Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Shady Hollow
A chimney inspection in Shady Hollow typically runs $189 to $489 depending on the level, with most wood-burning fireplace inspections falling between $249 and $389. We schedule inspections within a few days, not weeks, and every job includes a written price before any work begins. If you’re in Shady Hollow and you haven’t had your flue looked at in years, or you just bought a home here, call (361) 420-8585 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
We know this part of Texas. The homes along Brodie Lane, the cul-de-sacs off Copano Drive, the streets around Shady Hollow Park and Bowie High School territory – these are 1970s through 1990s single-family builds with real wood-burning fireplaces, not decorative gas logs. That matters. An inspection here has to account for things a generic checklist misses.
Why Alcott Chimney Austin Is Shady Hollow’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Alcott Chimney Sweep has served Texas homeowners since 2002, and Ruben Castellano leads the team with a straightforward approach: show the homeowner what we see, explain it in plain English, and never recommend a repair without camera evidence to back it up. That’s the standard in Shady Hollow. Homeowners here tend to be skeptical of big-ticket liner replacements, and rightly so. We show you the footage before we suggest spending a dollar on repairs.
Every technician who comes to your Shady Hollow home has passed a background check and identity verification under the Threshold Standard. You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive, and they’ll show a photo ID badge at the door. No exceptions. If you’re home alone with kids, or you’re an older homeowner who doesn’t open the door to just anyone, this is the difference between a nervous wait and a known face.
Our service area covers all of Shady Hollow, and we typically reach homes here within the same window as our Austin metro runs. Dispatch is coordinated from our Austin office, but the crews serving Shady Hollow live and work in this part of Travis and Hays counties. They know the streets, the housing stock, and what to expect when they climb onto a roof here.
Styles & brands we work with
Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Shady Hollow
A Chimney Inspection at Level 2 in Shady Hollow is what we recommend for most homeowners, and it’s the standard for real estate transactions and after any chimney fire, windstorm, or earthquake-adjacent rumble. It costs $389 to $689 in this market. The job involves a video camera run through the entire flue, plus attic and crawlspace checks where accessible, and a full exterior assessment from roof to firebox.
In Shady Hollow specifically, Level 2 inspections matter more than in neighboring areas. The original clay flue tiles in these late-20th-century homes sit in expansive clay soil that shifts with moisture. That movement cracks tiles. A visual-only Level 1 inspection often misses spalled clay hidden behind creosote. The camera doesn’t miss it.
Camera documentation included
We record the whole scan and review the footage with you. You’ll see the cracks, the gaps, the nests, whatever’s there. You get photo stills emailed to you same day. This is your evidence, not our word.
Real estate inspection timing
If you’re buying or selling in Shady Hollow, get the Level 2 inspection scheduled early in the option period. July through September and December through February are the busiest windows here. A two-week head start keeps closing from stalling.
Chimney Leak in Shady Hollow
A Chimney Leak in Shady Hollow usually traces to three things: a rusted or missing chase cover, failed flashing where the chimney meets the roofline, or cracked masonry letting water behind the brick. Repairing a leak here runs $350 to $1,200 for most flashing and cap work, and $1,500 to $4,000 if the flue liner itself has failed and water is getting into the wall cavity. We’ll show you the exact spot on camera before any work starts.
Shady Hollow’s humidity is the silent factor. Summers here are brutal – high heat, high moisture – and that humidity rusts cast iron dampers and steel chase tops faster than homeowners expect. The freeze-thaw cycle in the brief cold snaps adds another stress point: any water sitting in masonry hairline cracks expands when the temperature drops, widening those cracks year over year.
Flashing and chase cover repair
Most Shady Hollow leaks are flashing failures at the roofline or rust-through on the metal chase top. We replace flashing with proper step flashing and seal with high-temperature roofing sealant, not silicone caulk from a box store.
Flue liner leak diagnosis
If water is streaking the wall behind your chimney or you smell damp masonry in the firebox, the liner may be cracked. In Shady Hollow, cracked clay liners are common because of soil movement. We pressure-test and run the camera to confirm before recommending a DuraFlex stainless liner replacement.
Trusted Brands We Service in Shady Hollow
We work with professional-grade materials, not substitutes. When a Shady Hollow homeowner needs a liner, we quote DuraFlex stainless systems. When a chimney needs resurfacing, we use HeatShield. For chimney caps, chase covers, and dampers, we specify Olympia Chimney and Gelco hardware. We stock common repair parts for the makes and models most common in this area, which shortens turnaround significantly. If you heat with wood and your flue is down during a cold snap, that speed matters.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Shady Hollow Homes
- Spalled clay flue tiles hidden behind creosote. The expansive clay soils here shift enough to crack the original tile liners. Creosote then coats over the damage, and a visual inspection alone can miss it. The camera finds it.
- Squirrel and bird nests in uncapped flues. Spring is peak nesting season. We’re pulling nests out of Shady Hollow chimneys from March through June, and they block draft completely if ignored until winter.
- Rusted cast iron dampers from humidity. Shady Hollow’s muggy summers corrode dampers fast. A rusted damper that’s stuck open lets heated air escape all winter and lets humidity into the firebox in summer.
- Third-degree creosote glaze from wood-stove use. Homes on the outer edges of Shady Hollow that rely on wood heat build thick, shiny creosote in the smoke chamber. A brush won’t remove it. It takes chemical treatment and mechanical removal, and it’s a serious fire risk if left.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Shady Hollow, TX
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Shady Hollow runs $189 to $249, a Level 2 runs $389 to $689, and a Level 3, which involves removing masonry to access hidden sections, starts around $1,200 and depends entirely on what we’re opening up. The factors that move your price are the chimney’s height and roofline access, the flue’s condition, and whether we’re also doing a sweep at the same visit. Every quote is written, in your hands, before any work starts. Nothing gets added at the end. Call (361) 420-8585 for a free estimate specific to your Shady Hollow home.
We Also Serve Cities Near Shady Hollow
Our Shady Hollow inspection crews also cover Austin, Leander, Pflugerville, and Brushy Creek. If you live near the Travis-Hays line or commute into Austin, we’re already running routes through your neighborhood most days. Same verified technicians, same written pricing, same camera evidence.
Serving Shady Hollow, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Shady Hollow area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Inspection in Shady Hollow
Every year, before burn season starts, and ideally a second check in spring after nesting season. Homes that burn wood as primary heat in Shady Hollow build creosote far faster than occasional-use fireplaces in Austin subdivisions. A yearly inspection and sweep is the safe minimum. Call (361) 420-8585 and we’ll walk you through what your specific setup needs.
Yes, and it’s one of the most common hidden defects in Shady Hollow homes. The clay soils under this area expand when wet and contract when dry, and that movement translates through the foundation and into the chimney structure. Original clay flue tiles crack under the stress. The only way to document it is a Level 2 inspection with a camera. We run that camera on every Level 2 job and show you the footage, so you’re not taking anyone’s word on a liner replacement. Call (361) 420-8585 to schedule.
Spring, March through June, we pull more squirrel and bird nests from Shady Hollow chimneys than any other time of year. The birds are nesting, and uncapped flues are open invitations. If you skipped a spring inspection and your first fire rolls smoke into the room, a blocked flue is the likely cause. We remove the nest, inspect the damper and liner, and quote a proper cap. Call (361) 420-8585.
Yes, especially in Shady Hollow where summer humidity is high. A rusty cast iron damper can seize open, which costs you heated air all winter, or seize shut, which sends smoke back into the room. We inspect the damper on every chimney inspection and often replace rusted units with Olympia Chimney dampers. If yours looks rough, call (361) 420-8585 and we’ll put a camera on it.
A Level 1 is a visual check of the readily accessible parts of the chimney, the firebox, and the cap. It costs $189 to $249 in Shady Hollow. A Level 2 adds a full video camera scan of the flue interior, attic and crawlspace checks where possible, and is required for real estate sales. It costs $389 to $689. In Shady Hollow, where clay flue damage from soil movement is common, we recommend Level 2 for any chimney that hasn’t been inspected in five years or more. Call (361) 420-8585 for a free estimate and we’ll recommend the right level for your home honestly.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney Sweep, serving Shady Hollow since 2002.