Top Hat Chimney Sweep

Intalled two flue liners, installed flue caps, repaired a soot trap that was originally installed backwards . I have used Dale for years to clean my flues and repair minor brickwook on my hearths. Fair prices. Prompt and always friendly. If anyone has a problem with Dale, they need to go back to parochial school for a knuckle rap.

This business did shoddy, destructive, incomplete work, and the owner threatened me when I complained.

It's hard to know where to begin with Dale. He was recommended by a local hardware store that is normally reliable, but the work he performed was absolutely terrible. It wasn't until I had multiple contractors inspect all the work that I realized the extent of his poor craftsmanship. The chimneys were both rebuilt, and it's fair to say they are worse now then they were before Dale arrived. Both are in the process of being rebuilt. Neither were built to the proper height, neither were rebuilt from the roof line where they should have been, there are open mortar joints everywhere, the flashing was sealed with caulk instead of being installed properly or to spec and wasn't tucked into the mortar joints, the chimney caps were completely inadequate and have developed cracks in less than 2 years, the leak in the one chimney (which was the reason I need Dale in the first place) was never fixed and n fact is worse than before he showed up, the incorrect (and indeed flammable) insulation was used for my chimney, he left garbage everywhere each time he showed up......there's honestly too much to relay in this review. I blame myself first and foremost because he was sloppy from the outset installing the wood and pellet stoves and I still let the man up on my roof to replace my chimneys. I was relying on the reference from our local hardware store, but I should have trusted my instincts. While it's not fair to call Dale a thief (he did the work and responded to calls), the work he did perform was atrocious at best and almost criminal at worst. In the words of a mason we had look at the chimney "This guy wasn't even trying." In the words of the mason we wound up hiring to rebuild both chimneys "This is among the poorest work I've seen in 15 years." And I had other contractors inspect his work and they were all appalled. I have taken photos and documented everything in great detail, but since we payed him cash, I doubt I have much in the way of legal recourse. Please steer clear of this man.

He was a hard worker. The guy did good work. He made the chimney fire proof. He has very fare prices. I also use him for chimney cleaning.

I had a pretty bad experience, I did not feel the work was very well done. I thought the price was reasonable but the draftsmanship was poor. I would not go back to them.

Belligerent. Suggested he was doing me a favor, that I was a j*** for not hiring him on the spot.

I would just like it to be known for the record that Dale at Top Hat in South Hadley, MA does not stand behind his work and is belligerent and unprofessional to his clients. He charges $65 just to walk in the door - even when it's a call back. Try the Chimney Swift in Amherst instead- his phone number (413) 256-0157?.