Author: byronschramm

  • Why I Left My Business for Six Months | Trade Entrepreneur Podcast Feature

    Why I Left My Business for Six Months | Trade Entrepreneur Podcast Feature

    Recently, Byron was featured on the Trade Entrepreneur Podcast to discuss his experience leaving behind his U.S.-based national chimney sweep franchise business in the hands of his team while heading to Europe for a nearly seven-month chimney research adventure. Keep reading for details of what led to this once-in-a-lifetime experience for his family and himself,…

  • Chimney Construction Contrasted USA vs Europe

    Chimney Construction Contrasted USA vs Europe

    Austrian castles, German Castles, English Royalty and Peasant fireplaces. Chimney construction contrasted in the USA vs Europe is a subject I am deeply interested in as a USA chimney installer. Chimney stories begin with construction technique, and technique begins with plans. Home and chimney building codes are typically reactionary in nature- stemming from natural or…

  • Chimney Sweeping in Austria

    Chimney Sweeping in Austria

    An American chimney sweep’s perspective. My experience sweeping chimneys in Austria centered in the old capitol itself – the heart of Europe- Vienna. The city of Franz Joseph I and Sissi was our home base for our two days of sweeping around the Ringstrasse of Vienna. Our guide was none other than a 7th generation…

  • Chimney Sweeping in Germany

    Chimney Sweeping in Germany

    As an American chimney sweep I was very interested to know how the German chimney sweeps performed their work. What do they inspect?How many chimneys can they sweep per day?What is involved in a chimney sweep in Germany?Do Germans have to be certified?How long is the German schooling program for chimney sweeps? Is it true…