Fireplace smell can be an easily fixable problem in the home. Recently, I was at a dinner party with some friends, and upon entering their beautiful home, came an unpleasant smell. It was musty and smelled like a campfire. I remember it being a humid evening in Illinois, (certainly not uncommon), and unfortunately my friends […]
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 […]
Chimney Flashing: Protect Your Chimney from Spring Showers
Have you checked your chimney flashing this year? Or have it professionally checked by a certified chimney technician? After a humid, wet and cold winter and spring, it’s possible that your chimney flashing experienced some damage. Currently, Illinois is experiencing friendlier spring temperatures but as the saying goes: May flowers bring spring showers! Not many […]
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 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 […]
Giving Your Old Chimney New Life
As you drive around any of the suburbs or within the City of Chicago, you will quickly find many homes that were built prior to 1960. Although older homes are beautiful and exhibit characteristics of the time, it also lacks the safety codes that are standard in newer homes built after 1960. Sadly, these codes […]
Why Does the Fireplace Let Cold Air into the Home?
Whenever we think of a cold winter’s day, our minds drift to a warm fireplace. There’s nothing like sitting in an oversized chair with my favorite ‘drink’ while I close my eyes to enjoy the warmth and crackling sound of the fire. The fireplace can certainly serve as a place of solace and relaxation. Clearly, […]
