Chimney cleaning and inspection are an important part of having a fireplace. If cleaning is not done regularly; dangerous conditions may occur, putting you and your family at risk.
Old Chicago brick is brick reclaimed from demolition sites. These bricks are natural clay bricks, made in the Chicago area from the late 1800’s until the early 1970’s. Today’s new bricks cannot match the color, texture or character of these antique bricks. For this reason, we usually will need to do a total rebuild. We can get bricks that are close, but we will never get a perfect match.
Masonry is often perceived as very durable and sometimes believed to be indestructible. It is NOT! The chimney sticks up at the top of the roof, above all other parts of the home. It is exposed to harsh elements such as snow and rain that freeze and thaw, causing deterioration. A quality chimney cover (chase top) and a waterproofing treatment can avoid expensive repairs.
This is a visual inspection of readily accessible areas of the chimney structure and flue. We inspect obstruction or combustible deposits in the flue, basic appliance installation and connection. We also look at the exterior of the chimney to note any structural issues with the brick or chimney cap.