Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromMartha C

  Date: 08/08/2022

  1 star

  Martha C

  Date: 08/08/2022

  Incomplete and sloppy work. Blamed their mistakes on other contractors. Apparently, it's what they do, blame the customers, blame the other contractors.
  

  Century Chimney, Inc.

  Date: 10/12/2022

  ****** ******* ** **** ** ******** *****
  You had us out and contracted with us for work after you had a chimney fire.
  Our original proposal stated you would first needed to get a contractor to “open up wall, replace damaged wood studs, and widen the opening for fireplace. There is half of a lintel holding bricks up that also needs to be replaced so it holds the entire weight of the brick wall when the metal firebox comes out. After this work is completed, we can come in and do our work”.
  Our Operations Manager Patrick M******* had many phone calls with you and your contractor (brother) to make sure everyone was on the same page to get the job done correctly.
  You hired your brother to do the demo work, and he ripped out extra wall and bricks that did not need to be removed. Your brother had told our technician Graham ******** that he would use wood studs to frame around the fireplace, which in incorrect construction, unsafe, and why your house caught fire the first time. Your brother was informed of this, but still did the job improperly. He put wood right up to the firebox opening which is unsafe and against the IRC (international residential building code), and we had to fix his mistake resulting in an extra day of labor for our team which we absorbed the cost on. We performed the extra work for you needed as a result of his mistakes, and we did not charge you for the extra day of labor and materials.
  We were able to complete our work of removing your metal firebox, building a new masonry one and installing a stainless steel liner and creating a smoke chamber to bring your home up to code.
  After all our work was completed, you hired a plumber to come out and install a gas log set. The gas log set was installed incorrectly and covered the brand new firebricks in the firebox with soot. You emailed us with pictures showing some mortar on the firebricks you wanted to have cleaned up. We agreed to send someone out with a metal brush to rub off some of the excess mortar, but when we got there the soot was covering so much of the firebrick that we all agreed we could not continue our clean up because the soot was smearing attempting to clean it would have made it look much worse. Our technicians Zach and Jeremiah asked you if she had the owner's manual for your new gas logs that you just had installed, so they could help you assemble the logs correctly, and you said you did not have it.
  Weeks later, you wanted our Operations Manager to come out and right the situation with the soot stains on the new firebrick that came as a result the plumber you hired installing your new gas logs incorrectly. Patrick let you know there is nothing that could be done.
  In an email to us, you stated, "My family's business, ******* ************* ***., in business for over 60 years, is considered the top carpentry and millwork contractor in Ohio and beyond. I am a part of a family that has gone over and above to meet contract requirements, through discrepancies and conflicts. For 40 + years they have worked at the ********* ******* *** **** ******* ******** etc. One thing that distinguishes them from other contractors, besides their craftsmanship, is their integrity."
  Your house would likely have caught fire again due to your brother's negligence. Instead of being grateful for catching the mistakes that your contractor (brother) made that may have cost you and yours your lives, and doing extra work for you free of charge after your brother's mistakes, you are writing negative reviews. I suggest you better educate your brother and anyone else working for your family's company, so you don't make the same dangerous mistake in someone else's home. At best, you will incur a large lawsuit after a fire. At worst, lives will be lost.
  Gary S****** Owner
  Century Chimney Inc.

• Review fromCO D

  Date: 08/07/2022

  1 star
  Heads up on a "scare tactic / bait and switch" from this company!! I've tried accepting I was taken and let it go, but it’s been nagging at me and as we head back into fall/winter "fireplace weather" I am more earnestly reminded of this situation. What this company did was almost criminal and at the very least I want to protect other consumers from being scammed.
  We did not fully understand what took place, until we brought in other contractors to objectively inspect our Chimney. it was then we realized the severity of this situation and the deceitfulness of this company's practice.
  Here are the facts: In March 2021 we asked Century Chimney to CLEAN our fireplace and Chimney. They required $125 upfront for cleaning. They then told us they first needed to "camera" the chimney. After viewing the insides with their camera, they refused to clean it claiming it was in "such disrepair", cleaning could cause further damage. They provided a detailed quote for $6400 to "perform a complete tile break and installation of a new stainless steel liner system to bring the system up to code. Also, instead reimbursing us for the $125 cleaning charge, they applied the funds to the “camera work” THEY INSISTED needed to be done before cleaning. Based on the "sticker shock of their quote, we took a natural pause through the summer to mull over our next steps.
  That Fall2021 we decided to get quotes to clean our chimney from other contractors and not divulge we knew anything of “supposed” damage. To our pleasant surprise, both companies indicated the chimney COULD be cleaned and repairs were minimal to prepare it for winter use. The final cost of the repair work and cleaning from the company we chose was $1380. I should have filed a complaint on the BBB site then and there to recoup the $125 that Century Chimney scammed us into keeping but I waited too long. Don't be taken by their "scare tactics" of major work required to be "safe" that may not be needed.