Start with the system and the inspection scope
A house can have more than one fireplace or appliance connected to a chimney system. Begin by checking which system the report describes, its inspection date and the scope agreed for that visit. Keep the original report with any photographs, video references and later clarifications.
Ask the inspector to explain the inspection level and any access limits in plain language. A section that could not be examined is an unresolved limit, not a finding that the area is in good condition. This guide helps organize the discussion; the professional assessing your property determines the technical conclusions.
Connect each finding to its evidence
For a term you do not understand, ask where the finding is located, how it was observed and which image or report section shows it. Distinguish a documented observation from a possible explanation and a recommendation for further investigation.
CSIA’s published professional guidance for Level 2 inspection of a factory-built chimney includes keeping photographs identified by date and location and discussing the report with the client. That is useful background for asking for clear documentation. It does not establish the appropriate scope for every chimney or certify the contents of a particular report.
Read the CSIA professional guidance (PDF, revised April 2019). Source checked October 18, 2026.
Use a five-question follow-up sheet
| Question | What to record |
|---|---|
| Which system and location? | The fireplace or appliance, component and report reference. |
| What was actually observed? | The finding and the photograph or other evidence explaining it. |
| What remains unknown? | Access limitations or additional investigation recommended. |
| What is the recommendation? | The proposed action, its reason and any instructions about use. |
| What happens next? | The responsible person and the clarification, assessment or quote required. |
The sheet is a conversation record, not a checklist for inspecting the chimney yourself. If the report includes instructions about not using the system, ask the professional to explain them clearly and what must happen before use can resume.
Separate a recommendation from an approved repair
Illustrative example: a report identifies a concern at the top of a chimney, while a separate quote says only “chimney repair.” Before approving the work, ask which documented finding the quote addresses, what work and materials it includes and what remains excluded. Do not assume a broad quote resolves every issue in the report.
Keep open questions visible. If a further assessment is recommended, ask what it will clarify before treating its possible outcome as a confirmed repair requirement. Compare proposals against the same findings and scope using our estimate comparison guide.
Keep the report and the next decision together
Add clarifications to the file with their date and source. After agreed work, retain the completion documentation and ask which original findings it addresses. An invoice alone may not answer every question about the system’s condition or use.
For a Brickhaven inspection discussion, include your ZIP code, the type of fireplace or appliance if known and whether you already have a report. Confirm coverage and appointment scope directly. Our New York chimney inspection page explains how to start; no inspection level, certification, repair result or appointment availability is established by this article.
Your questions, answered.
Does a photograph tell me which repair is needed?
Ask the inspector to connect the image to the finding, explain its significance and identify any further investigation. A picture without that context is not a complete repair specification.
What should I do with a section marked inaccessible?
Ask which area could not be examined, how that limits the conclusions and whether an additional assessment is recommended. Do not treat an inaccessible area as a passed inspection.