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Chim Chimnee & Master Masonry
"The Pride We Take in Our Craft is Reflected in the Quality of Our Workmanship"
Greensboro/Triad, Charlotte, Raleigh NC- Call (336) 274-1070
Greensboro/Triad Area, Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem,
High Point, Kernersville, Burlington, Gibsonville, Graham,
Thomasville, Randleman,Liberty, Stokesville, Surrounding Areas
Michigan Call Cerrito Chimney at (248)683-2800
Michigan Call Chimney Cricket Oakland County (248) 683-2800
Michigan Oakland, Macomb & Wayne Counties
Call Today & Schedule an Estimate or a Chimney Cleaning.
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Chimney Safety Tips
Dirty woodstove glass? Try dipping a dampened piece of newsprint in the fine white ashes after your fire has died. Whipe it onto the glass in circular motions -- it works well if the glass isn't terribly dirty to begin with.
Putting a chimney cover or chimney cap on top of your flue can save you a lot of money in the long run. The covers keep out damaging moisture, which wears away masonry and steel chimneys -- not to mention that they keep birds and other critters out.
The National Fire Protection Association (in NFPA 211) recommends you have your chimney checked at least once a year, and cleaned if needed. Heavy users need more frequent check-ups.
If you have a newer EPA-rated woodstove, you might have a catalytic combuster in there somewhere. Make sure to check the owner's manual about cleaning it -- and stick to the schedule. Combusters should last 5 or 6 years, but a clogged or dirty one will fail rather quickly.
Do you have a smelly fireplace? Chimney Breath is most often caused by moisture, rain, or high humidity. Have your chimney cleaned early in the spring to make the humid summer days less odiforous.
Ever wonder what wood is the best to burn as firewood? Oak is an American favorite. Other hardwoods are also a good choice. You can burn other softer wood also, as long as it is split and dried long enough. It's much more important to burn dry wood than to worry about what kind of wood it is.
Do you know what to do during a chimney fire? Call the fire department and exit the house -- just like any other house fire. Many people choose not to do this, but if the fire does spread, don't you want the firefighters there already?
Springtime is the right time to get your chimneys checked! Sweeps are generally less frantic in the spring (vs. the crazy fall season) and if your chimney needs repairs, they can be made before the cold weather hits!
Mild winters mean more chimney fires! It's true. People choke back their woodstoves in mild weather -- leading to more creosote accumulation -- but many don't realize this, so they skip getting it cleaned, thinking it doesn't need it as bad as it would after a cold winter.
Black stove pipe (and furnace pipe, for that matter) should be securely fastened together at each joint with no less than three sheet metal screws or pop-rivets. Stove and vent pipe should be inspected at least yearly, and replaced when signs of rusting or wear are evident.
Gas logs release a lot of water vapor when they are burning. You should be wary of mold and mildew, especially if you have asthma and respiratory problems, when using them for longer than a few hours. A CO detector is a great gas-log accessory. You can find one in many home-improvement and mass chain stores.
Have your chimney checked every year (no matter how you heat your home) to make sure the chimney can do its job to properly vent hot, toxic gases and carbon monoxide from the heating system to the outdoors.
To help reduce creosote build-up in your wood-burning chimney system, burn only well-seasoned hardwoods. If you don't know how to build a hot, safe fire, ask our Certified Chimney Sweep for tips on proper wood-burning techniques.
Have a high-quality, long-lasting chimney cap installed to keep out debris and prevent birds, animals and insects from nesting in your chimney.
Following a violent storm, earthquake, flood or lightning strike, have your chimney inspected for damage -- inside and out. This includes checking for cracks and fallen bricks. For safety's sake, DO NOT USE YOUR CHIMNEY until it is checked by our Certified Chimney Sweep.
Install a carbon monoxide detector to warn of harmful gases that may be entering your home because of a blocked or damaged chimney.
Have your chimney waterproofed to prevent long-term corrosion and masonry damage.
Have your chimney flashing (the seal between the chimney and the roof) inspected and maintained. Flashing prevents rain water and snow melt from entering your home and causing costly damage to your walls and ceilings.
Save energy dollars and eliminate unpleasant off-season odors. Have a sealing damper installed in your wood-burning chimney system.
Have your chimney sweep ensure that your chimney has an appropriate liner. Chimney liners are required in new construction to separate hot heating system emissions from the structure of your home.
Spring is a good time to schedule an annual chimney check by our Certified Chimney Sweep.
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Tips for Buying Firewood
Burning wood in a fireplace or stove can be an economical source of heating and can provide a cozy focus for your home. On the other hand, buying firewood can be a daunting experience, as most sales are rather informal affairs.
There are three main things to look for when buying firewood: whether the wood is dry, the wood species, and the quantity being sold.
When a tree is harvested, the wood is “green” – it contains a lot of water. This makes the wood a poor fuel for fires. The wood must be dried – “seasoned” – before it will be useful for burning. Wood species vary in the amount of water they contain when green and the ease with which they dry out. Ash wood dries easily and so requires little seasoning time. Oak, while it is excellent firewood when dry, dries very slowly so it requires a long seasoning period. Wood will dry much faster if it is cut to the final length as soon as possible (12” to 24”). Splitting will also speed drying. Wood that is left in the log form will dry very slowly. It can be very difficult to tell if firewood is seasoned by looking at it but if there are lots of cracks (“checks”) in the ends of the pieces, that can be a sign that the wood is getting dry. You should only buy well-seasoned firewood, unless you are able to wait a year before burning it.
Any wood species will make an acceptable fire (if the wood is dry). Heavier woods such as oak and hickory are often preferred for firewood because the have more fuel value per piece. An oak or hickory fire will last longer and produce more heat than a fire made with pine. Lighter woods can be mixed with heavier wood, and may be preferred as for kindling for starting fires.
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In any case, the wood species mix in a load of firewood should be clearly understood.
Wood is sold in various quantities. Ricks, racks, truckloads, face cords, bush cords and other terms are in common use. The only official measure that is generally accepted is the cord – a stacked pile that measures 4' high by 4' deep by 8' wide (128 cubic feet). If the firewood is cut into 16” lengths, a cord (sometimes called a “bush cord”) will contain three rows. Each of these rows is one “face cord” or “rick.” Firewood stacked neatly in the bed of a full-size pickup truck will amount to about ˝ of a cord (64 cubic feet).
In some states, a “loose thrown cord” is also a legal measure. This is an advantage for firewood producers who want to simply dump their product into large trucks, rather than stack it neatly. A cord of wood will occupy more volume when it is “loose”: a loose-thrown cord of 16” long pieces will fill 180 cubic feet, a cord of loose-thrown 24” long pieces will occupy 195 cubic feet.
Wood is an excellent, economical and environmentally-friendly fuel. The collection and sale of firewood provides jobs and can encourage landowners to remove unhealthy or low-value trees from their woodlots, thus improving the health and productivity of Tennessee 's forests. As long as the species mix, degree of seasoning and volume of the load is clearly understood by the buyer and seller, the firewood business benefits everyone
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| Brick and Mortar Camparison |
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What Brick Sample
Do You Like Best?
Actually, the brick used on both samples are the same.
The only difference is the Mortar Color.
The Panel on the left was built using Standard Gray Type S Mortar.
While the one on the right is the More Expensive Colored Mortar.
A Grapevine Tool was used to strike the Mortar Joints on both Panels.
Since a large portion of the visable area on any
Masonry Vaneer Wall is Mortar Joints....
Unlike other masons, we make sure you see the the
actual samples on the job site, before westart laying the
Brick on Your Chimney, Fireplace, Mailbox or House.
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For Centuries, the Fireplace has been the Focal point of Family Gatherings Throughout the World. The Tranquility and Warmth of a Glowing Flame brings People Together, Sharing Tales and Forging Friendships, that Endure for Years to Come.
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