweeping and repair in St. Paul Park, an old town on the Mississippi
St. Paul Park sits on the east bank of the Mississippi, between Cottage Grove and the river. It was established in 1887, so it has some of the oldest houses in our service area, and some of the oldest chimneys.
Older chimneys need a different kind of look
A town established in 1887 has homes from many eras, and the older ones were often built before clay flue liners were standard practice. An unlined or poorly lined chimney lets heat and exhaust reach the brick and mortar directly. When we inspect an older St. Paul Park chimney, the liner is the first thing we want to see.
Older chimneys also tend to have been patched over the years, sometimes with materials that trap water. Hard modern mortar on soft old brick is a common example. It looks fine at first, then the brick face starts to flake off around it.
Homes along US 10 and 61
US Highways 10 and 61 run together through St. Paul Park, and much of the town's housing sits between the highway and the river. Homes built after World War II, in the same years Cottage Grove's first neighborhoods went up, usually have a single brick chimney serving the fireplace and often the furnace and water heater. If the furnace has been replaced with a high-efficiency model, the water heater may be left in a flue that is now too big for it.
A small town, a short drive
St. Paul Park had 5,544 residents in the 2020 census and shares its east border with Cottage Grove, so it is one of the shortest drives we make.
What we check in older homes
- Is there a liner, and is it intact?
- Mortar type and condition at the top of the stack
- Crown and cap
- Which appliances share the flue
St. Paul Park chimney questions
My St. Paul Park house is very old. Is the fireplace safe to use?
Do not assume either way. Have a Level 2 inspection, which includes looking inside the full length of the flue. Older chimneys may be unlined or have cracked liners that you cannot see from the firebox.
Can an unlined chimney be fixed?
Usually, yes. The common fix is a stainless steel liner sized to the fireplace insert, stove or appliance using the flue. Sometimes a cast-in-place liner is used. The right choice depends on the chimney's shape and what it vents.
Why is my brick flaking around new mortar?
That pattern often means the repair mortar is harder than the old brick. Water leaves through the softer brick instead of the joint, and freezing breaks off the brick face. Repairs on old chimneys should use mortar that matches the original.
Book chimney service in St. Paul Park
Cottage Grove and the east metro