What Makes “Chimney Potholes”?
The freeze thaw cycle is an unfortunate way your chimney experiences damage in the fall, winter and spring months. Have you ever noticed the road during springtime? Even without salt, the very porous asphalt/concrete is freezing and thawing. This process causes annoying potholes & cracks. The same goes for chimneys! The material that holds masonry […]
Tuckpointing the Chimney
Limited time, this year, remains for tuckpointing the chimney to happen. That’s because the type of cement used for tuckpointing the chimney dries best in the warmer months. With Fall creeping in more and more, getting any type of mortar or concrete related chimney repairs completed needs to be done now. How do you know […]
Q&A: When Is the Best Time for an Exterior Chimney Repair
We’ve received many questions about exterior chimney repair over the years from concerned homeowners trying to keep up on the maintenance of their chimney. This includes damage to mortar and any structural damage not involving the flue, fireplace, and so on. Here’s some of the most interesting questions that we’ve received, and our answers to […]
Repair Stone Chimney vs Brick: What’s Easier to Maintain
Repair a stone chimney is similar to repairing a brick and mortar chimney. Stone chimneys are made of large stones that are held together by mortar. It’s easy to think that stone chimneys do not deteriorate as quickly as brick and mortar chimneys due to the less porous nature of stones. Though the stones are […]
Chimney Damage from Storms: 4 Ways to Identify a Problem
Chimney damage from storms is likely to happen especially during the Chicagolands spring and summer months. As Chicagoland often experiences very heavy thunderstorms during summer, it’s important to keep up with your chimney’s maintenance. The howling of the wind, rain and even hail of a summer storm echoing through the chimney sounds eerie enough as […]
Tuckpointing Chimney Repair: DIY or Hire a Professional
Tuckpointing chimney repairs are a time consuming and expensive project. For an average chimney, the standard time to complete tuckpointing repairs may be around 4-6 hours, at the very minimum. It can cost a decent amount of money too. Because of the time and expense, many think of turning to a do it yourself YouTube […]
Are You Tilting Your Head Looking at a Chimney? May be Time for a Chimney Rebuild
A chimney rebuild may be necessary after a long winter of fluctuating weather conditions and humidity. With the weather Chicago has been having this winter, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there are some spotted damages to your chimney. When a chimney’s repairs are beyond tuckpointing, it may be subject to a partial or full […]
Chimney Masonry Repairs
With high humidity levels and above normal temperatures, your chimney may be in need for chimney masonry repairs. Normally, Chicago, Illinois is met with a below freezing winter with high winds, low humidity and lots of snow. However, this year’s winter has been unique. This winter in Chicago has been warmer than usual with high […]
Chimney Freeze-Thaw Cycle in a Mild Chicago Winter
Chimney freeze thaw cycle is a regular occurrence in Illinois, even with the mild winter we’ve been experiencing. Now with the week ahead, temperatures hovering around the 30 degree mark during the day, chance of snow multiple times and in the 20’s at night, is a perfect recipe for the chimney to have to endure […]
Chimney Brick Repair: Before Another Storm Hits
This has been a bit of a rough summer with the rain storms and high winds. It has resulted in numerous homes needing brick chimney repair. Now, that’s not to say those with stone chimneys or chimney’s made of siding don’t need repair, because they certainly do. Let’s talk about what goes into a brick […]
