The chimney blog
Answers to the questions Denver-area homeowners ask most, with local rules, Front Range weather and real prices.
Is today a no-burn day in Denver?Denver no-burn days are called Action Days. How to check the 4 p.m. state forecast, the hotline number, who has to stop burning and what still runs.
Denver fireplace rules and fines: what the code actually saysBurning on a Denver Action Day carries a $250 minimum fine, up to $2,000 per day. The code sections, what you may burn, and what can be installed.
Hail hit your roof? Check these 4 chimney partsAfter a Front Range hailstorm, check the chimney cap, chase cover, crown and flashing. What hail damage looks like on each, and how to document it.
Galvanized vs stainless chase covers: which holds up to Denver hail?Why so many Denver-area chase covers rust after hail, how galvanized and stainless steel compare, and what shape details keep water out of the chase.
135 freeze-thaw days a year: why Denver chimney crowns crackDenver crosses freezing about 135 days a year, per NOAA normals. How that cycle cracks chimney crowns, the warning signs, and when to repair or replace.
Gas fireplace at 5,280 feet: why altitude setup mattersGas appliances lose about 4% of input per 1,000 feet above 2,000. What that means for a gas fireplace in Denver, the signs of a bad setup, and service.
How to make an open fireplace usable on Denver no-burn daysCDPHE allows an open fireplace on Action Days only with gas logs, an EPA insert, a pellet insert or electric. How the options compare, with typical ranges.
Selling a Colorado home with a fireplace: the CO alarm law and the chimneyColorado requires a CO alarm within 15 feet of each bedroom when a home with a fireplace is sold. It doesn't require a chimney inspection. A checklist.
Chimney work in Denver's historic districts: what to plan forIn a Denver historic district, exterior work needing a permit goes through Landmark Preservation review. Boulder reviews every exterior change. How to plan.
Denver Square, bungalow or ranch: what your home's age says about the chimneyWhat a Denver-area home's age says about its chimney: pre-1940 brick, post-war ranch flues and newer prefab chases, with Census data by city.
Book online
Pick a day. We'll bring a ladder.
Free inspection in a 3-hour window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5. We call to confirm before we arrive.