What Newport News Homeowners Say About Top Hat Chimney
Reviews matter because a chimney is one of the few things in your house you can’t easily inspect yourself. You’re trusting someone to tell you the truth about what’s happening above the damper. Wendell Pike has run Top Hat Chimney since 1999, and the reviews below reflect how he and his crew earn that trust: camera footage shown on the spot, upfront pricing before work starts, and a 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing on every job. No scripts, no pressure, just the facts from the flue.
Recent Reviews
“Wendell’s crew swept our fireplace in Hilton Village and showed us the camera footage before and after. The flue had second-degree creosote building up near the smoke shelf. They explained exactly what that meant, quoted the sweep on the phone, and the invoice matched. No surprises.”
Jason L. – Hilton Village, Newport News
“We bought a 1960s rancher in Beechmont and hadn’t used the fireplace in years. Top Hat came out, found the damper rusted open, and replaced it the same visit. Wendell told me the chimney itself was sound and didn’t try to sell me a liner I didn’t need. That honesty earned a customer for life.”
Carlos H. – Beechmont, Newport News
“Called late on a Sunday after a bird got stuck in our chimney in Riverside. A live person answered, which surprised me. The tech showed up in uniform, background-checked, and gave me an arrival window that he actually kept. Got the bird out, capped the flue, and the price was what they quoted over the phone.”
Leela M. – Riverside, Newport News
“We had three companies give us estimates for a chimney cap replacement in Denbigh. Top Hat gave us a free second opinion on a competing written estimate and came in lower. The cap they installed is an Olympia Chimney product, solid stainless, and they stood behind it. Four months later, no issues.”
Paige K. – Denbigh, Newport News
“I’ve used Top Hat for annual sweeps since 2015. Every time, Wendell or one of his guys walks me through what the camera found. One year they caught a cracked flue tile in our Deer Park home before it became a fire hazard. They repaired it with HeatShield and showed me the finished footage. That’s why I don’t shop around.”
Jason L. – Deer Park, Newport News
“Senior discount, no trip charge since we’re in the same county, and a technician who explained everything without talking down to us. We had the chimney swept and the crown resealed. Wendell pointed out a small crack and told us it could wait a season. When someone tells you work can wait, you trust them.”
Carlos H. – Brandon Heights, Newport News
Why Customers Trust Us
These reviews keep pointing to the same things: camera-verified work, honest assessments, and prices that don’t creep up. Wendell founded Top Hat Chimney in 1999, and after 29 years, he still answers the phone himself sometimes. Every job is backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise: if something isn’t right, one call brings him back at no charge. Calls are answered by a live person around the clock, with no voicemail box and no call center. All technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and give you a real arrival window. We service DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products. We offer $40 off any repair over $200, free second opinions on written estimates, no trip charge inside the county, and 10% off always for seniors and veterans.
Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes. If it’s been a year or more since your last sweep, call (757) 384-4719 and we’ll get you on the schedule. The estimate is free, and the number we quote on the phone is the number on the invoice.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Newport News since 1999.