Sweeping Magazine- July 2021 by National Chimney Sweep Guild

Sweeping July 2021 VOLUME 45 #6

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

Is Your Marketing Company Masonry or Veneer?

Supply, Demand, and the Rapidly Rising Cost of Materials Issue

Meet a Member — Jason Clough

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Is Your Marketing Company Masonry or Veneer?

Coach's Corner: Supply, Demand, and the Rapidly Rising Cost of Materials Issue

Meet a Member — Jason Clough

17 20 26 Sweeping July 2021 Volume 45 Issue 6

Table of Contents President’s Letter 4 Director's Letter 6 Editor’s Letter 8 In Case You Missed It 9 Tech Q&A 10 New Certifications 11 Membership Memo 16 New Members 15 Dates and Events 24 Classifieds 28 Advertisements 28

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Factory Built Fireplace Installation and Replacement (866) 283-8667 Ext. 701

Dryer Vents (866) 283-8667 Ext. 707

Gas Appliance Venting, Gas Logs and NFPA 54 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 702 Oil Appliance Venting and NFPA 31 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 703 Chimney Inspection, Documentation and NFPA 211 (Levels of Inspection) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 704

Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (866) 283-8667 Ext. 708 IRC and NFPA 211 (Code Questions) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 709 Customer Service and Customer Communication (866) 283-8667 Ext. 710 General Sweeping and Repair (866) 283-8667 Ext. 711

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021-2022

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Masonry Fireplace Construction and Restoration (866) 283-8667 Ext. 700

Stainless Steel Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 705

Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney. Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/ or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.

STAFF

Resources Easton Kuboushek, MPA Executive Director director@ncsg.org Marshall Peters Education Coordinator contact@rtifiedchimneyprofessional.com Kacie Krominga Marketing and Communications Coordinator marketing@ncsg.org Brittney Burton Membership & Outreach Coordinator bburton@ncsg.org

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Vice President, Region 1 Matt Mair matt@blackmoosechimney. com Region 4 Jeff Keefer jeff@chimneycareco.com

Region 6 Jesse Peralta chimcare@hotmail.com At-Large Joe Sauter joe@yourchimneysweep.com Secretary, At-Large Director Steve Scally firesidesweeps@comcast.net

Treasurer, Region 2 Bill Thornton wissahickonvalleysweep@ yahoo.com

At-Large Director (Appointed) Tim Smith certifiedchimneycare@ gmail.com

Region 3 Ron Rust tophatswp@aol.com

Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich stuartk@saversystems.com

Region 5 David Steward copperridgechimney@ gmail.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2021 – 2022

To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (866) 283-8667 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question:

President, At-Large Director (Appointed) Thomas Hunkele topnotchchimney@gmail.com

Bylaws Matt Mair (603) 525-7905 matt@blackmoosechimney.com

Membership Jesse Peralta (503) 655-2446 chimcare@hotmail.com

Convention & Expo: Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartk@saversystems.com Ethics Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com

NFPA 211 Representative Steve Scally (603) 895-8746 firesidesweeps@comcast.net

Governance Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com

NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Government Affairs Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

Technical Advisory Council Steve Scally (603) 895-8746 firesidesweeps@comcast.net

NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

International Relations Victor Imgarten stlswp@accessus.net

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Sweeping do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Chimney Sweep Guild or its employees. ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingads@me.com Layout and design by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor David Bruce at red2designbureau@gmail.com. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release. NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2021 National Chimney Sweep Guild

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Tom Hunkele President

President’s Letter That was our goal for this year’s expo. Togetherness far beyond the need to pick a particular certification but to come together and learn and train to better serve our customers.

ear Friends,

Well the heat of summer is upon us and for many, the bricks and the mortar are flying off the trucks and on to rooftops. While the topic of this month’s article is masonry, last month’s issue of safety should never be out of mind, so break out the canopy covers and keep the water jugs full and prioritize fall protection with so many technicians transitioning from ladder to roof. June was big and a pretty successful month for the Guild and our Members. The Guild continues to grow with newly certified sweeps filling our ranks. The Chimney Expo in Valley Forge was a tremendous success and many of you finally got a chance to catchup with old friends in person. The classrooms were full to capacity for every class and the evening event sponsored by both National Chimney and SaverSystems was also a great success. The camaraderie was strong and could be felt throughout the event at every table and corner people gathered together.

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The NCSG Convention Platform was also a wonderful success with sweeps in attendance from across the country. Many you shared with me the efforts made by the Guild in orchestrating this event were clearly visible in the quality of the speakers and the engagement of attendees. Thanks to everybody involved in both events, making them a great success. Well the news is out! We’ve re-branded the Guild with a new look for the next 40 years and we’ve laid the ground work for having the only accredited certification in the industry. Long hours by both the educational committee and our accreditation coordinator and her team have created a clear vision for the Guild as it should be, as we “Serve Those Who Service America’s Chimneys”. There will be plenty of questions regarding accreditation and the value it will bring to the industry. All I can say is it’s a process that has been attempted by other credential providers and was not followed though on. We believe we have the right team in place to establish this as the new standard in the industry. Empowering you to be in control of your team’s certification and training is our goal. Now, you to take that

new hire through the process of building his own future as a Certified Professional to a Certified Journeyman and then finally as Certified Master Chimney Technicians with the support of an organization with over a forty-year history of certifying chimney sweeps. Finally—this accreditation will allow you better interaction with local government affairs because the terminology of Professional, Journeyman, & Master more closely aligns with other service trades like plumbers & electricians. The NCSG is always working for you, our members, because we believe your success is our success! Tom Hunkele NCSG President

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Easton Kuboushek

Executive Director

Director's Letter NCSG Sweeps Setting the Highest Standard

ember Sweeps and Suppliers,

Growing up on a small dairy farm in Northeast Iowa, our family had an unwritten, uncompromising rule when it came to work: it’s not just about getting the job done — it’s about doing it right and for the right reasons. To do the job right meant bringing a few qualities — like intentionality, knowledge, effort and care — to every task. To do the job for the right reasons meant that our work was rooted in purpose beyond money or material gain. I believe these characteristics are as important when stacking straw in a barn, as they are stacking bricks for a chimney. NCSG members “do it right” and “for the right reasons,” thus driving the highest standard for the chimney and venting professionals. To meet and maintain the highest standard in the industry, NCSG announced on June 24, our plan to create the industry’s premier education and certification programs. Highlights of that announcement include: Accredited Certification Programs NCSG is establishing the first accredited certification programs. Simply put, this means that NCSG’s certifications will be certified themselves. To be more specific, this important

distinction means every aspect of the designations — from the content in the manual to the format of exam questions — must meet criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This is a rigorous and detailed process, but an important one because it holds the Guild accountable for quality knowledge and member interests long-term. For you, it means that your certification means something. And you don’t have to just take our word for it — you can take ANSI’s. Certified Chimney is Expanding NCSG is also expanding certifications to better align with our mission, member needs and advocacy efforts. The newly acquired Certified Chimney Professional (CCP) manual will be updated and exam rebuilt to align with accreditation standards. The CCP will remain focused on foundational knowledge of the trade for early career chimney professionals. The Certified Chimney Reliner (CCR) certification will also be updated and accredited. Th CCR is a unique program is the only comprehensive relining certification in the United States. Additionally, NCSG is actively developing a new Certified Chimney Journeyman (CCJ) focused on advanced technical knowledge for leaders in the field. This new program will be developed based on input from Guild members through a job

analysis and launch in 2022. This will also be an accredited certification, include CEUs and focus on advanced chimney professionals. Finally, NCSG is also revising the Certified Master Chimney Technician designation. This criteria-based credential will be the highest designation in the industry, recognizing tenure, experience and knowledge of the trade. Behind the direction of each of these designations is the deeper mission of the Guild. You may notice these names align closely with comparable trades. The intent here is to create names recognized by regulatory and standard-setting bodies to support NCSG’s work in protecting the industry. ANSI accreditation will also speak volumes with regulatory bodies. There are, no doubt, questions as to the details surrounding each of these certifications. We look forward to communicating them in the coming months, but for now — I hope you’re encouraged about the direction of your Guild and their development of certifications the right way, for the right reasons.

Sincerely, Easton Kuboushek Executive Director National Chimney Sweep Guild director@ncsg.org

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David Bruce

Interim Editor

Editor’s Letter

reetings, Sweeps!

In this issue, Steve Scally writes about some of the reason for a leaning chimney. Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill of Spark Marketer write about finding the right marketing company for your business. With all the buzz about the expanding programs and certifications, be sure to check out the listing of sweeps gaining their Certified Chimney Professional, Certified Chimney Reliner and Certified Master Chimney Technician credentials. If you want to get certified, check the Dates and Events section to find

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a certification course near you. One of the third order effects of the pandemic was the shortages in supply chains. Jerry Isenhour writes developing strategies and plans for dealing with diminished supply and increased demand. This month's Meet a Member introduces us to Jason Clough. Finally, we are still looking for a contributor to relate their experiences with this year's Virtual Convention and/or Chimney Expo.

In Case You

Missed

it…

Contribute to Sweeping! We are looking for a contributor for an article about the Virtual Convention to be included in the August issue of Sweeping. Additionally, Chimney Expo was one of the first in-person Guild events and presents another opportunity for contribution to the magazine. Contact the editor at red2designbureau@gmail.com if you would like to write an article or be interviewed about your experiences at the Virtual Convention and Chimney Expo, and submit photos and captions from Chimney Expo.

Call for Entries! We are all familiar with the Darwin Award feature, calling out the things that are cringe-worthy or otherwise make you utter the works "What the...?" But what about the exceptional work that NCSG member perform on a regular basis? We would like your photos for Sweeping. Send any photos along the five Ws (who, what, where, when and why) for captioning to red2designbureau@gmail.com.

Certification Opportunities! Check out the Dates and Events section to find a Certified Chimney Professional® and Certified Chimney Reliner ® course in your area. Questions aboout certifications or the process? Contact Marshall Peters, Education Coordinator, at certifications@ncsg.org or 814-689-157

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Steven Scally

Technical Q and A What do I do about a leaning chimney? Is it the chimney the house or both?

his one came to me today and I have a story to tell you about this question, as I have seen a lot of leaning chimneys. The first question you want to ask yourself is "what is making it lean?". Your next question would be "is the house leaning or settled or is the chimney leaning or settled?". The chimney is supposed to be a freestanding structure tied into the home. If it is leaning something happened along the way. Depending on where you live in the country, there are various reasons for a chimney to lean. Some are seismic events. California has a good amount of those and the east coast as well — there is a fault line that causes seismic events — though nothing like what they have in California. You will want a 4-foot level minimum to check the plum of the chimney and house. You will also want to know if the foundation is part of the home or if it was added after the fact. If

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the foundation is part of the home, then there must be another reason why this chimney decided to lean. Most of the time I find out that there are no tie ins from the chimney to the home. These are part of the NFPA 211 that a chimney be tied into the home a minimum, every two feet. I like to do it every foot. What I tent to find is that a piece of metal somewhere in the structure has been heated and expanded causing a fracture. Then, over time, additional things expand and contract and with the chimney not being tied into the home it starts to lean. This allows things to get behind it like animals or water which rots and wood causing it to expand etc. So there ends up being more cracking and the structure will need to come down and be removed. I have heard that sometimes if the chimney is sound there is a way to get some things under the foundation and lift it back in place.

I have never seen it done or known anyone specifically that has done it but it is a method I have heard about. So now my story. Today I have a client whose chimney is leaning out 2 – 3 inches in 16 feet. He wants to put a brace around the chimney and hold it that way and argues with me that this will solve his problem. I asked him how long it has been like this and why the wood around the chimney is all chewed up from animals and how much water has gotten in there, as well do we know if any bats or other animals are living in there. Never mind that there is a vertical crack from the base up 10 feet with a one-inch split in around where the lintel bar goes in for the fireplace. He cannot seem to grasp that the space between the house and the chimney is not an issue. Never mind that if this did come down it would take out a garage and two new cars. The law of gravity does not seem to apply here to him.

New Certifications\\ May 2021 ALABAMA Michael Allen, Toney, AL Austin Campbell, Auburn, AL Ryan Kearley, Auburn, AL Damon Reed, Conway, AR ®

CALIFORNIA Jorden Dunn, Yreka, CA Isaias Gonzales, Yreka, CA

COLORADO Cody Ellis Adam Le'Oso Michael Baer Jeffrey Payne Eric Spahr

Conifer, CO Fort Collins, CO Littleton, CO Littleton, CO Steamboat Springs, CO

IOWA Brian Avis Jake Doeden Doug Slattery

Cedar Falls, IA Cedar Falls, IA Cedar Falls, IA

ILLINOIS Vitalii Puhach

Palatine, IL

INDIANA MIchael Bogus Devon Gray Jerrod Williams

Lebanon, IN Greencastle, IN Lebanon, IN

MAINE Adam Blaisdell Marshall Cyr Trent McLaughlin David Reed Hope Webber

Sanford, ME Bridgton, ME Sanford, ME Mechanic Falls, ME Mechanic Falls, ME

MARYLAND Nathan Bellman Yakir Ben-Hayon Lance Culver Carrin Foster John Fleming Vincent Hassinger

Dundalk, MD Rockville, MD Delmar, MD Dundalk, MD Saltsbury, MD Glen Burnie, MD

Mark Mastripolito Daniel Mccreary Sean Norton Eden Natanzoz Shaun Ruiz Joseph Tyrell Jeffrey Waskiewicz

Bowie, MD Pasadena, MD Dundalk, MD Rockville, MD Bethesda, MD Fallston, MD Glen Burnie, MD

MASSACHUSETTS Joshua Canfield Shawn Corrigan Mark Cummings Donald Gonzalez-Gagne Jonathan Hurley Jon Metcalf

Methuen, MA Natick, MA Waltham,MA Methuen, MA Hanson,MA Ayer, MA

MICHIGAN Stephanie Corbin Bill Craycraft George Glidden III Steven Shuptar Jackson Slocum

Williamston, MI Lowell, MI Williamston, MI Williamston, MI Williamston, MI

MISSISSPPI Samuel Adams

Jackson, MS

MISSOURI Cole Chevalier Kendall Wright

Grandview, MO Grandview, MO

NEW HAMPSHIRE Trevor Cairns David Chase Edward Cooke Noah Prunier

Fremont, NH Bristol, NH Fremont, NH Manchester, NH

NEW JERSEY Rick Balas Angel Canela Nick Detora Nicholas Gaertnerv Zachary Godfrey Eric Hannapple

Lanoka Harbor, NJ Williamstown, NJ Tabernacle, NJ Spotswood, NJ Spotswood, NJ Branchville, NJ

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New Certifications\\ Continued Kyle Jermyn, Tabernacle, NJ Carlos Jimenez, Williamstown, NJ Bakhtiyor Khamdamov Spotswood, NJ Anthony Mason Spotswood, NJ Joseph Pisciotta Spotswood, NJ Derrick Shepherd Hillsborough, NJ TJ Brendon Tucciarelli Howell, NJ Alexander Weisbecker Williamstown, NJ

NEW MEXICO Lucas Ebnother Scott Johnston

Taos, NM Duluth, MN

NEW YORK

Shaun Barber Alexander Berestovoy J. Christopher Kenneth Brown Frank Buffolino Collin Curley Joseph Cusumano David DiMarco Andrew Donohue Jorge Flores Christian Gregory Iskandar Ibadob Robert Ingenito B Keith Ippolito renden Jones Michael Leonard Jr. Rick Martinez Joseph Mezzapesa Brian Nagel Tyler Olles Ronald Orlowski Nathan Pitt Nathan Roberts Justin Romano Jason Toomey Jason Torregrossa Vincent Torregrossa Anthony Valerio Ryan Waite Vitaly Tsvetkov Clayton Zemke

East Rochester, NY Staten Island, NY Billington, Holley, NY Glens Falls, NY Plainview, NY East Rochester, NY East Islip, NY East Islip, NY Oxford, NY Saratoga Springs, NY Levittown, NY Staten Island, NY Levittown, NY New Windsor, NY East Rochester, NY Lexington, NC Seaford, NY Levittown, NY Levittown, NY Holley, NY Levittown, NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY Plainview, NY Holley, NY East Rochester NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY Staten Island, NY Honeoye Falls, NY

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NORTH CAROLINA

Dean Cheramie, Lexington, NC

OHIO Sam Barger Charles Evans Nicholas Holub Dakota Judson Ben Linville Elijah Love Liam McAuley Bethanie Taylor Colton Underwood

Cincinnati, OH Westlake, OH Warren, OH Warren, OH Canton, OH Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, OH Westlake, OH Warren, OH

PENNSYLVANIA Timothy Bilak Kody Brotz William Bryer Joseph Bulger Keith Busket Nick Carpenter Michael Dunn David Eddins Jennifer England Kevin Fitzpatrick Dayan Ford Nestor Gonzalez Matthew Greenawalt Quinn Hoff Richard Hummel Jr. Carlton Levy Christopher McGonigle Charles McHenry Bryce Myers Nathan Peters John Poinsette III Bill Quick ames Reffo Jr Dominick Scarcella Matthew Sheridan Earl James Spicer Kevin Sullivan Joseph Thornton William Thornton

Bernville, PA Davidsville, PA Downingtown, PA Levittown, PA Levittown, PA State College, PA Ardmore, PA Ardmore, PA Downingtown, PA Bensalem, PA Ambler, PA Downingtown, PA Latrobe, PA Downingtown, PA Ambler, PA Newville, PA Warrington, PA Ardmore, PA Newville, PA State College, PA Downingtown, PA Three Bridges, PA Latrobe, PA Stroudsburg, PA Ardmore, PA Pleasant Gap, PA Stroudsburg, PA Ambler, PA Ambler, PA

Ryan Trahan, Bensalem, PA Daniel Winters, State College, PA

William White, Bethel, VT Craig Wortman, Bethel, VT

SOUTH CARLOINA

VIRGINIA

Jason Dudarenke Daniel Gainey Horace Jackson Matthew Jackson Corey Lockwood Bernard Oliver

Ridge Spring, SC Ridge Spring, SC Ridge Spring, SC Ridge Spring, SC Ridge Spring, SC Ridge Spring, SC

TEXAS Jonathon Alvey John P Denusta Everado Rodriguez Michael Williams

Houston, TX Houston, TX Midland, TX Taylor, TX

VERMONT Isiah Crone Colin Haines Chad Merrill Luke Mulligan Jake O'Dell

Manchester Center, VT Lunenburg, VT North Clarendon, Vt Marshfield, VT Lunenburg, VT

Joseph Allsbrooks Steven Barrios Don Chavers Troy Corman Larry Craft Steven Fields Ian Gardner Sergey Gardner Rufus Jones John Kerr Michael Landon Lawson Philpy Timothy Taylor Mike Wardley

Newport News, VA Henrico, VA Newport News, VA Purcellville, VA Henrico, VA Purcellville, VA Newport News VA Newport News, VA Manassas Park, VA Newport News, VA Newport News, VA Henrico, VA Newport News, VA Newport News, VA

WASHINGTON Logan McGuire

Puyallup, WA

13 CALIFORNIA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Russ Gardner, Van Nuys, CA Richard Pocock, San Diego, CA Enrique Rodriguez, Sylmar, CA

Kris Kessler Steven Scally

Simsbury, CT Newington, CT

INDIANA Tim Smith

Greencastle, IN Spring Hill, KS

Freehold, NJ

Larry Cookinham Bill Murphy Robby Murphy

Poughkeepsie, NY Poughkeepsie, NY Poughkeepsie, NY

PENNSYLVANIA James Paul Michael Zabriske

McAdoo, PA Stroudsburg, PA

Bob Hammonds

Murfreesboro, TN

VIRGINIA

MARYLAND Thomas Flanagan David Nichols

Aaron Golub

TENNESSEE

KANSAS Robert Berry

NEW JERSEY NEW YORK

CONNECTICUT Gary Bohner Daniel Lennon

Laconia, NH Fremont, NH

Fallston, MD Rosadale, MD

Ben Briscoe John Briscoe Dustin Howdyshell Brad Snell

Thaxton, VA Thaxton, VA Elkton, VA Elkton, VA

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New Certifications\\ Continued CONNECTICUT Dan Fichtner, Monroe, CT

MAINE

Adam Blaisdell, Sanford, ME Trent McLaughlin, Sanford, ME

MARYLAND Seth Balsam, Derwood, MD Vincent DeCrisci, Glen Burnie, MD Shaun Ruiz, Bethesda, MD

MASSACHUSETTS Jon Metcalf

Ayer, MA

MICHIGAN Stephanie Corbin George Glidden III , Steven Shuptar Jackson Slocum

Williamston, MI Williamston, MI Williamston, MI Williamston, MI

MISSISSIPPI Samuel Adams

Jackson, MS

MISSOURI Cole Chevalier Kendall Wright

Grandview, MO Grandview, MO

NEW HAMPSHIRE David Chase

Bristol, NH

NEW JERSEY Luis Alvarado Alex Delrio B Kyle Jermyn Ivan Munoz Brendon Tucciarelli

Spotswood, NJ Spotswood, NJ Tabernacle, NJ Spotswood, NJ Howell, NJ

NEW YORK Damian Cortez Joseph Cusumano Collin Curley Nicholas DeLise , David DiMarco Robert Ingenito

White Plains, NY East Islip, NY East Rochester, NY Levittown, NY East Islip, NY Levittown, NY

Keith Ippolito Brenden Jones , Mickey Kuhn Nicholas Lupo Berik Omarbelkov Nathan Pitt Charles Rohm Nathan Roberts Allen Vazquez Leonard Tompkins Jason Torregrossa Vincent Torregrossa Anthony Valerio Ryan Waite Claudio Zhinin Robin Zhinin

New Windsor, NY East Rochester, NY New Windsor, NY Levittown, NY Staten Island, NY East Rochester, NY Levittown, NY East Rochester, NY White Plains, NY Honeoye Falls, NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY East Rochester, NY White Plains, NY White Plains, NY

PENNSYLVANIA Kody Brotz William Bryer Nick Carpenter , Matthew Greenawalt Joseph Lewandowski Bryce Myers Nathan Peters James Reffo Jr. Earl James Spicer Kevin Sullivan Daniel Winters

Davidsville, PA Downingtown, PA State College, PA Latrobe, PA Ardmore, PA Newville, PA State College, PA Latrobe, PA Pleasant Gap, PA Stroudsburg, PA State College, PA

TEXAS Jim Ray,

Amarillo, TX

VERMONT Colin Haines Jake O'Dell

Lunenburg, VT Lunenburg , VT

VIRGINIA Rufus Jones

Manassas Park , VA

WISCONSIN Tammy Majewski William Majewski

Princeton , WI Princeton , WI

New Members

NEW JERSEY Elite Chimney NJ. | Florim Imeraj | Leonia

REGION REGION

MASSACHUSETTS Cape Cod Dryer Vent Cleaning | Tony DiSavino | East Sandwich

MARYLAND Starks Chimney Services | Matthew Stark | Perryville

REGION

CONNECTICUT CT Power Cleaning Solutions | Chris Worchel | Bloomfield

REGION

REGION REGION REGION

REGION

1 12 242 3 353 FLORIDA Curry's Chimney Sweeping, Inc. | Jeffrey Curry | Bradenton

TENNESSEE River City Renovations | Tony Spurgeon | Ooltewah

REGION

4 4 5 5 56 6 6

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Brittney Burton

Membership and Events Coordinator

Membership Memo next month but we’ve also announced and released other big projects recently.

appy Independence Day Sweeps! We have had a very busy summer so far with the planning and execution of our Chimney Expo and Virtual Convention. We look forward to our event recap issue

We have launched our new website with the updated logo and branding. If you haven’t checked that out yet be sure to do so soon. A new website also means a new Member Portal! Be on the lookout for emails with more information on accessing the new portal and its features. The other major announcement

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was future of the NCSG Certification program. We look forward to bringing new opportunities in education and certification to the industry. We will keep you in the loop as those programs continue to develop. Marshall has several certification classes on the books so check out the website to take advantage of a location near you. It is a great opportunity to certify your whole team.

Of course, we continue to ask for your participation in committees or as volunteers at events to help continue to move the Guild forward and offer the best programs, events, and education for our members and the industry.

Brittney Burton Membership and Events Coordinator

17 Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill We recently had breakfast with a couple of friends at a new local diner. Since we’d never been there before, our eyes were busy inspecting the place as we chowed down on eggs and hash browns.

“That brick wall is beautiful,” one of my wife’s friends said between bites. I chimed in, “It’s not really a solid brick wall; it’s just veneer, a facade.” “You mean it’s made to look like brick and mortar, but there aren’t really bricks in the wall?” she asked. “Yup.” “Well, it looks perfect.” She cut into her omelet.

That conversation got me thinking about marketing companies and strategies, and how looks, like veneers, can be deceiving.

Let me explain. To the untrained eye, a veneer wall is indistinguishable from a masonry wall. The observer sees what looks like brick sticking out of the wall. They see the smooth mortar surface. They see a masonry wall. But someone who knows masonry sees something different. They know that the uniform ‘brick’ and mortar before them is not in fact a true masonry wall. That it’s not the structurally strong foundational wall it’s meant to look like. They know that this wall isn’t holding up the building, the building’s holding up this wall.

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Marketing companies and plans can be just as deceiving. From the outside, they can look like the real thing. But when you get closer, you find there’s no meat to them. They aren’t strong enough to hold up your business, but they sure as hell look pretty. Now, you know masonry, so you’d never be fooled by a veneer wall. But what does a ‘veneer’ marketing company or plan look like and how do you know if you’ve got the real thing or not?

Here are 5 signs you’re working with a veneer marketing company... #1 A veneer marketing company won’t want to educate you. They’ll want you to be hands off.

If you had a high-level understanding of marketing, you’d be a threat to your marketing company if they weren’t pulling their weight. So, a veneer company with no real foundational plan for how to market your business and get results will not want you to be educated or involved. They’ll want you to stay in your lane so they can keep collecting your money every month. A good marketing company, on the other hand, will want to educate and involve you. They’ll know that the more involved you are, the better the results will be. After all, a knowledgeable partner who understands your business can be much more effective than a hired hand who knows very little about you, your unique challenges, and your goals. If your marketing partner seems perfectly happy to collect your money and leave you in the dark about your marketing -- or if they use loads of jargon to confuse you and keep you in the dark -- question their motives. They may not be the real thing. #2 A veneer marketing company won’t be transparent about spending. They won’t tell you what your money is going towards every month.

where your money is going — how much is going towards PPC ad spend, how much is going towards account management, etc. If your marketing company can’t give you a cost breakdown, question if they even have a plan or process in place for your business. #3 A veneer marketing company won’t be able to show ROI. You pay your marketing company because you want results. But that doesn’t mean every marketing company will get you results or be able to show ROI. A good marketing company will have the right tools and tracking in place, and be able to track ROI back to your marketing efforts. They’ll be able to show you how many quality leads your marketing brought you, so you can see that the money you’re paying every month is worth it. P.S. A note on ROI. Anyone can tweak a report to make themselves look good. Make sure that the reports that track ROI and show the results of your marketing are showing real, relevant results. Who cares if your marketing company brought you more leads from Ireland? If you serve Charlottesville, a website hit in Ireland is not a quality lead. #4 A veneer marketing company won’t want to know about your offline initiatives, your close rate, or your goals. They won’t tweak your marketing plan or pivot with your business. Does your marketing company only care about the leads they bring? Do they only reach out to see what you’re up to and how your business is doing once or twice a year? Do they seem not to care about what’s new or how your goals have changed? Those are signs of a surface-level marketing company. Here’s why...

It’s your money — you should know what it’s going towards. And if your marketing company is solid and has a real strategy and plan in place, they should be able to tell you how your money shakes out.

Your marketing is more than just the company you pay to host and build your website. It’s more than just Facebook Ads and Google Ads. The truth is, your marketing is everything from how you answer the phones to how you deliver service. So, a solid marketing company will want to know you’re getting it right across the board.

They should be able to tell you exactly

They won’t just care about how many leads

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they’re sending your way -- they’ll care about what you’re doing with those leads. They’ll want you to improve where you’re weak, so you can close more of the leads they send your way and maintain loyal clients. Because they’ll understand how it all works together.

push back when it’s in your best interest. Is It Time to Do Some Shopping Around?

#5 A veneer marketing company won’t push back. If you saw an inexperienced mason doing something wrong, you’d say something, right? If you knew they were making a mistake, you’d tell them, because that’s the right thing to do. A good marketing company should do the same.

So, which is it? Are you working with a solid marketing company with a solid plan? Or are you paying money for something that looks good from the outside but isn’t really doing much for your business? It may be time to go shopping for a new marketing partner. And if it is, now you know what to look for if you want the real deal!

A veneer marketing company will do whatever you want, but a good marketing company may push back at times. They may say no to some things or ask you to reconsider a strategy or move. They may ask questions to hash out what you *really* want to achieve, so they can ensure you’re making the best decision for your business.

Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Nashville, Tennessee-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. They're also co-authors of the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love. Both regularly speak at service industry trade shows and conferences across the nation. Visit www. sparkmarker.com or www.facebook.com/sparkmarketer.

Don’t hire a ‘Yes man’ company. Hire someone who cares enough about you to

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Jerry Isenhour

Coach’s Corner Supply, Demand, and the Rapidly Rising Cost of Materials Issue

t the halfway point of 2021 a severe issue has arisen that has added to the challenges of running a successful business in the present day. This seems to be the result of the effects of the pandemic, but there are other causes. Raw prices and supplies have risen in price dramatically over the last year, and along with this has come the shortages of materials that is now causing chaos in the form of ongoing and constant price increases. Along with this is a constant fluctuation of prices for the materials needed to provide products for your customer. Every business and consumer in America can certainly see this in the prices they pay for the commodities they consume. As such we have both a bull market economy and an economy which has seen rapid inflation. The consuming public has seen this most dramatically in the cost of lumber which has risen in price dramatically and has caused many to even rethink the construction of a new home. In a recent May 2021 article Fortune Magazine stated that raw lumber prices have risen 324% since April of 2020. In our industry one of the major materials used is steel, and steel has also seen dramatic

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price increases. Sheffield Metals published the following as the path raw steel has traveled in regards pricing: • August, September, and October 2020 steel prices increased approximately 7 1/2 % • December 2020 price of steel rose approximately 20% • The price of steel jumped 37% in December 2020 from August 2020 • In February / March the price of raw, bare steel has rose 75% from August of 2020. Stainless steel is also a product that is heavily used within our industry. Stainless steel is a mixture of raw steel and additional components of chromium, carbon and nickel and as such the manufacture of stainless steel requires different materials besides simply raw steel in the composition of the product. Reports can be reviewed that show that stainless steel has faced monthly rises in cost of 5% to 15% over the last year. The stainless steel market has also been faced with a 17.3% decline in production in 2020 which in effect took away much of the available supply. As consumers we can always see from our personal buying habits how a lowered supply will be reflected in higher prices paid

for goods. A simple walk through any grocery store will reveal how this affects the price we pay for the daily goods we buy. All of this has created a situation where obtaining the products you need, and being able to accurately predict pricing moving forward has become a very intricate game that one may win or lose in. It likely reminds one of when we looked at the empty shelves where toilet paper was supposed to be in 2020 and when we were willing to pay whatever it cost for the simple commodity of life. It also makes one understand how the owner of a gas station felt during the recent gas shortage in the Southeast from a computer data breach and ransomware attack of the Colonial Pipeline. Your suppliers have been adversely affected by this supply issue and also by the shortage of material. As such they have no choice, the price must be passed to the buyer (you) and you must pass the cost to your buyer (your customer). Now as you sit and ponder this and how it affects your business, think of the industries and distributors that supply you and how are they going to deal with this ever-rising cost of raw materials. You as a business owner ponder your next move

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in a time of a shrinking available work force, high demand, and the inability to even obtain the products you sell. Only yesterday I observed a Facebook post of just how many times prices will change, and the frustration of constantly having to change your material pricing structure. Now blame could be focused on many things, these could be how the pandemic caused this, or you could focus on tariffs on offshore products as the root cause, or even the social world where unemployment compensation has caused the situation of competing for workers with unemployment compensation. But no matter the cause, you must find a way to operate in this unstable economic world we are in at this time. You must take the needed

action to prevent this affecting your bottom line. Several things that you need to consider as a part of your weaponry for success will include: • Keeping up with the price increases and even communicating with your suppliers as to any planned price increases they have that will be coming down the pike. • Set up your pricing in a way that you can make rapid changes when price increases hit. Many now have a digital price book where percentage increases can quickly be implemented, but this information also has to flow efficiently to your sales and office staff to prevent quotation errors. Steps are also required to insure your sales team is quoting with the current prices and not from an older price from habit. • Institute lean processes to eliminate

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waste, with price increases this will increase the cost of waste. Keep in mind every dollar of waste will have a higher dollar figure that is the cost of sales required to compensate for waste, the higher your net profit the lower dollar figure the sales cost will be. • Get accurate measurements for each quote and order properly for jobs without excess overages. • Buy in quantity if you have the funds and the warehouse space but be careful in this one if prices or demand were to drop you could face a new challenge. Often you may be doing with borrowed dollars that have a cost of procurement in the interest one would pay for the funds in the form of interest on the monies. • Put shorter dates

on each quote for expiration of the quoted price and where you have properly quoted pricing. • Review the quotes your sales team is presenting to insure they are properly priced to the price of materials. • Instruct every member of your team that we are operating in a very volatile economy. • Resist the urge to cave into the negotiator, it a common trait for many consumers to look at a price and want to negotiate pricing, many times waving GFC (Green Folding Cash) and often the scent of cash drives many to lower their prices only to find out later it can be a killer. Tax auditors have unique ways to find these trails of cash and many face a really bad day when they face the auditor. While this does present obstacles, one can

often take advantage of a situation such as this, the following are some ideas for you to capitalize on price increases: • Be alert when prices are going to rise on products that you consume and make purchases prior to the price increase. • Use rising prices as a sales closure tool and advise clients you anticipate prices when presenting quotes will be going up and using this as a call to action. You can also use this as a part of your follow-up. • Anticipate product usages and buy large stocking quantities, but you need the funding

to be able to do this and make sure you control your finances well to prevent putting yourself into a cash poor situation. • Often a job may be sold, and delayed ordering may mean you suffer a price increase that is implemented at the time of the order received and when you order it. But staying on top of orders requires warehouse space and proper inventory controls. The role of purchasing can be one that must be effectively managed. It is a part of how a business flows well and where chaos is not an ongoing issue.

As such you need the right strategy to come through this segment of the business successfully and profitably. Operating in an unstable economy can certainly be a problem unless one operates with their eyes completely open. The thought process I would share is the following quote from John Adams, the second President of the United States “Every problem is an opportunity in disguise” and the smart business manager always finds a way to make lemonade out of lemons!

About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant, educator and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. A Past President of NCSG & CSIA along with serving in several volunteer industry positions over his career. For more information about Jerry and how his team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at his web site www.cvcsuccessgroup.com He can be contacted at jerry@ cvcsuccessgroup.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and YouTube channel CVC Coaching.

DEDICATED TO SUPERIOR PRODUCTS, SERVICE & SAFETY National Chimney has been serving you for almost 30 years as the industry's leading manufacturer.

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Dates and Events

Educational Dates & Events listings from NCSG Members. Please check with the host organization listed below prior to making travel commitments. Blue Collar Chimney Expo

Event Schedule:

For more information or to register visit www.BlueCollarChimneyExpo.com

July 1 — Springfield, MA Hilton Garden Inn 800 Hall of Fame Ave Springfield, MA 01105

‡ Fall Show Labor Day through the end of 2021

Copperfield Chimney Academy For more information call or text (570) 340-0482 ‡ Professional Chimney Inspection June/July 2021 Loomis, CA Springfield, MO Lancaster, PA Sturbridge, MA Asheville, NC ‡ Professional Inspection Delivery August 2021 Portland, OR Bensalem, PA Lancaster, PA Worcester, MA Canton, OH San Clemente, CA

Earn a Certified Chimney Professional® (CCP) and/or Certified Chimney Reliner® (CCR) in one day! 2.5 hours of test review and training $350 for one certification or $600 for both (40 percent discount!) Lunch included Manuals emailed after registration Itinerary (All Times Local): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM — CCP Test Review and Exam 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM — Lunch 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM — CCR Test Review and Exam

July 13 — Springfield, VA New England Chimney Supply 7956 — B Cameron Brown Court Springfield, VA 22153 July 14 — Gaithersburg, MD Hampton Inn 960 N. Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD 20879 July 15 — Baltimore, MD Hilton Garden Inn Baltimore/Owings Mills 4770 Owings Mills Blvd Owings Mills, MD 21117 July 16 — Newtown PA Homewood Suites by Hilton 110 Pheasant Run Newtown, PA 18940 July 28 — Cincinnati, OH Hampton Inn Cincinnati/Uptown — University Area 3024 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45219 July 29 — Louisville, KY Hilton Garden Inn, Mall of Saint Matthews 400 Sherburn Lane Louisville, KY 40207 July 30 — Indianapolis, IN Hampton Inn, Indianapolis — NE/Castleton 6817 E. 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN, 46250 August 2 — Ann Arbor, MI Hampton Inn 925 Victors Way Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108

August 3 — Canton, OH Ferguson’s Fireside Chimney 1634 30th St. NE Canton, OH 44714 August 9 — Shawano, WI Chimney Mechanix 942 South Waukechon St. Shawano, WI 54166 August 10 — Chicago, IL Lindemann Chimney 86 Albrecht Drive Lake Bluff, IL 60044 August 12 — Kansas City, KS Hampton Inn — Shawnee 16555 Midland Dr. Shawnee, KS 66217 August 13 — St. Louis MO Hilton St. Louis Frontenac 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63131 August 23 — Anaheim, CA Embassy Suites Anaheim Orange 400 N. State College Boulevard Orange, California, 92868 August 25 — Lodi, CA Hampton Inn LODI 1337 South Beckman Road Lodi, California 95240 August 27 — Portland, OR American Chimney & Masonry 3614 NE 50th Ave Portland, OR 97213

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November 1, 2021 

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Same day shipping for orders placed before 3:00 PM Eastern Time.  

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Meet a Member

Jason Clough 21st Century Chimney Sweep Who has been your biggest influence?

learned how to run this business and how to treat customers from my mom and dad. At a relining workshop sometime around 2015-ish, Russ Dimmitt planted the seed of continuing education. At the 2019 NCSG convention in Norfolk, VA, I met David Steward who convinced me to join the NCSG and become CSIA certified. He continues to be available when I get myself into uncomfortable situations and will occasionally provide a new uncomfortable situation for me. At the same NCSG convention, I met Michael Segerstrom and Jim Ferguson who amaze me with their willingness to listen and

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give advice. Chris Prior gave me the confidence to move into masonry repairs which has become a large part of my business. In what area are you focusing on improving this year?

inding good, qualified help to join my business.

What is your favorite/most useful tool?

y brick tongs probably have the most ROI. My August West Sootsweeper 1 is a dinosaur, but it still moves more air than any vacuum on the market. I recently bought some new vacs but the SS1 will always have a job here.

What unrelated skill/knowledge did you come into the industry with that has suited you well?

have a bachelor’s degree in agriculture which involved taking many classes about ecology and botany. I have used that education in discussions with customers about the environmental impact of burning wood vs gas vs electricity and also firewood selection and processing. During my time in school, I also had a job driving concrete mixer trucks and pulling end dump trailers. A good general knowledge of concrete and equipment operation has also been helpful. What is the best class you have attended?

here hasn’t been a bad one. I have attended one NCSG Hands On Training event and I have high hopes for those in the future. What question do you get asked most about being a chimney sweep/chimney sweeping/the industry? What is your answer?

“

People still do that?” As long as there are chimneys there will be chimney sweeps.

How did you get started in the industry?

y dad started sweeping chimneys in 1978. He bought the business in 1983, shortly before I was born. I started riding in the chimney van on school breaks when I was pretty young. I listened to Sooty Bob cassette tapes right along with him. Dad retired and I bought him out in 2014, shortly before my son was born.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

ithin the industry, my proudest accomplishment is convincing a long-time customer to allow me to remove his old steel firebox and build a custom masonry firebox and smoke chamber within his huge elevator shaft style chimney. His dad had the house custom built and had personally designed the fireplace/ chimney. I could tell he was very apprehensive about the project but he loves the finished product and has given me many great referrals since. Weirdest thing you have ever found in a chimney?

check written in 1951 to a previous homeowner for $119,000 found hidden in the heat form air circulation vent. What do you like to do outside of work?

hen I’m not working on chimneys, I enjoy traveling around the country learning about chimneys! I also enjoy watching my kids grow and learn and watching my son play baseball and football. I enjoy working on the family farm but never seem to have enough time to do it. What is, in your opinion, the most valuable part of being a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild?

eeting people, networking, camaraderie, whatever you want to call it. It’s invaluable.

What advice do you wish you had received when you were getting started?

oin the NCSG. I think I did get that advice it just took awhile for me to make it happen.

Have you ever attended NCSG Annual Convention & Trade Show? If so, what was your favorite takeaway?

have only been to one in person NCSG Convention. I am currently watching the second virtual convention and I have not yet made it to a Chimney Expo. The 2019 Convention made a huge impact on my business! Partially from what I learned in the classes and at the trade show but mainly from meeting people and continuing those relationships. I continue to benefit daily from that convention 2 years ago.

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Classifieds Where Has Your Sweeping Been With restrictions ending and life returning to a semblance of normalcy, people will be traveling and engaging outside again. We thought now would be a good time to ask "Where has your Sweeping been?"

Submit a photo from your travels with you and your Sweeping magazine with caption information to red2designbureau@gmail.com We're looking forward to seeing where you go with Sweeping!