Home/Services/Chimney Waterproofing
G★★★★★ 4.9 Rated · 363 Google Reviews
Brick drinks water. On the lake side of a Cleveland home it drinks a lot of it, then freezes solid. Our chimney waterproofing uses breathable siloxane sealers that keep rain out while letting the masonry dry, applied only after the real leaks are fixed.
BBB A+ accreditedAngi Super Service Award, 2019 to 20254.9 stars, 363 Google reviews
Professional. Certified. Trusted.
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (Chimney Safety Institute of America), NFI Certified (National Fireplace Institute), NCSG Certified and Member (National Chimney Sweep Guild), Certified Chimney Professional (CCP credential of the National Chimney Sweep Guild), HeatShield Certified Installer (HeatShield chimney lining and flue repair system). Every badge opens the organization's own directory, where Green and Clean Home Services is listed.
CSIA Certified Chimney SweepChimney Safety Institute of AmericaVerify listingNFI CertifiedNational Fireplace InstituteVerify listingNCSG Certified and MemberNational Chimney Sweep GuildVerify listing
Certified Chimney ProfessionalCCP credential of the National Chimney Sweep GuildVerify listingHeatShield Certified InstallerHeatShield chimney lining and flue repair systemVerify listingReviews
Waterproofing is the least glamorous job we do and the one customers thank us for years later. Read them on Google, Angi and the BBB.
363 reviews
Live feed from the Google Business Profile. New reviews appear here automatically.
“David promptly responded to our request for inspection, called when he was en route, and arrived on time. He used a drone to examine the chimney exterior and a camera for the interior, provided a copy of the inspection video, and presented a range of options for prioritizing the repairs. Excellent value, highly recommend!”
“David was amazing! He cleaned our basement, family room, stairs, and upholstery. With a dog and 3 active kids we 110% notice the difference in our home. I can’t wait to schedule him regularly.”
“Amazing service. I’ve had my chimney swept and inspected three times and my air ducts cleaned. I will not go anywhere else. Professional, detailed, helpful and affordable! Hands down 12/10 recommend!”
“Extremely professional, fantastic work. Ducts and rugs were cleaned and both look brand new. Definitely recommend and the price can’t be beat.”
“Wonderful job! Service was right on time. Everything was explained very well step by step. Everything was cleaned up well upon finishing. Would recommend to others.”
“Green and Clean did a great job with our carpets and furniture! Even a few weeks later we couldn’t be happier with their fast, efficient, and thorough service.”
“David is efficient and does a great job. Very professional and we totally trust his work. I can highly recommend him.”
“Cleaned vent efficiently and quickly. Very personable. Would use again.”
633 reviews
Super Service Award winner 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“David from Green and Clean was very prompt with a detailed estimate on repairing my in-law’s chimney. His crew came out and did a nice job of fixing the chimney by redoing the crown, tuck pointing and repairing damaged bricks. The chimney now looks great. Very satisfied.”
“David conducted a comprehensive analysis of the chimney issues and presented us with viable options for resolution. Highly recommended for individuals seeking expert assistance in such matters.”
“David was great. He explained every process. Did a thorough job cleaning and even used a drone to check the chimney. He even took the time to review the fireplace process.”
“Good job, got done properly and fast. The crew worked even late hours to complete and cleaned everything up when done.”
“David was phenomenal! Communication was fantastic, he was on time and extremely friendly. He did a fantastic job with the chimney sweeping and reviewed the video of his findings and spent time answering all of my questions.”
“I needed to have my chimney inspected in order to sell. David was knowledgeable, thorough and honest. He swept the chimney, inspected the roof and basement. All was good and clean. He is even pet friendly.”
“David is always a pleasure to work with! Our entire family goes to him and he always delivers quality work. We appreciate his honesty and the pride he takes in his work. He always shows us the before and after.”
“We needed to have a stove pipe reinstalled for a wood burning stove after it was blown off by a windstorm. Job was done quickly, and we are pleased with the work done.”
36 reviews, 5.0 average
Better Business Bureau accredited since March 2019.
“Service was great and quick! We needed carpet cleaning done as quickly as possible and we greatly appreciated getting an appointment without much notice.”
“Fantastic, very thorough and explained the process clearly. He worked quickly and was courteous and so friendly.”
“Responded immediately, came quickly, worked efficiently, and was upfront with the pricing. More than that, his work is high quality.”
“Super knowledgeable and explained things very thoroughly. Clear that he knows what he is doing. Very patient with all my questions.”
“Wonderful, professional and informative! We got to see the before and after. Nice job!”
“Very professional and knowledgeable. He was punctual to the appointment, and explained everything he was going to do.”
“Efficient, very polite and friendly. I highly recommend Green and Clean! He did a great job and was in and out.”
Neighborhood recommended
Recommended by neighbors across Lake and Cuyahoga counties.
“David cleaned our ducts and chimney and did a wonderful job.”
“David was great. He gave me options and got the job done quickly. Great service today.”
“Green and Clean. He is amazing. Well priced and impeccably done.”
106 recommendations
Recommended by 106 people on Facebook. Open the page to read every recommendation.
Facebook does not allow its recommendations to be displayed off platform. Open the page to read all 106 recommendations.
What is included
Chimney waterproofing is a process, not just a spray. Skipping any step below is why the coupon version fails within a year or two.
Why it matters
CSIA calls water the biggest threat to a masonry chimney. Here is the science behind that, and why the wrong sealer is worse than none.
Water expands about nine percent when it turns to ice. Brick that is saturated when the temperature drops below freezing loses its face a flake at a time. Keep the water out and the freeze does nothing.
Source: U.S. Geological SurveyCleveland crosses the freezing mark on dozens of days each winter, and Lake Erie keeps the air damp through all of them. Every crossing is one more freeze and thaw cycle for a wet chimney.
Source: National Weather Service ClevelandThe Brick Industry Association's note on clear coatings says any treatment on brick must let water vapor pass through. Film forming sealers and paint trap moisture behind them, and the brick spalls from the inside.
Source: Brick Industry Association, Technical Note 6AWarning signs
Look at the north and west faces after a rain. That is where the lake hits.
Healthy brick dries within a day. Brick that looks wet for days is holding water in its pores and will freeze that way.
Salt blooming on the surface means water is moving through the masonry and evaporating at the face. Sealing without cleaning traps the salt.
Once the fired face pops off, the soft inner clay absorbs far more water. Spalled brick usually needs replacing before sealing.
A painted chimney, or one coated with a shiny film years ago, is trapping moisture. That has to come off before a breathable treatment.
Growth on the shaded north face is a moisture map. It grows where the brick never gets a chance to dry.
Moisture wicking through the chimney into upstairs drywall during the thaw is the interior symptom of saturated brick.
Rust inside means water is traveling all the way down. The masonry above it is soaking up rain like a sponge.
A breathable water repellent lasts about ten years. If nobody remembers the last application, the brick is unprotected.
How it works
Drone photos of all faces, an absorption test, and a check of crown, cap, flashing and joints. Repairs come first and are quoted separately.
Efflorescence and growth are removed, failed coatings stripped, and the chimney is left to dry. Wet brick will not accept sealer.
Breathable siloxane sealer is applied from the top down until the brick is saturated, with a second pass while it is still wet on faces that took it fast.
The chimney needs a dry window to cure. We photograph the finished job and log the date so you know when to plan the next treatment.
Before and after
Drag the slider. Real jobs by our technicians in Northeast Ohio.
BeforeAfterChimney taken down and rebuilt
BeforeAfterTuckpointing
BeforeAfterCrown rebuild
BeforeAfterFlue extended, new crown and capOn video
Short clips from our technicians and customers across Northeast Ohio. Tap any clip to play it here.
Service walkthroughChimney sweep and video inspection
Why Green and Clean
Anyone with a pump sprayer can sell chimney waterproofing. The value is in knowing what to fix first, which product breathes, and when the brick is dry enough to take it.
| What matters | Green and Clean | Typical coupon service |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Repairs first, sealer last | Sealer over cracks and open joints |
| Product | Penetrating, vapor permeable siloxane | Film forming sealer or masonry paint |
| Application | Flood coat to saturation, top down | One light pass |
| Credentials | CSIA certified chimney technicians, licensed and insured in Ohio | Pressure washing crew |
Pricing
The sealer is priced by how much the chimney absorbs. These three things move the estimate, and you get a firm written price before any work starts.
A tall, wide chimney of soft older brick drinks far more sealer than a short modern stack of dense brick. The absorption test tells us how many coats.
Crown, joint and flashing repairs are quoted as their own items. Sometimes they are all you need, and waterproofing waits until the mortar cures.
Removing heavy efflorescence, moss or an old failed coating adds time. Clean brick with no previous sealer is the fastest job.
We can tarp the top and seal open joints the same day. The full treatment is scheduled for the next dry, mild window.
Related services
Service areas
Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Summit, Portage, Medina and Lorain counties. Lakefront homes from Avon Lake to Painesville get the most out of it.
FAQ
A penetrating water repellent, usually siloxane or a silane and siloxane blend, that soaks into the brick and lines the pores so liquid water beads off while vapor can still escape. It forms no film, does not change the look of the brick, and does not trap moisture in the wall.
Paint and film forming sealers stop water at the surface but also stop the wall from drying. Moisture that gets in through a crack or from inside the flue is trapped, freezes, and blows the face off the brick behind the paint.
After it has been repaired and the mortar has cured, on a dry chimney in dry weather above roughly 40 degrees. Here that means late spring through early fall. Freshly tuckpointed and newly built chimneys benefit the most because you are protecting sound masonry.
It depends on exposure. A chimney facing the lake takes more weather than one tucked behind a ridge. We date every application and check absorption at your annual inspection, so you retreat when the brick starts taking water again, not on a calendar.
It stops the water that carries the salt, which stops new efflorescence. Existing deposits are cleaned off before sealing. If white staining keeps returning after treatment, water is entering somewhere the sealer does not cover, usually the crown or flashing.
It stops water absorbed through the brick face and mortar joints, a real leak source on the lake side of many homes. It does not fix a cracked crown, missing cap or failed flashing, which is why our estimate covers the whole top of the chimney and puts sealing last.
Free estimate
Tell us about your chimney, fireplace, ducts, dryer vent, carpet or upholstery and we will come back with straight answers and a firm price. No pressure, no upsell.
Chimney, fireplace, masonry, air ducts, dryer vents, carpet and upholstery. One trusted team.
