Proudly American
Put a room name beside each opening
Write “front room, open hearth” and “back room, insert” or whatever actually fits. Add the last known use and any work documented for each. An invoice that says only “chimney swept” may be perfectly accurate for one appliance but leaves the second one undetermined. If one opening is boarded over, say so. Do not remove the closure or try smoke in one room to see where it travels.
Read the quote one route at a time
Ask the provider to identify the appliance and passage covered by each line item. Ask what findings would move the job from removal of accessible deposits to investigation of an unknown connection, inaccessible section or abandoned opening. Two faces of a see-through fireplace are different from two separate fireboxes. If the construction cannot be identified in advance, confirm what the initial visit covers before authorizing two cleaning charges.
Separate cleaning from an alteration to the top
If someone proposes a visible change to the exterior, record the reason and ask for its scope apart from the sweep. DeLand has a process for certain exterior changes on designated historic properties. Confirm designation with the city for the actual address before approving such a change. The age of the brick, or its presence on an otherwise newer home, does not by itself tell you how the city will treat the proposal.
Keep the record useful in both rooms
Ask for the opening and passage cleaned, the limits of access, remaining conditions and any instruction about future use. Put a copy with records for that particular fireplace. If a fireplace was untouched, write that down too. A buyer or maintenance provider should be able to read the invoice later without mistaking work at one end of the house for clearance to light the other.
Make a two-hearth work order
Use one line per opening and carry the room names onto the estimate. Change “unknown” to a confirmed connection only when it has been identified.
Use your browser’s Print command for a paper copy.
| Opening | Known before the visit | Record after the visit |
|---|---|---|
| Front room | Mostly used hearth. Older cleaning invoice names the house only. | Which passage was swept and which areas were reached? |
| Back room | Second opening behind a removable-looking cover. Status unknown. | Was the second opening assessed, left closed, or referred for further investigation? |
| Exterior stack | One visible brick enclosure from the lawn. | How were the interior openings mapped, and what remains unconfirmed? |
For a see-through fireplace, replace the two-room entries with the confirmed single firebox and identify both sides used for access.