Chimney problems we find in Lake Forest and Eastwood, Louisville
Documented by David York, Owner
This page is based on 7 completed Chimney Experts inspections in Lake Forest and Eastwood. The photos are from those inspections, and nothing in them identifies a home.
Lake Forest, Eastwood and the newer subdivisions around them sit on the far east side of Louisville. The homes we checked here with a known build year went up between 1977 and 1989. We saw a mix: brick fireplaces, one Rumford fireplace, and a framed chase covered in siding with a metal cover on top.
Newer homes are not problem free. A framed chase is topped with a metal chase cover, and many builders used galvanized steel that rusts. Siding on the chase can pull loose and let water in behind it. Inside brick fireplaces, the smoke chamber above the damper was often left rough, which lets creosote stick. And our camera found cracked flue tiles with scorch marks in more than one home.
This page shows what we found in 7 inspections in Lake Forest and Eastwood, with real photos from those chimneys.
What we found in 7 Lake Forest and Eastwood inspections
- A rough, uncoated smoke chamber3 of 7
- Cracked clay flue tiles2 of 7
- Scorch marks inside the flue2 of 7
- Open mortar joints between flue tiles2 of 7
- Gaps in the smoke chamber2 of 7
- A rusted chase cover2 of 7
- Flashing problems at the roof2 of 7
- Moss or plants growing on the chimney2 of 7
- A mantel too close to the fireplace opening2 of 7
Photos from these inspections
What it means for you
Rust on a chase cover is a slow leak. When the cover rusts or holds water, it drips into the framed chase and can rot the wood inside. A stainless steel cover with a slope fixes it.
Cracked flue tiles and scorch marks inside the flue are more serious. They are often signs of a past chimney fire. We ask you not to use that fireplace until the flue is repaired or relined.
A rough smoke chamber can be coated smooth so creosote has less to grab onto. A mantel that sits too close to the opening can get too hot, so we measure it and tell you if it needs to move. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
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Questions we hear in Lake Forest and Eastwood
Do newer homes in Lake Forest and Eastwood really have chimney problems?
Yes. Newer homes are not problem free. In 7 inspections here we found rough, uncoated smoke chambers, rusted chase covers, flashing problems and cracked flue tiles with scorch marks. Many builders topped framed chases with galvanized steel covers that rust.
Why does a rusted chase cover matter?
Rust on a chase cover is a slow leak. When the cover rusts or holds water, it drips into the framed chase and can rot the wood inside. A stainless steel cover with a slope fixes it.
What do scorch marks inside the flue mean?
Cracked flue tiles and scorch marks inside the flue are often signs of a past chimney fire. We ask you not to use that fireplace until the flue is repaired or relined. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
Not sure what your chimney is telling you? Try our chimney problem diagnosis guide, or browse all of our inspection findings.
What homeowners say about working with us
“we had 3 different chimney companies give us different opinions on the same chimney. one said it was fine, one said it needed a full rebuild, one said something in between. chimney experts was the 4th visit and was the most specific about what was actually wrong and why. that specificity is what finally let us make a decision”
“We had a chimney liner replaced after an assessment determined the existing liner was no longer safe for regular use. The different liner types were explained and what was appropriate for our situation. The installation was done cleanly and the paperwork confirmed the liner specs for our records. We've used the fireplace through a full winter with no issues.”