Who can take a pile of bricks and turn it into a cottage? A contractor can. Who can take a few loads of concrete and turn them into a sidewalk? A contractor can. Now, not all contractors have the same skills. A contractor who primarily works on cottages would probably have difficulty making a sidewalk, for example. However, those in this industry are very used to collaborating and reaching out to others when they come across work they don't specialize in. If you think contractors and their work are awesome, then you've come to the right place. This is a friendly blog where you can read more about the topic.
Construction & Contractors Blog
Far too many homeowners do not realize there is anything wrong with their chimney until smoke backs up into their home, or until they have a chimney fire. Clearly, neither of these scenarios is ideal. The good news is that you can avoid them both if you know how to look for early signs of chimney damage. Here are the key signs you need to call a chimney repair company before something disastrous happens.
Deteriorating Joints
Take a look at the mortar between the bricks that form your chimney. The mortar should not only be in place, but firmly in place. If it comes out or starts to crumble when you touch it, then your chimney is not in good repair. A little water could sneak into these open joints during winter, expand, and cause even further damage. Thankfully, most chimney repairs can do a process called tuckpointing, which allows them to replace and reinforce damaged mortar without taking apart the whole chimney.
Discolored Paint or Wallpaper
Examine the walls on either side of your fireplace. Do you see any discoloration on the wallpaper or the paint? Make sure you shine a bright light on the area so you can see it clearly. Discoloration in this area usually means your chimney is not exhausting the output from the fire as well as it could. This could be due to anything from a blockage to a creosote buildup, so have a repair company come take a look before more smoke ends up in your house.
Rusty Damper
While rust on your fireplace damper won't affect the damper's function until it gets really bad, the rust is not something you want to see. It indicates that moisture is making its way into your chimney, which could mean you have a leaky chimney liner. Have this addressed before the leak gets any bigger, potentially allowing water into your home.
Shaling
Shaling is a term that refers to the appearance of thin pieces of brick or stone inside the fireplace. These pieces of brick are coming from somewhere: the inside of your chimney. They could soon lead to a leak, and they may also mean your chimney is getting too hot.
Chimneys need to be in good repair in order to do their job properly. Call a chimney repair company, such as Sposato Masonry, promptly if you happen to notice any of these issues or anything else worrisome.
Share27 August 2021
