by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
When you own a house, there are usually endless repairs and maintenance projects that need to be taken care of for both safety and appearance. Over the years my husband could easily handle most of them, but some are clearly out of his expertise or ability. One of those projects that needed to be handled was discovered when we had a roofing contractor come to clean out the leaves from our gutters after the autumn season. After his work was done he informed us that he saw our chimney was in need of repair, an area his company didn’t handle. Bricks were missing, the cap was broken and mortar needed to be replaced, among other problems. Since it was the chimney for our fireplace, this work was surely high priority. We began asking neighbors and friends if they ever needed similar repairs and if they could recommend a chimney/masonry repair company they used. None had a chimney problem yet so couldn’t name a company. Our next step was read the local papers for advertisements placed by chimney companies and to also go online for other company names. What we discovered in our search, when I did locate a few companies was that they did not include our town in the locations they covered because of the distance involved. It was just by luck after weeks of searching that someone casually mentioned a company they heard “that also did chimney and masonry work and repairs besides the work they are typically known for”, which was fence and gate installations and repairs. They were also licensed and insured, a must requirement for us with any contractors we hire. Later we learned they have a masonry division of their company.
Contractor Guidelines: Despite knowing the difficulty in finding a chimney repair company, we continue to judge any prospective contractor or handyman person with the same standards we apply when looking to hire someone. I consider the initial phone conversation to be an important part of the equation. If I leave a message, how long does it take the company to return my call? Then if we make an appointment for a visit, how long does it take to schedule and do they show up as promised? No one wants to make several calls and never receive a return reply for an initial inquiry. Happily to say, when we called the company, East Hampton Fence and Gate, a young woman answered and was friendly, pleasant and explained the process after I told her our problem. They would send out a foreman to meet with us and he would go on the roof, inspect the chimney, taking photos while up there. Back at the office they would evaluate what was needed and the photos and a proposal would be emailed to us with a detailed description of the work to be done and the costs involved. The next step my husband and I did was to become acquainted with the terminology for chimney and fireplace parts that might be explained to us during the inspection. Going online we found detailed diagrams showing what a mortar crown, sloped cap for rain runoff, flashing, overhang and drip edge was. Most of us know what a “mantel” is on a fireplace, but how about words like smoke chamber, fire box, flue, clean out door, damper and ash pit, to name a few technical terms?
Sure enough when the foreman came and inspected the chimney he saw the damaged parts, missing cap and broken bricks that needed to be replaced after many winters of storms and high winds. Again we were pleased with this representative of the company as he was punctual, professional, friendly and explained clearly what needed to be done, various alternatives and what the time frame would be for it. When the company’s proposal was emailed, on their letterhead, typed and detailed as promised in a timely manner, many of the words we just familiarized ourselves with were listed. After a few changes of what we wanted done or could be eliminated, there were several back and forth estimates and a go ahead work agreement signed. The normal required deposit was made and the work started soon after. Happily to say, the chimney has been totally repaired and now strong and secure once again for the coming winter elements. Their work is also 100% guaranteed, too. Having learned so much during this process, I reached out to the company that did our repairs, East Hampton Fence and Gate to ask them if they could supply me with some tips for fireplace safety to add to this article. www.easthamptonfenceny.com Their Office telephone is (631) 324-5941.
Here are their suggestions:
- Use seasoned firewood that has been dried for 6+ months. This firewood ignites faster and burns hotter, improving combustion efficiency. This means less creosote (build-up) and carbon monoxide entering your space.
- Regularly clean your chimney and have yearly inspections to check for wear and tear, cracks, or remove creosote build-up.
- Avoid liquid fire starters to prevent igniting an out-of-control fire in your chimney.
- Inspect your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and routinely test & replace the batteries.
- Install a chimney cap to prevent rain, leaves, and small animals that can block the exit of gases from your chimney.
- Use a chimney/fireplace screen or glass doors in front of your fireplace that will keep sparks and embers contained.
