SweepSmart

09/02/2026

🏠 REALTOR FRIENDS — HERE’S WHY A CHIMNEY INSPECTION CAN BE A VALUABLE PART OF EVERY TRANSACTION

A standard home inspection may identify visible concerns, but it doesn’t always include a detailed evaluation of the chimney and fireplace system. Problems can be concealed inside the flue, behind walls, within a chase, or above the roofline—and they may involve significant repair costs.

Having SweepSmart inspect the chimney before closing gives your clients better information while there is still time to act.

✅ If the system is in good condition, the inspection can provide reassurance and help support the property’s presentation.

✅ If problems are discovered, the written findings can help buyers and sellers negotiate repairs, credits, or the purchase price.

✅ Because our team also specializes in masonry restoration, we can provide practical repair quotes for many brick, mortar, crown, cap, and related masonry problems.

That means you aren’t left with a report that simply says a problem exists. You can have clearer next steps and credible repair numbers that your clients can use during negotiations.

If you’re working with a property that has a chimney or fireplace, give SweepSmart a call. We would be glad to become a dependable resource for you and your clients.

📞 319-855-1007
📍 Iowa-based
✅ CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep
✅ Licensed and insured

SweepSmart — Chimney Inspections & Masonry Restoration

08/30/2026

08/19/2026

🏛️ Take a look at Muscatine’s East Second Street in 1906!

We found this incredible historic color postcard in the Library of Congress while creating our latest restoration ad. The architecture, brickwork, storefronts, and busy downtown streets show just how much history Muscatine holds.

These buildings are more than old brick and mortar—they’re part of our community’s story. Let’s preserve what makes Muscatine special, one historic building at a time.

Do you recognize any of these buildings—or have old Muscatine pictures of your own? Share them in the comments! 👇

Historic image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

08/12/2026

🧱 Saving a Piece of Iowa History 🧱

Had the honor of working on a beautiful old farmhouse chimney this week! Even though it’s no longer venting anything (no active fireplace or appliance using it), the homeowner wanted to preserve it rather than tear it down — and we loved being part of that.

There’s something special about working on Iowa’s old farmhouses. These chimneys were built by hand, decades ago, and they’re part of the character and story of the property. Tearing one down is permanent — restoring it keeps that history standing for the next generation.

✅ What we did:
🔹 Careful inspection of the original masonry
🔹 Repointed and repaired deteriorating mortar joints
🔹 Preserved the original structure and character
🔹 No demo needed — kept the farmhouse’s charm intact

If you’ve got an old chimney on your property that’s “just for looks” now but you don’t want to lose it, don’t let anyone tell you it has to come down. We specialize in restoring historic masonry, not just replacing it.

📞 Give us a call at 319-855-1007 — we’d love to help preserve your piece of Iowa history too!

✅ CSIA Certified | NFPA 211 Standards | 22+ Years Masonry Experience

08/10/2026

🐍 SNAKES GETTING INTO YOUR HOME? WE FIXED IT! 🐍

Got a call from a homeowner who kept finding snakes getting into their foundation through cracks, holes, and voids in the masonry. Not exactly a fun surprise to deal with!

✅ Identified every gap and void where they were sneaking in
✅ Parged and sealed the foundation solid
✅ No more unwanted guests — homeowner was thrilled with the results

Not all heroes wear capes 😂 sometimes they just show up with a trowel and a bucket of mortar.

If you’ve got cracks, gaps, or crumbling spots in your foundation (whether critters are involved or not!), don’t wait for it to get worse. Small voids now turn into bigger structural issues later.

08/08/2026

🧱 BASEMENT FOUNDATION REPAIR – Cedar Rapids Area 🧱

Got a call from a homeowner concerned about their basement foundation – the first course of this old cast stone foundation was deteriorated and crumbling. Cast stone like this hasn’t been manufactured in decades, so matching the original wasn’t an option. The priority became solving the structural problem, not a cosmetic match.

✅ Removed all brittle, failing material
✅ Filled the void solid
✅ Patched to restore structural integrity

Foundation issues like this don’t fix themselves, and they tend to get worse with freeze-thaw cycles and ground moisture. If you’ve got cracking, crumbling, or bulging at the base of your foundation walls, don’t wait until it becomes a bigger (and more expensive) problem.

08/03/2026

🧱 Mailbox Repair Spotlight

This stone mailbox took a direct hit from a car. We repaired the damage, and while the exact original stone wasn’t available, our team hand-matched the color and texture so closely it blends right in.

✅ Stone mailbox repair
✅ Stone matching & masonry blending
✅ Durable, long-lasting repair

Mailboxes are just one piece of what we do — we handle all types of masonry repairs, from chimneys and foundations to tuckpointing and stone veneer.

🔨 Need a masonry repair? Give us a call!
📞 319-855-1007