Chimney

January 26, 2018

What’s the Cost of Installing a Flue Liner?

By mmilas / Chimney, Home Improvement / Comments Off

A flue liner acts as a channel that keeps a chimney safe from creosote formation and from other damages. If your chimney is made of brick, having a flue liner will keep the mortar on the bricks from being degraded thereby lengthening its life.

For the average homeowner, installing a flue liner will cost about $2500.

For more expensive liner materials, the cost may go up to $7000. Homeowners who need to install the liner themselves will need to buy DIY materials that can cost up to $625.

With a good liner, the chimney is protected from decay.

chimneys already have flue liners installed

Factors that Affect Cost

Liners run the length of the chimney to keep it safe. Therefore, the cost of flue liner installation will be affected by the length of your chimney.

This will obviously dictate the length of the flue, which is one of the main factors influencing cost.

Some chimneys already have flue liners installed while others need it installed. If you have a flue liner that you suspect is in a poor condition, you might need to hire an expert to have them inspect it and decide what needs to be done.

Repairing the flue will be cost-effective compared to installing a new flue.

Other factors that determine cost include the diameter of the flue, number of units connected to your flue, the type and material of the liner, and the presence or absence of insulation.

Besides the cost of material, you will need to factor in labor.

Types of Liners

Liners are classified based on the material they are made of. Stainless steel is cheap, costing about $65 per foot of the chimney. Most average homeowners prefer to use stainless steel thanks to the fact that it is cheap and durable too.

Clay, also referred to as Terra-Cotta is the cheapest with a foot costing $10. Aluminum costs $12 per foot while cast-in-place and Thermocrete cost $250 and $200 respectively.

Homeowners can choose based on their budget or how much they are willing to invest on their houses.

Besides the cost of the various materials, homeowners need to consider the longevity and advantages of each. The cost of installing the various materials is different, and so are the installation labor costs.

Labor Costs

You might have to pay between $1600 and $5000 to have these liners installed. To some people, this is a hefty price for a flue liner that will never be seen.

However, you need to consider that liners preserve your chimney and enhance the efficiency of your home’s heating unit.

With a good liner, your home is protected from a fire which might result from the formation of creosote. Some liners will reinforce structures that are nearly falling.

The whole installation, from the materials to the labor, will cost you between $1000 and $7000.

consider that liners preserve your chimney

Maintain Your Chimney

Request to have your chimney liners replaced or have new ones installed today. Once the liners have been installed, you need to keep them maintained to enhance their productive life.

If you do not want to keep replacing liners after every few months, have a professional look at them routinely.

January 19, 2018

Steps to Repointing Brick on your Chimney

By mmilas / Chimney, Tuckpointing / Comments Off

Brick chimneys are not so easily destroyed and can last for years. However, the mortar in between the bricks will degrade with time, and this means that repairs have to be done.

Repairing these bricks, also referred to as repointing brick, is a simple process that a mason can undertake in a few days.

If the degrading mortar is not fixed, water might start seeping in between the bricks. This makes your chimney weak and reduces its life.

If there are unsightly cracks and voids between your bricks, your chimney needs repointing to avoid more damage.

Remove Old Mortar

Repointing starts when the old mortar is removed and replaced with new and fresh mortar. You need to do this in small sections since you cannot remove all the old mortar at once.

A cold chisel is commonly used, but a handheld grout saw, or a joint raker can also be used.

The mortar needs to be removed about half an inch, and a hand brush used to remove dust from the area for the fixing of the new mortar.

You can do this yourself or let a house improvement expert or a mason do it for you. Either way, the process is simple and doesn’t take too long.

Wet the Wall

Just like water is important in installing a brick wall or chimney the first time, you also need it during repairs. The chimney wall you are repairing needs wetting.

You should use a hose to wet the bricks and let them sit overnight. This lets the bricks and the old mortar absorb water and stay hydrated ensuring that they do not absorb water from the new mortar placed the following day.

When placing the new mortar, you need to still sprinkle the bricks with water one more time to ensure they have enough water. This will help the repair work produce better, longer lasting results.

Preparing Mortar

For houses that are less than fifty years old, normal cement can be used and great results expected. Houses older than fifty years old will need special cement mixed with lime and sand.
This is the mix that was used in brickwork years ago, and it is better to use the same for repointing brick.

The lime cushions the bricks and moves with the walls as they flex. You need to be sure that you are using the correct mortar replacement for every part of your house including the chimney, living room and other areas.

If you are not sure which mix to use, you can hire a home improvement expert or a mason to get the job done.

Is Repointing Brick Worth the Cost and Labor?

Good repointing services will make your chimney look great, give it a new look that you desire for your chimney that’s over 50 years old.

More importantly, it will ensure that there’s no leakage through the chimney. It will also prevent damages to your house and property that might be caused by leaking water.

Get chimney repair services today and lengthen the life of your chimney.

November 8, 2017

The Best Chimney Repair Chicago Services

By mmilas / Chimney, Masonry, Services / Comments Off

Guarantee Great Results with the Best Chimney Repair Chicago Service Providers

Chimney repairs are some of the more complicated repair work to be done on your Chicago home masonry work.

If you ever encounter issues or major problems, call Affordable Tuckpointing Pros LLC for an instant consult and home inspection. We are the most excellent, yet incredibly affordable, chimney repair Chicago experts; home to the most highly-trained and skilled diagnostics specialists and technicians.

Do not hesitate to give us a call: (630) 833-3665 at Affordable Tuckpointing, to report anything amiss in the functioning of your chimney, which may be a result of some issues that impede the fluidity of the outflow of smoke.

Although smokestack repairs may be about masonry work, the obstruction or blockage, or the accumulation of creosote along the lining, this article will particularly review the repairs and restorations that involve your chimney cap, crown, and liner. Read on to learn more about how the most skilled repair professionals in Chicago, who will go about repairing your chimney, should the need for repairs arise.

Chimney Cap Repairs

Caps serve the purpose of preventing large debris or animals from causing obstruction or blockage.

Chimney caps are generally metal, such as copper or stainless steel. Durable as they may be, these covers are still prone to damage, particularly considering the way in which they function. Metal caps can crack, tear, and shrink due to high temperature, and become dented or have their screws loosen, also because of too much heat.

In such cases, your cover may still be salvageable, if it is only slight dents and loose screws that we are dealing with. Otherwise, if the damages are too extensive for it to be serviceable, then replacement could be the ultimate solution.

Chimney Crown Repairs

Not to be confused with the cap, which is a separate entity, independent of the chimney itself and only as an appendage to the masonry structure of the smokestack, the chimney crown is permanently attached to the chimney brickwork that is visible atop your house. It requires the same attention and care as any other stonework, as it also suffers from damages in the same way that a concrete foundation or patio stonework will.

In the event of breakage or cracking in the masonry work of your crown, sealing or complete replacement are your two most common options.

Chimney Lining Repairs

Chimney lining, or flue lining, is also part of the masonry work, which is installed on the inside of the entire length of the smokestack. Its function is to contain the combustion as extremely high temperature passes through it and pushes the smoke outward to the outside.

Constant inspection is key to keeping the lining in good condition, especially since it is not visible on the outside. Your chimney may appear faultless, but it is already failing in functioning within its flue lining. There is no other way to repair a flue lining but with relining.

Every single one of our repairs is done base on the National Fire Protection Association’s 211 Standards for chimney repair Chicago. With the use of standard techniques and safety procedures, we ensure that every job is concluded to your utmost satisfaction, all of the time. Our highly-trained chimney diagnostics experts will assess your chimney sufficiently so that we can fix your problems for good.

August 3, 2017

Chimney Crown Repair Done Right; That’s Our Specialty

By mmilas / Chimney, Masonry / Comments Off

Your chimney crown, or wash, protects your stack and your home by helping the battle against elemental invaders like weather and animals.

By doing its job, your crown will also keep your fireplace functioning efficiently by keeping out water, debris and keeping your flue clear enough to function efficiently.

So when you need chimney crown repair for your Chicago home, you need a local, affordable team of maintenance experts to keep your crown doing its job properly.

Our job is to know everything there is to know about crowns and how to perform expert chimney crown repairs. So when you call on us, we can be on-site in a jiffy and do the job right the first time.

Before You Consider Chimney Crown Replacement – Consult Us

If cracks and spalling of the bricks of your wash has reached problematic portions, then chimney crown replacement may be necessary. But before making that decision, consult with our team of professional chimney repair specialists. We can advise on the best course of action.

The cracks may just need a chimney crown sealant. Preventing the spread of troublesome cracks can stop them from spreading and causing further damage. The proper chimney crown sealant, which we can provide, could be the answer.

Of course, chimney crown repair is not a simple fix, so trust in our experts to do the job safely and right the first time.

Cracks and spalling of a crown, either left without repairs or repaired incorrectly, can cause your entire stack to be replaced, which is a massive and expensive problem.

We can come to your Chicago home and perform an inspection, and based on this inspection, we’ll be able to immediately set to work on fixing the problem before it becomes critical. A chimney crown replacement is still cheaper than replacing your entire stack.

Keep Chimney Crown Repair Costs down With Proper Maintenance

Proper maintenance can keep chimney crown repair costs down, because catching cracks and spalling early can save you money in the long run, as a good chimney crown sealant can prevent small cracks from becoming big headaches.

Small cracks are, of course, typical with the abuse they take from weather-related wear and tear, not to mention the birds and critters that try to attack your wash.

Chimney crown repair costs can be around $300 for materials if you do the job yourself, and upwards of $1,000-$3,000 for a chimney crown replacement.

And if you decide to try to do the job yourself, be careful. Any job done on your roof is dangerous. You need to have the proper equipment, like safety harnesses, and the materials to complete the repair job. We can provide advice if necessary, but we recommend these types of repair jobs be left to the professionals.

Preventative chimney maintenance can save you money in the future with an annual inspection that our team of professionals can provide.

Call on Your Chicago Area Chimney Repair Experts to Do the Job Right the First Time

From repair to maintenance to replacement, our Chicago area team of masonry experts can do any job you require on your chimney or chimney crown.

We provide free consultations and inspections, and our crew of specialists have your satisfaction in mind when we do our job. We offer competitive and affordable services and are a phone call away when you need to discuss chimney crown repair.

Let us prove to you why our customers keep calling on us for their repair needs.

the most common chimney repairs and restorations

July 20, 2017

Brick Chimney Repair Cost Doesn’t Have to Break You

By mmilas / Chimney, Masonry / Comments Off

Home improvement and maintenance can be costly to a homeowner, so to keep your old brick chimney repair costs down, preventative maintenance can save you tons of money. Brick chimney repair costs can run upwards of $1,000-$3,000, or more, if left untreated.

Chicago-area chimney repair companies have the expert, skilled professionals who can perform the necessary tuckpointing to keep your chimney in great shape and functioning properly. But when your chimney has reached the point where it needs to be repaired or replaced, we recommend calling on your chimney masonry and mortar repair technicians to fix your cracked or spalling bricks and chimney.

Repairing a brick stack requires specialists who understand the link between your fireplace and your roof. The old brick chimney repairs require specialized tools and techniques to do the restoration job right.

We’re Specialists at Chimney Masonry Repair and Tuckpointing

Chimney masonry repair, when done on a timely basis, is quite affordable. Patching cracking mortar and replacing cracked or spalling bricks can be done for as little as a couple of hundred bucks, and this old brick chimney repair can save you major repair or replacement costs that can cost you thousands.

Most people only focus on cleaning the flue to keep the fireplace running smoothly, which is of course, important. But you need to be calling for your chimney repair and tuckpointing experts in Chicago to perform an annual inspection so we can perform spot maintenance on the stack cap, crown, and mortar.

Our highly skilled and trained experts are certified and insured in our restoration services to ensure that our repairs are done completely to your satisfaction, and we guarantee all our work, and the price, is always right.

We Have Repairing Brick Chimneys down to a Science

By definition, masonry work will break down over time because the materials used will wear down due to normal expansion and contraction, mainly because of the elements. Seals and mortar that are keeping the crown and cap in place also deteriorate over time and need repairs occasionally.

Our expert chimney technicians have the skills and knowledge to enable the proper functioning of your chimney and fireplace at a reasonable cost.

The bricks of the chimney can also break and fall apart over time, and we know how to replace them to avoid a stack that may begin crumbling and spalling to the point of needing a complete replacement.

And remember, do-it-yourself tuckpointing and chimney masonry repair and maintenance is possible, of course, but keep in mind that this is the type of work that can require intensive labor on your roof, so it’s dangerous work and best left to the old brick chimney repair and restoration experts. You may save on cost, but the risks may not be worth the price.

For the Best Brick Chimney Repair Services in Chicago, Choose Our Pros

When inquiring about repairing brick chimney services, make sure to trust in a company that relishes the opportunity to prove their services are the best. Our qualified and certified chimney masonry repair and tuckpointing professionals perform our services with customer satisfaction in mind.

We offer our services on an emergency basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can also provide you with a free inspection and consultation in which we’ll offer competitive and affordable prices.

So when you require the best chimney masonry repair and tuckpointing services for your Chicago area home, please give us a call, you’ll be glad you did.