by Marisa Bell | Chimney Repairs
When a chimney is built well, its masonry should offer stability and performance for many years. Masonry is comprised of two parts: bricks and mortar. While bricks may last for a century, the mortar that holds the bricks together may begin to fail in 25 years or less....
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Repairs
Many homes in the Kansas City area have masonry chimneys built with corbeled brick, and homeowners may need to parge their smoke chamber this summer. While your wood-burning fireplace was keeping your family warm and cozy in the winter, the smoke and fumes were...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Inspection, Chimney Maintenance, Chimney Repairs
Chimneys are strong and will last for many years, when they’re built well and properly maintained. But even the best chimney won’t last forever. If your chimney is older or has suffered a lot of damage, you may be wondering if you need a new chimney. Here are some...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Maintenance, Chimney Repairs, Chimney Sweep, Creosote
The chimney cap is one of the most vital parts of a chimney. Its primary purpose is to protect the masonry chimney crown & open flue. There are two kinds of chimney caps. Many fireplaces, especially in older homes, have an open style chimney cap that was made from...
by Marisa Bell | Chimney Inspection, Chimney Repairs, Chimney Sweep
Scheduling an annual chimney inspection and cleaning is essential for keeping your home and family safe when using a fireplace or heating stove. The National Fire Protection Association, along with other fire safety experts, encourage all homeowners to have an annual...
by Marisa Bell | Apartment Maintenance, Chimney Cap, Chimney Draft, Chimney Repairs, Chimney Sweep, Fireplace Maintenance
We call them “routine” chimney inspections, but the truth is, no two chimney inspections are exactly alike, and none of them are perfectly routine. Each chimney has its own issues and finding them and keeping them from turning into dangerous, expensive problems is a...