without the required permits and it was not installed correctly. Upon reaching out to them about this and some pushing, they tried to fix it. It failed inspection (vent cut, venting backwards, wrong chimney liner), and left us paying for a large portion of the repairs ourselves. 10/24/2013. Sarkinen installed a furnace in our home without the required permits and was not to code. 9/24/2015. The City inspected our AC installation and told us there was no permit for the furnace and it was not installed to code. He said the venting was wrong, the insulation was missing, and the chimney liner was missing. I called Sarkinen that day. At first they said they don't do that kind of work anymore. When told the work is still covered by the 2 year warranty, they said they would send qualified technician to take a look. 10/5/2015. The tech was scheduled for 9-11 am and showed up at 1 pm. He looked at the work and asked me what needed to be done. I told him the inspector said the vent was wrong, insulation was missing, and the chimney liner was missing. He then called the inspector to ask about what materials should be used. I asked him 3 times if he knew how to do this work. Hey said yes, it was easy; he just wanted to make sure he did it the way the City wanted it. He then left for 2 hours to buy the parts and came back at about 3pm and finished the work at ~6:30pm. 10/8/2015. The City inspector returned and said it was done wrong again. 1) the venting was cut. 2) One vent was backwards, as visible by the air flow direction arrow on the vent itself. 3) The wrong chimney liner was used. The inspector recommended we not use our furnace stating it was a safety issue and could damage our chimney. I called Sarkinen Plumbing. They spoke with the City inspector while I stood there and said they would call me back after talking with the technician and owner. 10/9/2015. Sarkinen called back. First they wanted my copy of the contract to see whether or not it spelled out that they were to do the chimney liner. I told them that based on how they installed the furnace, a chimney liner was required by Code. Second they were upset that the inspection was rescheduled and wanted to discuss that with the City. Not that it's relevant, but I told them the City scheduled it prior to speaking with me so it had to be rescheduled for when I was could be home. Then Sarkinen said their tech hadn't gotten back to them and all they had was my word that it wasn't done right. I pointed out they spoke with the City inspector's, plus the inspection slip stating corrections were needed. I told them they need to send a professional HVAC person to come out and do the job right or reimburse us to do it. They again needed to get back to me. 10/12/2015. Sarkinen emailed back. They said "what we are offering is that you hire a company to take care of the backwards venting portion only, whichever company you prefer, and when work is completed we will go 50/50 for the venting portion." They argued that the chimney liner wasn't in their scope so they won't pay for it (even though it's required by Code based on how they chose to install the furnace.) 10/14/15. After 17 hours of my time making phone calls and waiting around for people to fix the problem I found another company to repair it. The other company fixed it in a little over an hour, including the insulation that had mostly fallen off after only 3 days, and passed inspection. I sent them the bill and they paid for only 50% of the repairs (after sending 3 emails due to no response requesting payment) to bring their furnace installation to code. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/wa/vancouver/pnw-plumbers-reviews-408646.htm"},"position":6},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"Master Sweep","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"OR","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ginger H."},"reviewBody":"They did a great job. He inspected and cleaned chimney. No problems with the chimney so yay! "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/or/milwaukie/master-sweep-reviews-2079196.htm"},"position":7},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"Euro Masonry LLC","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"OR","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Deena S."},"reviewBody":"Euro Masonry LLC gave us the lowest estimate out of several companies from which I received quotes. We made it clear to all of the representatives that we did not want or need anything fancy. Our main priorities were having functional fireplaces and a chimney that would pass inspection when, down the line, we sell the house. Jozo did the work himself, functioning independently and efficiently. He took care to repair flue problems that in the past had caused back-draft problems and pulled smoke from the upstairs fireplace down into the lower level fireplace (and family room!). It's so nice not to have that issue anymore! He prepared the counter flashing for the roofing work that we were going to have done in the near future. Our roofer said he did a good job with that. The cracks in the exterior of the chimney were all ground out and filled to our satisfaction. It's important to note that he did this work at the end of November, in less than ideal conditions to be working outside, and he never complained or quit due to the weather. He did keep a close eye on the outside temperature and use tarps when it rained. Both are factors that can affect the building of a chimney. He also cleaned up after himself extremely well. We were very pleased about that. Jozo doesn't do chimney sweep duties, so we had another company come out to do that after Jozo was finished and before we started having fires in the fireplaces. The owner of the chimney sweep company noted that "some corners were cut" in the chimney work, but nothing that would affect the functionality or structural stability of the chimney. Honestly, had that not been mentioned by another chimney professional, we would not even have known. That's the reason I only scored a "B" in the quality category. That said, we were very clear that we didn't want or need anything more than a basic chimney rebuild. Our chimney is on a side of the house that is not highly visible at all. We were responsible for doing the sealing and painting ourselves later, and that was just fine with us. We are quite happy with the work and enjoyed having fires in our fireplaces again this winter. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/or/portland/euro-masonry-llc-reviews-2375633.htm"},"position":8},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"Ely Stokes Inc. Chimney, Fireplace & Masonry","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"OR","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"BECKY P."},"reviewBody":"I purchased a Deal on Angie's list for chimney sweep services. I received a call to set up the service and I think it was rescheduled once due to the holidays and the winter weather. The technician showed up on time and cleaned the chimney. It was a basic cleaning and it was done very neatly with no mess to clean up afterwards. I was given advice on some additional products to buy (lava rock and glowing embers) since it is a gas fireplace. The technician also looked at the outside of the chimney which he said needed repair and an estimate would be sent. I did not receive the estimate. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/in/indianapolis/ely-stokes-inc-chimney%2C-fireplace-and-masonry-reviews-57928.htm"},"position":9},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"A Better Chimney, LLC","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"OR","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Pat T."},"reviewBody":"Our home is 47 years old, and the brickwork of the chimney ABOVE the roof line had deteriorated to the point where bricks were spalling and had deteriorated so badly that rain was actually working through the bricks and waterspotting a celing nearby. Water entry was ONLY NOTICED in severe rainfalls (inch or more of rain - from northerly direction), so it took some time to notice the effects of the chimneys deterioration. A roofing company person actually finally figured out how and why the leak was occurring after being called on site due to the leak which we'd thought would be traced to an earlier re-roofing. A Better Chimney was contacted and was prompt to call back to provide a bid, and after we'd compared other bids, called them to do the work. One thing exceptional about their inspection and bidding visit was that everything was carefully explained to me, and that rather than 'a here's our bids, take it of leave it!' approach, three actual approaches to solving the problem - sort of 'a quick fix' - 'short term', and 'complete rebuild - long term solutions' were offered, and though their complete rebuild was a bit higher than some who offered little or no explanation, some other bids were as much as 35% higher than A Better Chimney's bid for complete rebuild. Though there was fairly miserable weather throughout the time the work was being performed, and some work was delayed as a result, the single craftsman (Pedro) who arrived and set up as promised on one day, did a teardown the next and rebuild the following, and did a commendable job keeping the site as clean and unaffected as possible, even though it was necessary to build a protective 'tent' of sorts over the work site so the masonry work could be done properly out of the rain. I'd very much recommend A Better Chimney LLC. They also did a proper [paperwork presentation, with all legal disclosure forms as required by CCB. Many estimators gloss over these requirements. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/or/portland/a-better-chimney%2C-llc-reviews-198290.htm"},"position":10}]}
Chimney Inspection reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbia City, OR
Very well. They were on time, placed numerous drop cloths, and cleaned the chimney. If I had a chimney to clean, I would hire them again.
Theresa B.
5.0
10/2016
Went well. I had called a couple other chimney sweeps and was told it would be a minimum of 4-weeks before they could get to me. When I called he was very pleasant and was able to come out and clean my chimney that week. I told him that we had birds build a nest in our chimney over the summer...
Melinda B.
1.0
12/2015
Summary - in Oct 2013 Sarkinen was hired to install a furnace in our home (back when they did that work), which included a 2 year warranty on the work. In September 2015 when we had our AC unit installed, we found out they installed the furnace without the required permits and it was not...
Ginger H.
5.0
06/2015
They did a great job. He inspected and cleaned chimney. No problems with the chimney so yay!
Deena S.
5.0
04/2015
Euro Masonry LLC gave us the lowest estimate out of several companies from which I received quotes. We made it clear to all of the representatives that we did not want or need anything fancy. Our main priorities were having functional fireplaces and a chimney that would pass inspection when,...
Becky P.
5.0
04/2014
I purchased a Deal on Angie's list for chimney sweep services. I received a call to set up the service and I think it was rescheduled once due to the holidays and the winter weather. The technician showed up on time and cleaned the chimney. It was a basic cleaning and it was done very...
Pat T.
5.0
01/2013
Our home is 47 years old, and the brickwork of the chimney ABOVE the roof line had deteriorated to the point where bricks were spalling and had deteriorated so badly that rain was actually working through the bricks and waterspotting a celing nearby. Water entry was ONLY NOTICED in severe...
Dr. Chimney LLC is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
"James was quick & efficient. He cleaned the chimmy inside the house then went on the roof and cleaned the chimmy from the top down. He also checked for any damage the chimmy may have and reported any needed repairs to me (documented by a photo). I am retired and on a fixed income, I felt his chimmy cleaning price was reasonable."
Beverly B on October 2025
Dr. Chimney LLC is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
"James was quick & efficient. He cleaned the chimmy inside the house then went on the roof and cleaned the chimmy from the top down. He also checked for any damage the chimmy may have and reported any needed repairs to me (documented by a photo). I am retired and on a fixed income, I felt his chimmy cleaning price was reasonable."
Octopus Project Management LLC. is a Disaster Reconstruction firm focused on mitigation and rebuilding of residential and commercial buildings undergoing the restoration claims process. We are General contractors able to take on a multitude of different types of home projects. our project minimum is around $350 plus materials as a standard trip charge and increases hourly for smaller projects. Estimates are free and can typically be provided same day.
"Amazing customer service, did exactly what I needed done!"
Sidney S on June 2025
Octopus Project Management LLC. is a Disaster Reconstruction firm focused on mitigation and rebuilding of residential and commercial buildings undergoing the restoration claims process. We are General contractors able to take on a multitude of different types of home projects. our project minimum is around $350 plus materials as a standard trip charge and increases hourly for smaller projects. Estimates are free and can typically be provided same day.
"Amazing customer service, did exactly what I needed done!"
Specializing In Portland Chimney Repair & Services Lifetime Chimney provides un-surpassed chimney repairs, masonry, maintenance, chimney sweeping and every other chimney related service to the greater Portland area including Happy Valley, Oregon City & Clackamas. Our chimney craftsmanship is a step above the rest and we guarantee all of the repair & installation work that we do to your chimney. Our chimney services include but are not limited to the following: Tuck Pointing, Flashing, Crowns, Crown, Chimney Caps, Brick Rebuild, Stone Rebuild, Masonry, Chimney Cleaning.
"I was quoted a flat rate for 2 chimneys via Yelp in writing, when the tech was here he refused to do both stating that only one was on the books and that we would have to pay double the quoted price to do the second chimney. I don't know if this is pure incompetence or malicious and predatory scheming, but either way STEER CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY."
Keegan B on September 2025
Specializing In Portland Chimney Repair & Services Lifetime Chimney provides un-surpassed chimney repairs, masonry, maintenance, chimney sweeping and every other chimney related service to the greater Portland area including Happy Valley, Oregon City & Clackamas. Our chimney craftsmanship is a step above the rest and we guarantee all of the repair & installation work that we do to your chimney. Our chimney services include but are not limited to the following: Tuck Pointing, Flashing, Crowns, Crown, Chimney Caps, Brick Rebuild, Stone Rebuild, Masonry, Chimney Cleaning.
"I was quoted a flat rate for 2 chimneys via Yelp in writing, when the tech was here he refused to do both stating that only one was on the books and that we would have to pay double the quoted price to do the second chimney. I don't know if this is pure incompetence or malicious and predatory scheming, but either way STEER CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY."
Air Duct Squad has many years of service in the HVAC industry. We're the go-to company for the heating and air conditioning service you need in Portland. Our experienced technicians are familiar with equipment makes and models from practically every manufacturer. Customer satisfaction is one of our highest priorities, and we'll work hard to get your ducts cleaned right the very first time we tackle it.
"Great deal, great service, and they are all beyond professional and courteous. Cannot explain to you enough how happy I am with the service I received!"
Kaylin B on March 2021
Air Duct Squad has many years of service in the HVAC industry. We're the go-to company for the heating and air conditioning service you need in Portland. Our experienced technicians are familiar with equipment makes and models from practically every manufacturer. Customer satisfaction is one of our highest priorities, and we'll work hard to get your ducts cleaned right the very first time we tackle it.
"Great deal, great service, and they are all beyond professional and courteous. Cannot explain to you enough how happy I am with the service I received!"
Air duct crew is one of the oldest company on the market. Started in 2001 as family owned. Still operating proudly as one of the leading air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning and chimney cleaning company. Our goal is to ensure the quality of service and best level of cleaning to our every customer. We are proudly servicing commercial and residential projects of every difficulty.
"Air Duct Crew did a great job and I REALLY appreciated the guys that showed up to do the job. Very nice and professional, had no concerns about them at all."
Abigail T on March 2021
Air duct crew is one of the oldest company on the market. Started in 2001 as family owned. Still operating proudly as one of the leading air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning and chimney cleaning company. Our goal is to ensure the quality of service and best level of cleaning to our every customer. We are proudly servicing commercial and residential projects of every difficulty.
"Air Duct Crew did a great job and I REALLY appreciated the guys that showed up to do the job. Very nice and professional, had no concerns about them at all."
At Ram Jack West, we treat customers with respect and care. If you notice cracks, damages, or other issues with your foundation, our team is ready to help. We have innovative systems that have been refined over our 40+ years of experience.
"Purchased a 1906 home in North Portland with an uneven foundation that had been patched for 60 years, but needed serious stabilization work. I contacted multiple foundation contractors in the greater-Portland area and Ram Jack was the only team that provided a full worse-case estimate that included everything that I may need to permanently stabilize the home's foundation. Other contractors' estimates were higher, omitted some of the features of Ram Jack's estimate, and involved greater excavation work around the home. While I was collecting estimates, I had multiple contractors check the levels on the house and could see the home was continuing to sink as much as half and inch in some areas within only a few months, so I knew I had to do something soon as the hotter summers are causing significant erosion to the clay soil in north portland. After paying the 50% down payment, I was quickly in touch with multiple project managers and structural engineers who were able to answer my questions as the work plan developed. I work from home and have two cats, so I was a bit worried about the noise and needing to leave at certain times during the work. Ramjack devised a plan of installing 12 helical piers from the basement and 2 outside for a small crawl space area as well as replacing most of the piers in the basement that had water damage. During the excavation and pier installation, I didn't have to leave my house at all, my cats were fine, none of the utilities ever needed to be turned off and none of the neighbors said they heard more than the hum of the generator outside; insane professionalism. The work team kept me informed at every step of the excavation and pier installation and was able to recover an inch of lift with only a few drywall cracks that I patched in a day. I could have gone further, but wanted to avoid any potential damage to the sewer pipes and stay within my budget. During the lifting, I was standing with the lead construction manager who kept me informed of every risk as we lifted the house bit by bit. During the excavation my basement looked insane with mounds of dirt everywhere, but the construction team cleaned everything flawlessly; all I had to do was a quick mop and the basement was good as new again. Overall had a great experience with RamJack; the 20 years in business shows, most everyone I dealt with had been working with them for years; the construction manager had been doing pier installation for 15 years. The work was expensive, but cheaper than the other local contractors, and certainly way cheaper than replacing the entire basement foundation. Ramjack was even able to take a few grand off the intitial worse-case estimate for solutions not needed. Glad I was able to repair my 120 year old home; here's to another 100 years. Big thanks to Pancho and Stephen, as well as the structural engineers and project managers; I'm very happy with the work."
Kevin S on March 2022
At Ram Jack West, we treat customers with respect and care. If you notice cracks, damages, or other issues with your foundation, our team is ready to help. We have innovative systems that have been refined over our 40+ years of experience.
"Purchased a 1906 home in North Portland with an uneven foundation that had been patched for 60 years, but needed serious stabilization work. I contacted multiple foundation contractors in the greater-Portland area and Ram Jack was the only team that provided a full worse-case estimate that included everything that I may need to permanently stabilize the home's foundation. Other contractors' estimates were higher, omitted some of the features of Ram Jack's estimate, and involved greater excavation work around the home. While I was collecting estimates, I had multiple contractors check the levels on the house and could see the home was continuing to sink as much as half and inch in some areas within only a few months, so I knew I had to do something soon as the hotter summers are causing significant erosion to the clay soil in north portland. After paying the 50% down payment, I was quickly in touch with multiple project managers and structural engineers who were able to answer my questions as the work plan developed. I work from home and have two cats, so I was a bit worried about the noise and needing to leave at certain times during the work. Ramjack devised a plan of installing 12 helical piers from the basement and 2 outside for a small crawl space area as well as replacing most of the piers in the basement that had water damage. During the excavation and pier installation, I didn't have to leave my house at all, my cats were fine, none of the utilities ever needed to be turned off and none of the neighbors said they heard more than the hum of the generator outside; insane professionalism. The work team kept me informed at every step of the excavation and pier installation and was able to recover an inch of lift with only a few drywall cracks that I patched in a day. I could have gone further, but wanted to avoid any potential damage to the sewer pipes and stay within my budget. During the lifting, I was standing with the lead construction manager who kept me informed of every risk as we lifted the house bit by bit. During the excavation my basement looked insane with mounds of dirt everywhere, but the construction team cleaned everything flawlessly; all I had to do was a quick mop and the basement was good as new again. Overall had a great experience with RamJack; the 20 years in business shows, most everyone I dealt with had been working with them for years; the construction manager had been doing pier installation for 15 years. The work was expensive, but cheaper than the other local contractors, and certainly way cheaper than replacing the entire basement foundation. Ramjack was even able to take a few grand off the intitial worse-case estimate for solutions not needed. Glad I was able to repair my 120 year old home; here's to another 100 years. Big thanks to Pancho and Stephen, as well as the structural engineers and project managers; I'm very happy with the work."
GNC Construction has a combined total of 40 plus years of experience. We specialize in residential and commercial building. Our staff is experienced in many different trades and we take pride in our craftsmanship and detail. With backgrounds in drywall, steel and wood framing GNC Construction has expanded out to numerous trades. We are certified in steel work, siding, all building trades, painting, plumbing, electrical.
GNC Construction has a combined total of 40 plus years of experience. We specialize in residential and commercial building. Our staff is experienced in many different trades and we take pride in our craftsmanship and detail. With backgrounds in drywall, steel and wood framing GNC Construction has expanded out to numerous trades. We are certified in steel work, siding, all building trades, painting, plumbing, electrical.
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Chimney Inspection questions, answered by experts
Start by asking friends, family, and neighbors if they know any reliable roof inspectors. You can also ask contractors that you’ve worked with in the past—they often have a network of people they can reach out to. Once you do find a roof inspector you like, check their online presence, read customer reviews, and give them a call.
Make sure they’re properly licensed and insured in your area. It’s also a good idea to hire inspectors licensed by both the National Roof Certification & Inspection Association (NRCIA) and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI).
It’s okay to buy a house with knob and tube wiring if it’s safe, functional, and still in good condition as well as a minimum of 60 amps. However, a professional should conduct an electrical inspection of the knob and tube wiring to ensure it’s up to code as well as safe and functional. However, the usual 60-amp service boxes can’t handle electricity from 100-amp breakers, making it difficult or impossible to power modern devices.
Removing your fireplace can lower your home’s overall value, but probably only slightly (around $1,000 to $5,000, on average). When deciding whether or not to remove your fireplace, weigh the benefits of removing your fireplace (less maintenance, more floor space) against the potential loss of value.
You might consider demolishing a house if it has a faulty foundation, widespread mold or pest damage, or other significant issues. Older homes with outdated wiring systems or dangerous materials could also be good candidates for demolition. Or, if you’re planning to remodel the entire home, you might find that it’s more cost-effective to tear it all down and start from scratch.
A septic system inspection costs $100 to $200. Doing so can spot issues early so you can plan for necessary repairs ahead of time and save yourself the issue of a backed-up septic tank. Some septic tank repair professionals do an inspection as part of their yearly maintenance on your septic tank if you choose to pay for that service, but you should shoot to have a septic system inspection completed at least once every two to five years.
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The Columbia City, OR homeowners’ guide to chimney inspection services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The process of how to paint a brick chimney comes with a few important caveats, but it’s definitely a worthwhile project to keep your brick strong and in good shape.
Your chimney sweep may not wear a top hat and dance on the ceiling, but they will keep your home safe by providing chimney inspections and cleanings. Follow these steps to learn how to hire a qualified and trusted chimney sweep in your town.