Terms and Conditions
These terms cover your use of this website and the basics of hiring our crew. A written estimate you approve controls over anything general said here.
Is a chimney estimate from Crown Heights Chimney Sweep a binding contract?
No. An estimate is our best written assessment of the work and its cost based on what we can see at the time. It becomes a contract only when you approve it and we confirm the scope in writing. If we open up a stack and find conditions the estimate did not cover, such as more courses of loose brick, we stop and talk to you before doing extra work.
Using This Website
The content on this site describes chimney and masonry conditions in general terms so you can recognize problems and understand the work. It is not an inspection of your chimney and should not be relied on as one. Only an on-site inspection can tell you the condition of your flue, crown or flashing.
We try to keep the site accurate and available, but we do not guarantee that every page is error-free or that the site will always be reachable. The text and photos on the site belong to Crown Heights Chimney Sweep and may not be copied for commercial use without permission.
Estimates Are Not Contracts
A written estimate describes the work we propose and its cost based on what we could see and access during the inspection. It is not an agreement to perform the work until you approve it and we confirm the scope and schedule in writing. Estimates are valid for the period stated on the estimate itself, because material costs change.
Chimneys hide their condition. If, once work starts, we find conditions the estimate did not cover, such as additional loose courses, a second flue, or a flue that cannot accept the liner size we planned, we stop, show you, and agree on any change in writing before continuing.
Scheduling and Access
We give an appointment window and call ahead when we are on the way. Chimney work depends on weather, because mortar cannot be placed in freezing or extreme heat and roofs cannot be worked safely in high wind or rain, so we may need to reschedule outdoor masonry with as much notice as the forecast allows.
You agree to provide access to the roof, the fireplace or appliance connection, and the basement or cellar as needed, and to clear the immediate work area of furniture and belongings. For tenant-occupied buildings, arranging access with tenants is the owner's or manager's responsibility. If we arrive at the agreed time and cannot gain access, a return visit may carry a trip charge, which will be stated in your estimate or at booking.
Payment
Payment terms are stated on your estimate. Work that requires us to order materials in advance, such as a stainless steel flue liner or a chimney rebuild, may require a deposit before scheduling, with the balance due on completion. Inspections and sweeps are normally paid on the day of service.
Accepted payment methods are confirmed when you book. Accounts that remain unpaid after the due date on the invoice may be subject to the late terms stated on that invoice.
Our Guarantee
Our workmanship guarantee is described on the warranty page of this site and in writing on your estimate. It covers the work we performed, for the period stated, against defects in our workmanship.
It does not cover pre-existing conditions elsewhere in the chimney, work by other contractors such as the roof membrane around our flashing, damage from storms, settlement or fire, or problems caused by changes to the appliances venting through the flue after our work.
Limitation of Liability
An inspection report describes the condition of the parts of the chimney we could see or scan on that day. Conditions can change, and hidden defects may exist in areas that could not be reached. We are not responsible for conditions that were not visible or accessible during the inspection.
To the fullest extent permitted by New York law, our liability for any claim related to our work or this website is limited to the amount you paid us for the work in question, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses such as lost rent or alternative housing. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
Governing Law and Changes
These terms and any agreement to perform work are governed by the laws of the State of New York, and any dispute will be resolved in the courts of the State of New York.
We may update these terms from time to time. The version posted on this page applies to work booked after it is posted, and the terms printed on your approved estimate apply to that job.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an estimate good for?
For the period printed on the estimate. Material costs for stainless steel flue liners, copper and brick change, so we cannot hold a price indefinitely. If your estimate has passed its date, call us and we will confirm whether it still stands or send a refreshed one. The scope rarely changes; usually only the material line moves.
What if you find more damage once the work starts?
We stop, show you what we found, and agree on any change in writing before doing extra work. Chimneys hide their condition behind brick faces and inside flues, so this happens on a share of rebuilds and liner jobs. You always have the choice to approve the additional work, limit it, or pause while you consider. We do not add charges you have not approved.
Do I need to be home during the work?
For an inspection or a sweep, yes, because we need access to the fireplace or the boiler connection and we want to walk you through what we found. For masonry work above the roof, an adult needs to let us in and provide roof access at the start, and we can finish without you present as long as we can reach the roof and secure the house when we leave. We confirm this when we schedule.