Journal
View from the Rooftop
Straight talk about fireplaces, chimneys and gas logs from a Cary, Illinois chimney sweep — a new entry most weeks.
September 1, 2026 · 4 min read
How often should a chimney be swept in Illinois?
Once a year, before burn season — and here is what that yearly visit actually catches in a northern Illinois home.
Read it →August 18, 2026 · 5 min read
What a smoke chamber repair actually fixes
The rough, stepped space above your damper is where most smoky fireplaces go wrong — and where most code failures hide.
Read it →August 4, 2026 · 4 min read
Gas logs vs. gas insert — which one fits your fireplace?
Both burn gas, both look like a fire. One is about the view, the other is about the heating bill.
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