Can You Pass the Chimney Inspection This Year?
It’s summertime in the Chicagoland area! The birds are out, making nests in chimneys, rain soaking into the bricks, heat and humidity wearing away slowly on the outside of your chimney. As the sun beats down on the chimney cap, you might notice some small bits of rust tucked away underneath the cap’s edges and […]
Now’s the Time to Get the Chimney Repaired
When you get a bigger project done such as tuckpointing the chimney, or partially rebuilding the chimney, it seems like it was just completed yesterday. A customer recently called and asked for one of our masonry tech experts to inspect the chimney. When we looked up the customer’s name and address, we found that the […]
Are Chimney Rebuilds that Obvious?
Chimney rebuilds are necessary when the exterior chimney is beyond repair. Take a look at the pictures included. When there’s a pile of bricks that doesn’t even look like a chimney, that will be a chimney rebuild. If you see large holes or gaps in the structure, that will also be a chimney rebuild. But […]
Wind Storms and the Chimney: With or Without Rain
Wind storms and the chimney: it’s not a pair made in paradise. The wind storms that we’ve had lately in the Chicagoland area have been challenging. Not only has debris from the trees been thick all over the grass and driveway, but has also blown off roofing materials, gutters and of course some things associated […]
A Flammable Chimney
A chimney without a chimney liner (firewall) or a damaged chimney liner is in need of a chimney liner replacement. Take a brief walk around your neighborhood and look to the very top of each home’s chimney. Do you notice any black smears covering the bricks? It looks like someone spilled a can of black […]
The ABC’s of Tuckpointing Chimney Repair
The ABC’s of tuckpointing chimney repair include chimney size, repair and materials. Have you ever browsed online, especially a website like Instagram or Facebook, and saw photos of perfect homes? It feels like you do home repairs almost every day! Those home improvement shows on HGTV make a living off of the perfect interior and […]
Chimney Repair: Fact or Fiction
Winter is coming to an end in the Chicago area, which so happens to be the best time to schedule for a chimney repair. In this blog, we will play a game of Fact or Fiction! We will ask you a question about one type of chimney inspection. Before you read on to the answer, […]
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 […]
My House Looks Like a Fireplace!
Installing a chimney smoke guard can be a crucial part of keeping your home safe during the winter. Have you ever been inside an old hut where ancient people used to live? If you have ever traveled Europe, you might’ve run across such huts called Skansen. Inside the Skansen are small fireplaces with handmade fireplaces […]
Holiday Gatherings… and Drafty Fireplaces?
This year’s Thanksgiving was filled with family gatherings, comfort food and… drafty fireplaces? There really is nothing quite like gathering around a cozy fireplace, eating food and talking to friends, but this year was a little bit different. A drafty fireplace was in the mix at our Thanksgiving dinner, sending damp and cold air into […]
