Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterMeet the Lawrence Team Behind Top Hat Chimney
Top Hat Chimney started in 1999 with one truck, one set of brushes, and Wendell Pike. Lawrence and the Five Towns have been home base ever since. The crew has changed a little over the years, but the idea hasn’t: show up on time, do the job right, and treat every fireplace like it’s in your own living room. These are the people who answer the phone, climb the ladders, and run the camera through your flue. Wendell still sets the pace, and he’s picky about who he lets near a chimney.
Our People
Wendell Pike – Owner & Lead Technician
Wendell founded Top Hat Chimney in 1999 after spending years working on Long Island roofs and realizing most chimney problems go unnoticed until they get expensive. He’s on job sites in Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, and Inwood most days, still carrying a brush when the schedule gets tight. Wendell holds a CSIA certification and has installed and serviced liners from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Olympia longer than some competitors have been in business. The 90-Day Done Right Promise has his name on it because he answers the phone when you call about it. On Saturdays, you’re likely to run into him at the hardware store or a little league game, and he will ask how the fireplace is doing.
Manny R. – Senior Installer
Manny has been with Top Hat for 14 years and handles most of the liner installs and rebuild work across Nassau County. He came up doing masonry on the South Shore, so when a flue tile is cracked or a crown has shifted, Manny can tell you the difference between a patch job and a real fix before he opens the truck. He’s the one who works with Gelco and Copperfield caps and knows exactly how they hold up in salt air near the water. Manny smokes his own barbecue and will talk brisket with you if you’ve got ten minutes after the sweep is done.
Nina S. – Service Coordinator
Nina is the voice you’ll usually hear when you call (516) 604-2573. She has been routing sweeps and repair calls for Top Hat for eight years and knows the Lawrence, Atlantic Beach, and Long Beach streets better than most GPS apps. Nina gives you a real arrival window, not a “sometime between now and dinner” range, and she calls if anything slips. She keeps the schedule moving without double-booking or rushing a technician off a job early. If you qualify for the senior or veteran discount, Nina will make sure it’s on the invoice before you even ask.
Tommy B. – Apprentice Sweep
Tommy joined the crew two years ago after working summers with his uncle on roofing crews in Queens. He’s learning the craft the slow way: brushing flues, hauling tarps, and watching Wendell and Manny read chimney conditions before reaching for a tool. Tommy shadows every inspection and is working toward his own certification while he learns the difference between first-degree creosote you can brush out and third-degree glaze that needs a pro’s touch. He’s the one who makes sure your living room floor stays spotless, and he takes the “leave it cleaner than we found it” rule personally.
One Standard, Every Job
Every Top Hat job in Lawrence follows the same rules, no matter who climbs the ladder. The price is stated before a tool comes off the truck, and the number on the invoice matches. The flue gets inspected with a camera, and you see the footage and hear a plain-English verdict before any repair is recommended. If a chimney is in fine shape and doesn’t need work, that’s what we tell you. No trips charges inside the county for chimneys in Lawrence, a $40 break on repairs over $200, and always 10% off for seniors and veterans. And the 90-Day Done Right Promise stands behind the whole thing, written on every job. One call brings the crew back.
How Our Team Works in Lawrence
Lawrence homes run older than a lot of the surrounding area, and that means fireplaces built in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s with masonry that’s seen some winters. Coastal air from Jamaica Bay doesn’t do brick and mortar any favors either. The crew checks for spalling brick, rusted dampers, and crown cracks that let water find its way down the flue during nor’easters. If you live near the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club or up by Number Five School, you already know how fast salt and wind exposure can wear on a chimney. We schedule Lawrence sweeps year round, because chimneys break in the off-season too, not just during burning months.
Questions Lawrence Homeowners Ask About Our Crew
Who will actually show up at my house in Lawrence?
Wendell, Manny, or Tommy, depending on the job and the day. You’ll get a name and a real arrival window when you book. The person who arrives is background-checked, in uniform, and works directly for Top Hat Chimney, not a subcontractor. Call (516) 604-2573 and Nina can tell you exactly who’s scheduled for your street.
Does the team do more than just cleaning?
Yes. The crew handles full chimney cleaning and sweeping, fireplace repairs, chimney caps and crowns, and complete liner installs and rebuilds. Manny leads most liner work, Wendell handles inspections and diagnostics, and the team has worked with DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products for years. If your chimney needs a fix that goes beyond a standard sweep, you won’t be referred to a stranger.
How does the 90-Day Done Right Promise work with the crew?
Every job we complete includes a written promise: if the work isn’t right within 90 days, one call brings the crew back at no additional cost. No forms to chase, no warranty department. You call, Wendell or Nina picks up, and the same people who did the job come back to make it right.
Will I have to pressure the team into an honest recommendation?
No. Camera footage and a plain-English verdict come with every inspection, no exceptions. If your flue is clean and safe, you’ll hear exactly that. If a repair is needed, you’ll see the video proof before you spend a dollar. Wendell’s rule has always been that his name goes on the work, and he runs into you again on Saturday.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Lawrence and surrounding communities since 1999.