First-time homeowner? We'll walk you through every step. Licensed, insured, and proudly serving Essex, MA and the North Shore.
Owning your first home with a fireplace or wood stove in Essex, MA is genuinely exciting — until someone mentions the chimney and you're not sure where to start. Matt's Brothers Chimney exists to make that easy. We explain what we're doing and why, skip the confusing jargon, and give you straight answers before we ever ask for a dime. From routine annual sweeps to full chimney repairs, our certified technicians treat every Essex home the way they'd treat their own. Call (857) 300-4729 and find out why North Shore homeowners keep coming back year after year.
Comprehensive chimney sweep for Essex homes and businesses.
Safe, mess-free removal of soot, ash, and built-up deposits so your fireplace burns cleanly and your family breathes easy.
Learn more →A clear-eyed look at every part of your chimney system, explained in plain language so you know exactly what you have.
Learn more →From cracked mortar to damaged crowns, we fix what's broken so small issues don't turn into expensive structural problems.
Learn more →Two often-overlooked components that do more to protect your chimney from Essex's wet winters than almost anything else.
Learn more →A clogged dryer vent is a leading cause of house fires — our cleaning service restores airflow and keeps your home safer.
Learn more →The liner is what actually keeps combustion gases out of your living space — we make sure yours does its job properly.
Learn more →We hold ourselves to the highest standards so you can hire with total confidence.
"We bought our first home here last spring and had no idea what condition the chimney was in. Matt's Brothers came out, did a full inspection, and explained every single thing they found — in plain English, not industry speak. They didn't push any extra work on us and the written report was incredibly helpful for our insurance paperwork. We felt completely taken care of."
"The chimney cap on our 1920s Cape had been missing for who knows how long. Matt's Brothers installed a new stainless cap and repaired the crown the same week we called. The technician showed us photos of the damage before and after. Price was exactly what they quoted. Couldn't ask for more from a local company."
"I'd been putting off chimney maintenance for two years because I didn't know who to trust. A neighbor in Essex recommended Matt's Brothers and now I understand the hype. On time, professional, and zero mess in my living room. The sweep took about an hour and they found a minor liner crack I'd never have known about. Fixed it same visit."
"As a first-time buyer, I was intimidated by all the chimney talk. The team at Matt's Brothers made it so easy. They walked me through what a Level 2 inspection covers, found a couple of small mortar issues, and gave me an itemized quote on the spot. The repairs were done neatly and I feel genuinely confident using my fireplace now."
"Had Matt's Brothers out for a dryer vent cleaning after my dryer started taking two cycles to dry a load. The duct was completely packed — borderline dangerous, honestly. They cleared it in under an hour and the difference was immediate. Added the annual chimney sweep to the visit and saved on the combo. Great value, great crew."
"We have an older home with a wood-burning insert and weren't sure if the existing liner was still safe. Matt's Brothers did the video inspection, walked us through the footage, and recommended a stainless liner installation. The crew was respectful of our home, the work was tidy, and the new liner came with a solid warranty. We light fires all winter now without any worry."
Matt's Brothers Chimney was founded by two brothers who grew up in the Essex area and came to the trade the honest way — starting as helpers, earning certifications, and building a reputation one satisfied customer at a time. From the beginning, the goal was simple: provide the kind of chimney service that a neighbor would recommend without hesitation. That meant plain communication, fair pricing, and work you could actually trust. Today, the company serves homeowners across Essex and the wider North Shore with the same no-nonsense approach that built it.
Reach us at (857) 300-4729 or submit a quick request online. We'll ask a few basic questions about your fireplace type, when it was last serviced, and what's prompting your call. No lengthy forms, no automated runaround — a real person picks up.
We offer same-week appointments throughout Essex and the surrounding North Shore. Our technician arrives in a marked vehicle, on time, and introduces themselves before setting foot inside. We protect your floors and furniture before any work begins, so there's no mess left behind.
We complete your sweep, inspection, or repair using professional equipment. While we work, we document what we see and flag any concerns with photos. If we notice something that needs attention, we show you directly — no mystery reports, no vague recommendations designed to generate extra charges.
Before we leave, we review all findings with you in plain language and provide a written report you can keep. Quotes for any recommended follow-up work are itemized and pressure-free. You decide what to do next — we're here when you're ready.
A lot of first-time homeowners feel talked past by tradespeople. We do the opposite. Before we start work, we show you what we found and explain why it matters. After we finish, we walk you through what we did. You leave knowing exactly what state your chimney is in — and what, if anything, to watch for next.
Essex chimneys face conditions most chimney guides don't account for — salt-laden air, nor'easter wind loads, and dramatic freeze-thaw swings that crack masonry faster than inland locations. Our technicians have worked these conditions for years and know which repairs hold up on the coast and which ones don't.
Every technician on our crew carries proper licensing and we maintain full liability and workers' compensation insurance. That matters because chimney work involves heights, open flues, and structural masonry. You deserve to know that anyone on your roof or in your home is credentialed, covered, and accountable if something goes wrong.
We provide free written estimates before any work begins. The price we quote is the price you pay — no line items that appear after the fact, no pressure to approve add-ons on the spot. If we find something unexpected mid-job, we stop and talk to you before proceeding. That's just how honest work gets done.
Expert local advice for Essex homeowners.
Confused about chimney cracks and crumbling mortar? This plain-English guide to chimney repairs in Essex walks first-time homeowners through what actually matters.
Read more →New to owning a home in Essex, MA? Here's a plain-English breakdown of chimney inspection levels so you know exactly what to expect — and why it matters.
Read more →New to owning a home with a fireplace in Essex, MA? Here's everything you need to know about chimney sweeping and cleaning, explained plainly.
Read more →Proudly serving Essex and these nearby communities.
Yes, absolutely — and it's one of the most important things a new homeowner can do. A previous owner may have used the fireplace improperly, and you have no way to see inside the flue without an inspection. A Level 2 inspection catches liner cracks, blockages, and structural issues that could cause a chimney fire or carbon monoxide leak. Schedule one before you ever light a match.
Yes, even occasional use creates deposits worth monitoring. Creosote is the condensed byproduct of wood smoke — it coats the inside of your flue and can ignite if it accumulates. Light users often assume they're safe to skip annual sweeping, but a small amount of buildup in the wrong spot can still create risk. An annual check keeps things honest regardless of how often you burn.
Repair is almost always worth it. Many of Essex's older homes have chimneys that look rough but are structurally sound and entirely serviceable once properly maintained. A professional inspection tells you exactly what you're dealing with. Sealing off a fireplace doesn't address underlying moisture issues, and you lose a valuable feature of your home. Get the facts first before deciding.
Chimney caps are genuinely necessary, not a sales add-on. Essex's coastal weather drives rain directly into open flues, and animals — especially raccoons and starlings — actively nest in uncapped chimneys. A stainless-steel cap costs very little compared to the water damage or animal removal it prevents. If your home is missing one, replacing it is one of the highest-return chimney investments you can make.
You can spot obvious problems — heavy staining, crumbling mortar, a strong odor — but the critical issues happen inside the flue where you can't see them. Liner cracks, deteriorated smoke chambers, and dangerous creosote levels are invisible to the naked eye from below. A professional with a camera and proper lighting sees what you can't. Don't rely on a visual check from the firebox.
Right away, assuming no repairs were needed. Once we've completed the sweep and confirmed the system is clear and structurally sound, your fireplace is ready to use that same evening. If we identified and completed a repair during the visit, we'll tell you specifically when it's safe to light a fire — some mortar repairs require a short curing window before use.
Not with the right equipment. We use high-powered HEPA vacuums connected directly to the firebox during the entire sweep process, which captures soot and debris before it can travel into your room. We also lay drop cloths over the hearth area and surrounding floor. You might smell a faint wood-smoke scent briefly, but your furniture and floors stay clean.
Yes. Gas appliances produce combustion byproducts including water vapor and carbon dioxide, and the flue that vents them can still develop blockages from nesting animals, collapsed liner sections, or deteriorating mortar. A blocked gas flue is a carbon monoxide risk. Annual inspection of any vented appliance — gas fireplace, furnace flue, boiler vent — is just as important as it is for wood-burning systems.
Fast response, upfront pricing, and workmanship guaranteed. Get your free estimate today.