Is It Safe to Use the Fireplace? 5 Warning Signs
The nights are getting chilly and grabbing a blanket is great, but when you get up, you’re cold again. Let’s warm up the room with a roaring fire. Now that will keep you nice and warm. But is it “safe” to use the fireplace? To begin, we must say that there is no such thing […]
8 Reasons Why Cold Air Comes Down the Chimney and Into the Home
One thing that makes the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons miserable is when a cold breeze comes into the house while you are sitting on the couch trying to enjoy relaxing time. You notice your hands are cold, or your face feels cold and then you realize, a breeze is hitting you. You wonder, where […]
Why Does Chimney Mortar Need to be Replaced?
Chimney mortar needs to be replaced in the Chicagoland area because repeated freeze and thaw cycles, weather elements and age break down the joints between bricks long before the brick itself wears out. Chimney tuckpointing removes the deteriorated and missing mortar and is replaced with new mortar, sealing out water and protecting your chimney. As […]
How Often Does the Chimney Need to be Cleaned?
As night time temperatures drop and light sweaters come out of the deep part of the closet, homeowners begin to look to their fireplaces for comfort. And who can blame them? It’s the best part of the cooling off season: starting up the fireplace. But logic sets in and homeowner’s question…when was it cleaned last? […]
Why Right Now Is the Perfect Time to Schedule Your Chimney Top Repairs
Why Right Now Is the Perfect Time to Schedule Your Chimney Top Repairs Chimney top repairs seal cracks and/or damage done to the chimney crown using crown coat. Crown coat is a flexible elastomeric sealant that fills existing cracks, blocks water from entering the masonry and protects the entire chimney structure. With milder temperatures across […]
Why Does Your Chimney Smell?
A fireplace smell in the Chicagoland area is often caused by creosote build-up in the chimney. Wood burning fireplaces get this build up and the chimney smell becomes activated by summer humidity and rain. The chimney odor enters your home when air pressure pulls air down the flue instead of pushing it up and out […]
Chimney Tuckpointing Restores Masonry Mortar Joints for a Sound Chimney
Chimney tuckpointing restores masonry mortar joints between bricks by removing loose or replacing mortar joints and filling it with new mortar that closely matches the existing color. Chimney tuckpointing eliminates water intrusion, slows down structural deterioration, and restores both the integrity and the appearance of a chimney. The purpose is to extend the life of […]
Why So Many Homes Need Chimney Repairs After Winter
A friend noticed a damp, musty smell coming from her living room fireplace the week after a February thaw. When she called a masonry technician from Superior Chimney, to take a look, and found that water had been working its way behind the bricks for years. What started as a small crack now meant her […]
Solving Chimney Smoke and Draft Problems with a Fireplace Fan
Over the winter and spring season, smoke was a common occurrence at my neighbors house. Since they are new to homeownership, they didn’t realize smoke was to go outside, and nothing was to backtrack inside. When there’s a smoke problem from the fireplace, question it. The answer can be as simple as a fireplace fan. […]
How to Protect Your Chimney with Chimney Tuckpointing
Do we pay attention to the fireplace? Of course, we do! The fire in the fireplace is beautiful, warm and creates an atmosphere of comfort. But in order to maintain it, you have to take a step back and remember that the fireplace is connected to the chimney. Paying attention to missing mortar on the […]