Chimney Services We Offer in Annapolis
Chimneys Have Many Parts, and Alliance Services Them All
When most people picture a chimney, they think about the small portion that sticks out above the roof of a home. The chimney is far more than just its uppermost section, however, stretching from the fireplace all the way up to the cap. That is why at Alliance Masonry, our chimney services repair and maintain the entire chimney, not just the part that you can see above the roofline.
Let’s take a look at a few now:
Starting from Scratch: New Chimneys
When we construct a new chimney, it is an involved process. Once all of the planning is done, we begin by pouring a foundation for the chimney.
Starting from that foundation, we start to lay the bricks or stones heading upward through the house and ultimately out the roof. Our masonry experts ensure that the chimney is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing.
Starting at the Top: Chimney Crowns & Caps
In some ways, chimney caps and crowns might seem to be decorative toppers for a chimney, both have important jobs in keeping the chimney functioning at peak performance.
Chimney caps are protective structures that cover the chimney from the top while allowing smoke to exit through the sides. The top portion of the cap helps keep water out of the while mesh sides can keep out leaves, debris and even small animals.
Chimney crowns, on the other hand, run around the edges of the top of the chimney, extending out further than the brick or stone portion of the chimney. The crown, often made of cement, is sloped to carry water off the crown rather than into the chimney. The overhang keeps the water from simply dripping down the brickwork, which could cause damage.
Alliance can install either a chimney cap or crown for your chimney to help prevent damage from precipitation or other issues.
The Exterior: Maintaining the Brick or Stone
This portion is where we show off our masonry experience. Our chimney services include maintaining and repairing both the bricks and the mortar.
Tuckpointing
Bricks are a sturdy, long-lasting building material. The mortar holding them together, on the other hand, has a tendency to wear down over time when exposed to the elements.
That is why tuckpointing is an important step in maintaining your brick chimney.
Tuckpointing involves removing the cracked, damaged mortar and replacing it with new mortar, refreshing both the look of the chimney and the structural integrity of the mortar.
Brick Repair
While bricks are generally sturdy, they still are susceptible to water infiltration. If this happens, the freeze-thaw cycles can cause the bricks to begin flaking and spalling.
The brick might even become so damaged it pops off the chimney.
Our masonry experts can replace the damaged bricks with new ones, restoring the structural integrity and look of your chimney.
The Interior: Preventing Damage and Blockages
Chimney Sweeping
Perhaps nothing is more important to keeping a chimney functioning properly than keeping it clean.
Our chimney sweeping services can remove the harmful creosote deposits that cause an array of chimney problems. These include everything from chimney fires to smoke backing up into your home to corrosion of the interior pieces.
Chimney Liners
Chimney Liners, which line the interior walls of the chimney, play an important role in preventing chimney damage. Whether made of metal or ceramic, the liner acts as a barrier between the flue gases and the chimney walls.
This both prevents corrosion and optimizes airflow in the chimney, preventing harmful gases from seeping into your home.
For safety reasons, many building codes now demand the installation of chimney liners.
Looking for a Chimney Service Provider Near You in Annapolis? Give Alliance a Call
If you are in need of any chimney services, from building a new chimney to making repairs to regular maintenance and sweeping, give Alliance a call or text or fill out the form below.