What Atherton's building department checklist says about chimneys
The Town of Atherton Building Department's checklist for ADUs and JADUs lists fireplaces or chimneys that list, bulge or settle from defective material or deterioration as a substandard-building condition (source: Town of Atherton Building Department - Checklist for ADUs and JADUs).
That checklist is written for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. If you are planning one, your chimney's condition is on the list of things the department considers. The Building Department decides how its checklist applies to your project. A chimney inspection gives you a clear, documented picture of the chimney's condition before that conversation, so a leaning stack or failing masonry doesn't come to light halfway through planning.
How an inspection looks at those conditions
Each part of the checklist wording points to something specific an inspector checks:
- Listing: whether the chimney stands plumb or leans away from the house or roofline.
- Bulging: whether sections of brick or stone are pushing outward, which can signal failing mortar or movement inside the structure.
- Settling: whether the chimney has dropped or pulled away from the wall, often visible as gaps or cracks where it meets the house.
- Defective material or deterioration: crumbling mortar joints, spalling or loose brick, a cracked crown and damage to the flue liner.
For a property that is changing, such as adding a unit or preparing for a sale, a Level 2 inspection is the usual choice. It goes beyond what is visible from the firebox and roof by adding a camera look inside the flue, where liner cracks and gaps are otherwise hidden.
Signs to mention when you call
- The chimney looks like it leans when you view it from the yard
- Brick or stone on the chimney looks pushed out or uneven
- A gap or crack where the chimney meets the house
- Mortar that crumbles or falls out of the joints
- Loose or flaking brick on the stack or crown
- Smoke or odor coming into the room when the fireplace is in use
Chimney inspection in brief
An inspection covers the chimney from the firebox to the cap. That includes the damper, smoke chamber, flue liner, crown, flashing and the outside masonry, plus a check for blockages, creosote buildup and nests. We note what is sound, what needs attention and how urgent each item is. Gas fireplace and gas appliance work is offered, and we work on all major brands. For the full scope and the inspection levels, read how chimney inspection works.
When an inspection is the right first step
Book an inspection when you need to know the condition before deciding anything. Common reasons include planning an ADU or JADU, buying or selling, a fireplace that hasn't been used in years, or a chimney that simply looks wrong. If shaking has left the stack cracked or out of line, read about what causes chimney damage after an earthquake and have it inspected before the next fire.
If you already know what is broken, such as a cracked crown, loose brick or a leak at the flashing, go straight to chimney repair for homes in Atherton. Problems an inspection finds can be handled there as well.
Don't use a chimney that has shifted
If the chimney is visibly leaning, bulging or pulling away from the house, stop using the fireplace and keep people clear of the area below it until it has been inspected.
Book an inspection
For everything we offer locally, visit our Atherton area page. To see the scope of the job in detail first, go to the full chimney inspection service page. Then call or request an estimate.
Sources (1)
The sources of the Atherton facts on this page.
- 1Town of Atherton Building Department - Checklist for ADUs and JADUs
