Having your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned can help ensure that your fireplace will be a source of warmth and beauty for many winters to come. Here's what a good chimney sweep will look f ...

I share how to ensure the new mortar you use matches the existing. You should also inspect the chimney crown. Be sure it is in great shape and is constructed per the BIA guidelines. You may discover ...

Where to start with chimneys? Probably here: A chimney is not just an elongated window, not just a portal from inside to outside with deep, brick sills. A chimney, in fact, is a machine for generating ...

My firm gets more calls about leaks around chimneys than about any other problem. More often than not, the culprit is the flashing–the sheet metal that keeps the intersection between the chimney and ...

Q. My chimney needs some tender loving care. I had a few contractors come to assess the repairs, but none of them made me feel very comfortable. They all talked about how my chimney top (some called ...

Q. This week: The brick chimney on our 1930's era house looks like it needs repair. From the ground I can see cracks in the bricks, and some of the cement and pieces of the bricks have come off and ...

Roof leaks plague countless homeowners each year. Talk to experienced roofers, and they’ll tell you the vast majority of leaks happen at flashings. A roof flashing is a transitional material. It ...