What fireplace inspection actually protects in Sherman Oaks
Valley summers bake a flat mortar crown until it checks and splits, and the first winter storm pushes water into the brick below it. We reseal hairline cracks and repour crowns that have cracked through, with a slope and a drip edge so water leaves the stack. A typical visit here covers full firebox and refractory panel inspection, damper operation and sealing test, and smoke shelf and smoke chamber evaluation, scoped to what the chimney actually needs rather than a number quoted over the phone.