Professional, Local, Harbor Hills Chimney Contractor

The chimney is one of the most under appreciated parts of a home. The fact that chimneys may do their job effectively, even when damaged, contributes to this aura that ‘it’s probably fine’. Chimneys are far from the quiet, passive black holes that are ‘just there’ that most property managers assume them to be. Regular chimney maintenance is critical to prevent leaks, deterioration and future preventible, high-cost chimney restorations.

Each year there are thousands of cases of carbon monoxide poisonings due to faulty lined chimneys.

Expressway repairs trouble to all parts of your fireplace or chimney. Whether the owner requires a chimney repointing, chimney repairs to missing or loose bricks, repair of a leaking chimney crown, broken flue liner or other chimney threat.

A stone chimney acts and resembles like a brick chimney & it may also be protected from the effects of water penetration.

Chimney caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety & damage-prevention feature.

Defective mortar joints or the use of shoddy mortar or brick will greatly increase the tendency to absorb & transfer water to the interior of the masonry chimney.

Caps and dampers keep out the weather, all animals & most debris – all while keeping sparks from leaving the chimney which sometimes ignite nearby combustibles like your roofing shingles, siding or nearby trees.

For a metal, brick or fabricated chimney repair evaluation call or text Expressway at 631.388.7555.

One of the least expensive parts of the chimney venting system is the one that often prevent some of the most high-priced problems. If you don’t have a chimney cap on your chimney, stop reading right now and call Expressway Roofing & Chimney for an estimate now! Every chimney mason knows that a safe chimney cap is a must.

Chimney caps come in all different varieties, shapes, sizes & components.

Some caps will actually help facilitate the updraft function of the chimney as well by virtue of their special design.

Chimney dampers might help prevent water penetrations, heat loss & keep you warm & saving you money.

It’s the perfect upgrade for fireplace chimneys in older houses that almost never have a damper.

Even just falling leaves may build up without the latest chimney cap in place.

Rain is moisture and moisture is an enemy of a healthy fireplace & flue. Chimney liner tiles and mortar can crumble & crack, leading to critical leaks. The chimney cap cover deflects rain & the side mesh prevents pests and leaves from entering. Still, regular chimney cleaning & maintenance are always recommended.

Our chimney repair & installation technicians are knowledgeable about a wide variety of chimney caps, guards & dampers.

Water causes more issues than any other element. It soaks into porous bricks and weathers the mortar. A chimney cap that covers all flues can protect you from expensive repairs.

Chimneys can block proper ventilation and even allow pests to enter your home, potentially spreading disease and causing havoc. Our strong mesh & lids will keep even the most determined animals out!

Your fireplace can send sparks onto the roof or nearby flammable products. Stray sparks may be stopped by the mesh cover that is a component of all our chimney caps.

Local Chimney Repair & Replacement Contractors

The method recommended for your chimney will depend on the type of deposits. A flue lining in a masonry chimney is defined as “a clay, ceramic, or metal liner.” Thermocrete has UL Listing and is approved for gas & oil.

It conforms to any chimney size and shape, becoming a corrosion-proof, flame- and heat-resistant, airtight system with steel-like rigidity. A stainless steel liner locks in moisture & gases, keeping them out of your home.

This alloy resists acids from gas appliances and extreme temperature cycles.

Chimney liners serve three main functions. NBS tests showed that unlined chimneys let heat move so quickly that adjacent woodwork caught fire within 3½ hours.

Flue gases are acidic and eat away at mortar joints from the inside. As mortar joints wear away, heat transfers more quickly to combustibles & gases like carbon monoxide may leak into the house.

The chimney not only vents combustion products but also supplies draft for combustion air. An incorrectly-sized liner may cause creosote buildup in wood stoves & increase carbon monoxide risks.

The required cleaning frequency can depend on use, type of installation, fuel, & burning habits of the client.

Chimneys should be cleaned when soot and creosote accumulations approach or exceed 1/4 inch. Glaze build-up in excess of 1/8 inch may be removed. We employ several cleaning techniques to remove chimney deposits. Frequent (at least annual) chimney checks are the only way to know when the chimney requires maintenance.

Several of the common chimney cleaning methods we provide include:

Standard Sweep. This is the standard cleaning method & uses brushes to clean the flue. A powerful, well-filtered vacuum prevents soot & creosote from entering the home. This cleaning is effective for soot & light creosote deposits but has little effect on glaze build-up.

Mechanical Sweeping. Mechanical cleaning uses wire brushes, plastic cables, or special chains rotated at high speed by an electric motor. It is often employed to remove hard creosote or glaze deposits. In rare cases where it’s impossible to sweep the flue by standard or mechanical methods, chemicals may be used to loosen & dissolve heavy deposits.

A thorough chimney sweep should remove soot, creosote and blockages from the flue liner, smoke chamber & shelf, firebox and damper. Heat, moisture, creosote and gases will be removed, repaired, or relined with a UL-listed liner system or other approved product that could resist corrosion, softening, or cracking from flue gases at temperatures necessary for the class of the chimney job.

Chemical Cleaning: This requires two visits — sometimes three if necessary. Our chimney sweeps can usually complete the job in a couple of hours & ensure your house stays clean and undisturbed. Our technicians pride ourselves on “no mess,” top-notch project with minimal interruption to a homeowner.

What do other property owners say about Expressway’s chimney team? Check our Google reviews here. Our technicians are proud of them.

We give you a free inspection, no-obligation quote & the chimney estimate to use as the owner wishes.