Can You Keep Your Fireplace Closed This Summer?
You may have heard from friends or family about keeping your fireplace open during the summer, so long as you have a chimney cap to keep the debris and animals out. Keeping the fireplace open all summer is known as “airing out” the fireplace. It makes sense, keep the stale air out and let fresh […]
What’s “Bugging” You This Summer?
Let’s face it, chimney tuckpointing isn’t at the top of your mind this summer. Spring cleaning is over, it’s time for a vacation. Maybe spending time at Lake Michigan or the pool took over your to-do list! But, have you noticed some familiar critters falling from the trees (and into your pool…) all over the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A Guide to Chimney Crown Repair
How do you know if you need a chimney crown repair? It’s not like you can see the top of it from standing on the ground. Or walking the dog and notice, “Wow, that house needs a new chimney crown.” It would be great as you’d be able to stop the leaks from occurring in […]
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 […]
