CHIMNEY REPAIRS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
It’s vital to resolve any chimney issues as quickly as possible. The best way for homeowners to protect themselves from unexpected repairs is to have an annual chimney inspection. It will allow you to uncover minor issues before they become more severe and costly to repair. Being one of the top rated chimney repair providers in Los Angeles County, we have your back!
Our team has the experience and training to perform any chimney repair, including masonry repairs, flue liner repairs and replacement, chimney crown repairs, and more. If you suspect a chimney problem, call us, and we will conduct a thorough inspection and recommend the best solution for repairing your chimney.
We will immediately alert you if we discover any deficiency or problem with your liner or tile. We will take several photos to include in the inspection report for documentation. We will recommend what kind of repair is best and give an honest, fair estimate to repair. Our Chimney Professionals can install an insulated, stainless steel liner or, in most cases, repair the existing liner or tiles with the Heatshield method.
A Chimney Liner Can Make All The Difference
Many older chimneys were built without chimney flue liners. The flue liner protects the masonry of your chimney from both heat and combustible byproducts and helps to usher gas and smoke up and out of your home. Without a chimney liner, you and your home are put at unnecessary risk. A damaged or missing liner doesn’t just cause issues with safety. Without a quality liner, your fireplace will not work as efficiently as it was designed to. Adding a restorative product like HeatShield® to your chimney or replacing the liner can add fortitude to your system and restore the efficiency and enjoyment of your fireplace system once more.
HeatShield® is a Cerfractory® sealant that our technicians use to repair damaged flue liners saving homeowners the cost of chimney relining. Our team uses this resurfacing system to restore chimney liners with cracks and small gaps. We recommend installing a Stainless Steel Chimney Liner for severely damaged liners or unlined chimneys.
Cracks in the flue can be a serious problem. It can allow the combustibles to escape the venting system, exposing your home to the risk of fire or the inhabitants to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Most of the time, flue liner damage goes unnoticed until it is discovered during a chimney inspection or a dangerous problem occurs, like a chimney fire or fumes leaking into the living space. Normal wear and tear, improper installation, excessive heat, and gases from combustion can damage the flue liner.
Historically, the only way to fix damaged flue liners was to either break out the clay times and install a new stainless steel liner — an expensive process. However, a revolutionary product is making chimney liner repairs much more affordable.
HeatShield® Chimney Liner Repair System is approved for all fuel types. HeatShield® is a Cerfractory® flue sealant that repairs missing tiles, gaps, and cracks to restore an existing flue liner to its original safety and efficiency. It’s the easiest, fastest, and most affordable method for chimney liner repairs.
Tuckpointing is the process of removing deteriorated or damaged mortar joints between each brick. The joints are then filled or tucked with mortar. When our experienced professionals complete the tuckpointing, your chimney will be structurally sound and look as good as new.
Moisture and the normal wear and tear of an aging chimney can cause the mortar to deteriorate, leaving gaps between bricks or stones. These gaps are not only unsightly, but they also cause water intrusion which can lead to structural issues. With tuckpointing, we replace the damaged mortar joints with new mortar to restore your chimney to its original condition.
Your chimney needs to maintain its structural integrity to keep your home and family safe. Most masonry chimneys can last for 75 years or more – however the mortar (the bonding material between the bricks) is more likely to deteriorate. Like bricks, mortar is porous and will absorb moisture. Because bricks have a hard, outer shell, it takes longer to deteriorate.
You can tell if your chimney needs tuckpointing by inspecting the exterior brickwork. Cracks, crumbling, or gaps in the joints between bricks where mortar used to be are all indications that you need tuckpointing. You may also notice loose or missing bricks due to decaying mortar.
But all too often, homeowners do not realize there are damaged bricks and mortar until they have a chimney inspection or notice the effects of the deterioration that show up as water leaks inside the home.
The earlier you resolve masonry damage, the easier and less costly it is to repair. In severe cases where the deterioration is extensive, it may require a partial or complete chimney rebuilding.
Tuckpointing offers several benefits:
• Prevents more chimney damage – damaged bricks and mortar can cause severe structural damage not only to the chimney but to the roof and side of your home that attaches to the chimney. Tuckpointing improves structural stability and helps prevent a more costly rebuilding of the chimney.
• It stops water leaks – moisture that leaks through the gaps in the bricks and mortar can cause extensive damage to the ceiling, attic and other components inside the chimney.
• Increases property value – improving the condition and appearance of your chimney also enhances curb appeal, which may increase your property value.
CHASE COVERS
A chase cover is a metal pan on top of a prefab or factory-built chimney. These covers are usually made of galvanized metal and, if not correctly installed, can hold rainwater and eventually rust. This will lead to holes in the chase cover, resulting in rainwater leaking into the fireplace area. The leaking water will cause extensive damage to the firebox and surrounding frame, ceiling, and attic, costing thousands to repair. Our team is trained to spot these problems and, in most cases, can prevent future expensive repairs and may even lead to a complete chimney and fireplace rebuild. We offer galvanized steel chase covers. The chase cover can also be powder-coated in a variety of colors. We can provide you with an honest estimate for replacing the chase cover if yours needs to be replaced.
CHIMNEY CROWN REPAIR
A chimney crown is formed concrete on top of the chimney that seals the chimney’s flue to the outer chimney brick. The crown is sloped and prevents water damage from rain that seeps down into the masonry or into the joint between the masonry and the chimney flue.
Although the chimney crown has a cement surface, it is not as durable as brick masonry. Being on top of the chimney, the cement chimney crown is constantly exposed to rain and other weather conditions. It will eventually fall victim to deterioration and develop small hairline cracks. These simple cracks can lead to possible water damage in several areas, including where the fireplace/chimney meets the ceiling or in the attic around the rafters. When moisture penetrates the crown and gets inside the chimney, it can weaken the interior masonry resulting in more chimney repairs. Our team uses Crown Saver, an elastomeric sealant that forms a flexible waterproof membrane to repair and protect chimney crowns against water intrusion. This repair will provide years of protection and prevent further deterioration of your chimney, saving you money on expensive mortar replacement. If the mortar has deteriorated or cracked beyond repair, the crown will have to be chiseled off and replaced with new concrete.
Since inspecting the chimney crown requires climbing on top of the roof, most homeowners are unaware there is a problem until they have a chimney inspection or notice water stains on the ceiling and walls near the fireplace. Depending on the extent of the damage, Chimney Saviors will need to either repair or rebuild the crown.