While most people think about their landscaping and the trim paint when they’re trying to increase their curb appeal, they may forget to look up. Since a crumbling chimney can lower your home’s value in the eyes of certain buyers, we’re always ready to help you make the necessary repairs.
If your roof is leaking around your chimney, it could be a problem with the chimney itself, or with the flashing where the chimney meets the roof. Fortunately, a chimney repair expert can track down the leak and repair it.
Why consider glass doors for a fireplace? Experts say much of the heat from an open hearth fireplace does not make it into the home. Glass doors will actually allow the heat to radiate into the home, nearly tripling the heating efficiency of a fireplace.
When you’re considering adding a fireplace to your home, there’s a lot to consider beyond which wall you want it on. Since you’ll need to add ventilation to carry the smoke from the firebox to the chimney, you may have limited options of where your fireplace can go.
If you're considering adding a fireplace to your home, gas can be your friend. A gas fueled fireplace is up to 70 percent more energy efficient than a conventional fireplace. It's safer, too.
When you make changes to the size or shape of your fireplace or add a vented wood-burning stove, you need to resize the chimney as well. The right chimney liner will modify the size and optimize efficiency, performance and safety.
The spalling of bricks can be problematic in some chimneys. This is when moisture gets into the bricks of the chimney, freezes, and then cracks and flakes. This erosion can lead to the loosening of mortar seals.
Before chimneys were invented, smoke from fires on the ground floor would fill the upper floor. This meant people could only live on the ground floor, and the second floor was usually used to preserve meat in the smoke from the fire.
How often should I have my chimney cleaned? At least once a season, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. There are many ways that your chimney can become partially or totally blocked, from creosote to an animal’s nest, which can cause a serious problem if not addressed.
Since it doesn’t have to be all that cold outside in order to enjoy a night in front of the fireplace, installing a new fireplace and chimney could give you more use than you realized. Remember, the type of fireplace you can install may depend on the feasibility of placing the appropriate chimney.
Should I consider glass doors for my fireplace? Your chimney expert can offer information about the cost of glass doors and other details. In general, the doors stop embers from escaping the fireplace and also act as a barrier to pets and small children.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the presence of a fireplace can raise the value of a home by $12,000.
While there are a variety of fireplaces and stoves available to provide heat, nearly all will require some sort of a ventilation system for the smoke. If you need to install a new chimney, our team is happy to make it happen for you.
Donarch, Switzerland is home to one of the world’s most dramatic chimneys. The imposing structure sits on top of a boiler house that powers a complex of buildings. Constructed of concrete, the chimney has an organic design that resembles leaves branching from a tree limb.
Your chimney flue is the chamber that surrounds the chimney itself. The job of the flue is to provide a path for hot gases to vent into the outside air. Regular maintenance of your chimney flue is vital to keeping your chimney in top working order.
A fireplace with a chimney is one of the features of a home that potential homebuyers said they would be willing to pay extra for, according to a survey by the National Association of Homebuyers.
Have you always wished your home had a fireplace in it? Let’s talk about the floor plan for your home and the type of fireplace you have in mind so that we can help you determine whether it’s possible to add a chimney to your home.
The origins of the word “flue” are obscure, although some trace it to the Old French, fluie, flow or stream. Since the 1500s, it has been used to describe a tube, pipe or shaft to channel smoke, air or gasses, as in the classic chimney flue.
The liner is one of the most important parts of your chimney. There are many types of liners, but all serve the same purpose: to provide insulation against heat and gas and limit the transfer of heat inside the chimney structure. We can make sure your liner remains in top condition.
It’s important to remember that installing a fireplace in your home without adequate ventilation can be dangerous for your family. If you’re serious about adding a fireplace, be sure to contact us to install your new chimney.
We tend to consider chimneys a cornerstone of Middle Age houses, but the truth is that they didn't show up in smaller houses until the 1500s and 1600s. Between then and the invention of chimneys in 1100s, chimneys were only in large upper class houses.
In 17th century England, people could determine the size of a house the number of chimneys. This lead to the Hearth Tax which taxed occupiers of houses at a rate of 2 Shillings per chimney, paid in bi-annual installments.
Your fireplace is only as reliable and safe as the materials you choose to burn inside it. Avoid burning paper in your fire place, and steer clear of green wood and dismantled wood furniture. All may contain hazardous chemicals that can cause flare-ups and produce toxic gasses.
The award for the house with the most chimneys goes to the Chateau de Chambord in France. Completed in 1519, the castle features 365 chimneys, one for each day of the year. Decorated with designs from heraldry, mythology and classical architecture, each one is unique.
