A Hadley company - serving Austin, TX

Before & After Gallery - Hadley Chimney Austin

Every visit starts with

Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed

Worth knowing

Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.

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Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Austin, TX

We could tell you we do thorough work, but you’d be smart to want proof. That’s why every job at Hadley Chimney Austin ends the same way: before-and-after photos you can actually see, taken with a camera we run up the flue. What you’ll find below are the kinds of changes we document on real chimney cleaning jobs across Austin, from Allandale to Round Rock. The creosote, the nests, the blocked flues: it’s all visible, and now you can see it too.

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Styles & brands we work with

Recent Transformations

Heavy Creosote Removal in a 1990s Two-Story in Cedar Park

Before: thick glazed creosote coating the flue walls, Cedar Park, TX

After — Before: thick glazed creosote coating the flue walls, Cedar Park, TX

The problem: the homeowner had burned unseasoned oak for three winters, and creosote (the flammable tar buildup that makes chimneys a fire risk) had glazed into a hard, shiny layer roughly a quarter-inch thick along the upper flue. What we did: a full mechanical sweep with wire brushes sized to the flue, followed by a camera inspection to confirm the glazing was gone and to check for any hidden cracks underneath. The result: the flue was left clean enough that the customer could see the original clay tile texture again in the after photo. More important, the fire risk was gone before the next cold snap.

Chimney Swift Nest Removal and Flue Cleaning Near Mueller

Professional chimney sweep cleaning a residential chimney flue with a wire brush — After: flue cleared and smoke path restored

The problem: a homeowner near Mueller called because their living room filled with smoke the first time they lit a fire in November. The camera showed why: chimney swifts had built a nest in late spring, and the twigs, feathers, and dried mud had been sitting there for months, shrinking the flue opening to about the size of a coffee mug. What we did: removed all nest material by hand and with our rotary whip, then swept and vacuumed the entire flue from the firebox up. The result: the smoke path was fully restored and the homeowner lit their first fire the same week. We also recommended a chimney cap with a mesh screen so the swifts would need to find a new building next season.

Flashing Seal Repair and Sweep on a Sloped Roof in Barton Hills

Professional chimney sweep cleaning a stone fireplace with a long brush — Before: rusted flashing gap letting water track down the brick, Barton Hills, Austin

A professional chimney sweep cleaning a chimney flue from a rooftop. — After: old flashing cleaned, resealed, and water path stopped

The problem: a Barton Hills homeowner booked us for a routine sweep but mentioned water staining on the ceiling near the fireplace. During our roof inspection we found the flashing seal (the metal barrier where the chimney meets the roofline) had dried out and begun to pull away from the brick, letting water track down the chase during storms. What we did: we cleaned the old sealant, reset the flashing, applied a fresh high-temperature sealant rated for the Austin heat, and then completed the sweep so the chimney was safe for use. The result: the water path was stopped and the flue was left clean. This is the kind of thing a sweep photo alone would have missed. The camera work pays for itself.

Gas Fireplace Deep Clean and Log Reconditioning in Round Rock

Professional contractor performing chimney crown repair and masonry work on a roof — Before: soot accumulation and dull glass on a vented gas log set, Round Rock, TX

Professional mason performing structural chimney crown repair and mortar patching on roof — After: glass cleaned, logs reconditioned, and burner ports cleared

The problem: a Round Rock customer couldn’t remember the last time their gas fireplace had been serviced and said the flame looked lazy and yellow instead of blue and sharp. What we did: we took the glass off, cleaned the soot film off the inside face, vacuumed the burner, cleared a few partially clogged ports, and reconditioned the log set so it sat correctly over the burner. The result: the flame was blue again, the glass was clear, and the customer said it was like having a new fireplace. No parts replaced, just a proper cleaning. Some gas fireplace repairs can be avoided with regular service like this, and the camera shots we took before and after show exactly what was clogging the flame.

Smoke Chamber Parging Notes and Sweep in an Older Hyde Park Home

Professional mason applying mortar during a chimney repair project — Before: creosote deposits and rough mortar gaps in a Hyde Park smoke chamber

Technician using a wire brush for professional gas fireplace maintenance. — After: smoke chamber cleaned and gaps noted for future monitoring

The problem: a Hyde Park bungalow built in the 1930s still had its original masonry firebox and smoke chamber (the funnel-shaped section above the firebox that guides smoke up into the flue). Decades of use had left creosote in the corbelled brick steps and some mortar joints were beginning to erode. What we did: a full sweep of the flue and a careful hand-cleaning of the smoke chamber, then a camera inspection so the customer could see the mortar gaps for themselves. We gave them our written notes on what could wait and what should be watched. The result: a safe, clean chimney and a customer who finally understood exactly what they were dealing with behind the wall. We didn’t press for repairs that day, and they told us that’s why they’d be calling back.

Dryer Vent to Chimney Conversion Inspection in Dripping Springs

Professional technician performing maintenance on a residential gas fireplace — Before: flue with unknown prior use and heavy debris, Dripping Springs, TX

Professional technician performing maintenance and cleaning service on a gas fireplace. — After: flue cleaned and inspected following conversion, ready for fireplace use

The problem: a Dripping Springs homeowner had just bought a house where someone had previously vented a dryer into the old fireplace flue. The flue was filled with lint, dust, and old duct tape, and they wanted to know if the fireplace could ever be used again. What we did: removed all the old vent material, swept the flue to bare tile, ran a camera the full length to check for cracks or damage, and gave them a written report on what would be needed for a proper conversion back to a wood-burning fireplace. The result: the flue was clean and the homeowner finally had a straight answer on what the house needed. Sometimes the first job is just clearing out someone else’s bad idea so the real work can start.

Want Results Like These?

Every one of the jobs above comes with the same things: a written price before we start, before-and-after photos on every visit, and a written guarantee on any repair we make. Hadley Chimney Austin has been doing this work since 2003, and we’d be glad to take a look at your chimney. Call (361) 603-5116 to book your sweep or ask about a repair. A real person answers.

Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney Austin, serving Austin since 2003.

Before & after

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