Tips For Restoring Your Historic Chimney

Do you own a home with a historic fireplace or chimney? Are you ready to bring it back to life? The Original Chimney Specialists are here to help. Our expert team focuses on remodeling, restoring, and repairing chimneys in ways that remain true to the intended original architecture.

Regardless of age, it is essential to inspect the fireplace to ensure there are no defects. Defects become more common with historic properties. Potentially dangerous situations such as cracked or broken clay flue tiles, improper clearances to combustibles, or other major problems can go undetected. You should also monitor your chimney or fireplace for cleanliness and structural soundness. Ensure to have your chimney regularly swept and cleaned by professionals to prevent fires caused by creosote buildup.

Are You a Restoration Candidate?

Unfortunately, not every chimney will be salvageable. There are a few questions that need to be answered to ensure that your fireplace/chimney is restorable, including:

• Are your chimney tiles intact?
• Are the fire bricks installed correctly?
• Does the damper open and close properly?

If the answer to all these questions is yes, then you are in luck! You have a repairable historic chimney on your hands. Your chimney specialist should go over these and a few other specifics about the history of your home during the initial assessment.

Before Construction Begins

Restoration cannot begin without a complete fireplace and chimney inspection. Other than determining that the fireplace structure itself is sound with no cracking and crumbling, the entire system must be useable. When you work with Original Chimney Specialist, we will inspect the following:

• Chimney cap, firebox, damper, chimney crown, smoke chamber, chimney exterior, mortar joints, masonry, and defects in the chimney flue or chimney structure

It is also critically important that your inspector gets on the roof to look for signs of defects or cracks in the structure’s exterior. If there are issues found during this time, they must be repaired before the actual restoration begins. And as with any old structure, you may have critters or pests inside, and they must be removed before construction.

Installing Historic Chimney Liners

Older fireplaces and chimneys were initially designed to vent multiple fireplaces and were constructed with long narrow flues. A liner can be used to reline the flue and is a smart choice during a restoration. A properly functioning chimney liner is critical for the safe use of a restored chimney. Otherwise, the fireplace wouldn’t draft well, and either won’t work or becomes a hazard.

The three most common options for flue relining for your restorations are cast-in-place concrete lining systems, stainless steel, and galvanized or aluminum sleeves. Certain lining materials are only compatible with specific fuel types, and the liner will need to be sized to the firebox and appliances it serves. Our team can help you decide on which one will work best for your needs and budget.

Need More Restoration Tips?

We have been nationally recognized as an “Outstanding Chimney Restoration Company” in the United States many times. While our team has grown a lot over the years, the one thing that has stayed the same is our commitment to provide the best, personalized service and valuable expertise to our customers. Call us today at (608) 929-4887, or stop by our location and let us help give your historic chimney a new life!