North Merrick, LI’s Top Brick Chimney Firm

The chimney is one of the most useful components of a dwelling. Your chimney tends to not receive the attention or the concern usually accorded other troublesome household systems. Chimneys perform several critical functions & their simple appearance misrepresents their complex construction & performance requirements. Regular chimney maintenance is key to prevent damage, deterioration & future widespread, high-cost chimney corrections.

The concern is that scores of masonry chimneys were not designed to handle the venting requirements of modern high-efficiency heating appliances burning natural gas & oil.

Masonry elements deteriorate quickly when exposed to the extreme freeze/thaw processes of North Merrick, in which moisture that has penetrated the components periodically freezes and expands causing undue stress.

Water in the chimney also triggers rust in steel and cast iron, weakening or destroying the metal parts.

Chimney caps, also called rain covers, are probably the most inexpensive preventive measure that a homeowner could employ to prevent water penetration & damage to the chimney.

Installing chimney caps & dampers will protect your chimney & maintain a safe chimney damper.

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

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

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

The job of the chimney cap is to stop rain from entering the flue and to stop pests from building nests in your chimney or using the chimney for a doorway into your residence.

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

Our chimney sweeps might recommend the best solution for your chimney.

This damper attaches to the top of the chimney’s flue tile liner, providing a tight, gasketed fit that seals in heat and seals out weather, insects, birds & animals.

It is hard to realize how resourceful animals & birds can be over the summer crafting a wonderfully cozy nest right inside your chimney.

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

Our experts can come out & recommend the best option for you and provide a written estimate to install a new chimney cap, damper, or guard.

Water starts more leaks than any other element. It soaks into porous bricks and weathers the mortar. It’s a common problem: raccoons, squirrels, birds and bats try to make their home in your chimney.

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

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

LI Chimney Contractors for Chimney Lining Replacements

The method recommended for your chimney may 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 and oil.

A composite chimney lining system is inflated into the flue, then hardened with steam pressure, forming a tough liner. A stainless steel liner locks in moisture & gases, keeping them out of your home.

Stainless steel liners are UL tested under extreme conditions, including simulated chimney fires over 2100°F, so you’ll sleep soundly knowing your home is safer.

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 erode, heat transfers more quickly to combustibles and gases like carbon monoxide may leak into the house.

Modern stoves and furnaces need a properly-sized flue to operate efficiently. Our primary role is to remove flue deposits and evaluate the overall chimney system.

Our goal is to provide recommendations that might improve the safety and efficiency of your appliance & venting system.

Chimneys should be cleaned when soot & creosote accumulations approach or exceed 1/4 inch. Glaze build-up more than 1/8 inch may be removed. Our technicians employ a variety of cleaning techniques to remove chimney deposits. Frequent (at least annual) chimney consultations are the only way to know when the chimney requires repairs.

Several of the typical chimney cleaning techniques we provide include:

Standard Sweep. This is the normal cleaning method and uses brushes to clean the flue. A powerful, well-filtered vacuum prevents soot & creosote from entering the house. 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 clean the flue by standard or mechanical methods, chemicals may be used to loosen & dissolve heavy deposits.

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

Chemical Cleaning: This requires two trips — sometimes 3 if necessary. Our chimney experts will usually complete the job in a couple of hours & ensure your home stays clean and undisturbed. Our experts pride ourselves on “no mess,” top-notch project with minimal interruption to the owner.

What do other clients say about Expressway’s chimney crew? Check our Google reviews here. We are proud of them.

North Merrick’s chimney experts give you a free inspection, no-obligation quote and the chimney inspection to use as the owner wishes.