Chimney inspection — crown to firebox, by the standard.
NFPA 211 Level 1 visual on every accessible component, Level 2 video flue scan on transfers and post-event evaluations. Crown, flue lining, flashing, mortar joints, cap, damper, smoke chamber — documented with severity tags.
Multi-fireplace homes, complex rooflines, freeze-thaw masonry.
Premium Eden Prairie homes routinely run two to four fireplaces — wood-burning, gas, or both. Bearpath and Hennepin Village builds layer chimneys against complex rooflines where flashing details fail first. Cedar Forest and Mitchell-Lake-area masonry chimneys are now into their third or fourth decade of Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles, and crown failure is the most common single deferred-maintenance condition we see. NFPA 211 sets the standard — Level 1 on every accessible component, Level 2 video at transfer or after any concerning event.
What an NFPA 211 inspection finds.
Six recurring failures on Eden Prairie masonry and factory-built systems — every one capable of triggering a no-burn or repair-before-use recommendation.
Cracked crown
Concrete crown spalled, fractured, or improperly sloped. Water enters the masonry stack and accelerates joint failure.
Cracked flue tile
Clay liner fractured by thermal stress or chimney fire. Combustion gases reach masonry and adjacent framing.
Stage-3 creosote glaze
Hard glassy creosote on flue interior. Highly flammable, resistant to standard sweeping. No-burn until removed.
Flashing failure
Caulk-only or face-nailed flashing. Persistent leak at the chase with rafter staining inside the attic.
Mortar joint deterioration
Soft or missing mortar from freeze-thaw. Allows water deeper into the assembly, with brick spalling close behind.
Stuck damper / missing cap
Damper seized open or shut. Cap missing — animal entry, water entry, debris in the smoke chamber.
Level 1, Level 2, and when to step up.
Level selection is rule-driven under NFPA 211. We confirm at booking and step up to Level 2 whenever the trigger conditions apply.
| Level | Scope | When required | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Visual of readily accessible components | Continued service, same conditions | Baseline |
| Level 2 | L1 plus video scan of full flue interior | Property transfer · post-fire · post-event · fuel change | At sale |
| Level 3 | L2 plus removal of components | Suspected serious damage | Specialist |
| Crown | Visual + roof-edge or drone | Always | Critical wear point |
| Flashing | Roof + attic underside | Always | Leak path |
| Damper / cap | Operational test | Always | Function check |
Three steps. Top, body, firebox.
Crown, cap, flashing
Crown condition, cap and screen, mortar joints, brick spalling, flashing assembly, counter-flashing integration. Roof-edge or drone vantage where direct access is unsafe.
Flue, smoke chamber, framing clearances
Flue lining type and condition. Level 2 video scan when triggered. Smoke chamber parging, framing clearance verification at the chase, attic underside for leak signature and clearance to combustibles.
Damper, hearth, gas valve
Damper operation, firebox refractory, hearth extension, mantel clearance, gas valve and shutoff where applicable. Carbon monoxide reading at the room.
Multi-fireplace home under contract? Schedule the Level 2 now.
Per-flue documentation. Photographs, video stills, severity tags. Same-evening report.