Honest chimney advice from our Philadelphia team, the signs of trouble, the creosote risk, masonry care, and smart hiring.
The chimneys of Society Hill have stood for two centuries, and keeping them safe to use without ruining what makes them historic takes a specific, careful approach. Here is what a colonial stack actually needs.
Read more →High-rise condo owners rarely think about chimneys, but many Center City buildings have shared masonry stacks and flues that nobody is clearly responsible for. Here is what owners and boards should know.
Read more →Many Center City rowhome owners want to switch a wood fireplace to gas, or safely close one they no longer use. Both touch the chimney, and both go wrong when the flue is ignored.
Read more →A general home inspection barely touches the chimney, and on a historic Center City home a failed flue or a deteriorating stack can be a five-figure surprise. Here is how to check before you close.
Read more →A damp patch beside the chimney chase almost never sits under the leak. On a Center City rowhome, water gets into the stack at a handful of predictable points, and finding the real one is the whole job.
Read more →The crown at the top of the stack is the first line of defense against water, and on an exposed Center City roofline it is also the first thing to fail. Here is what it does and why it matters.
Read more →Book an inspection and our Philadelphia sweeps runs a camera up the flue, photographs what we find, and lets you decide on your own timeline.