Saturday 7 December 2013

What One Needs To Know About Chimney Repair Portland OR

By Tiffany Gill


When taken care of in the right way and maintenance done periodically, chimneys can last for years without being repaired. That notwithstanding, chimneys that need repairing will not be safe to people living within the homes. Depending on the municipality, homeowners may or may not be allowed to carry out the repairs. Otherwise, repairs are only supposed to be done by professionals, notably masons. The masons have to be licensed. When considering chimney repair Portland OR should have information on the details involved.

Depending on the level of damage to chimneys, there are times when complete rebuilding will be required. Most of the codes of building require that chimneys should have braces at certain points which are attached to the structure of the building. All repairs of chimneys are subject to inspection, whether they are done by homeowners or by professionals. Inspections are done after demolition of chimneys is complete, when they are ready to get braced and framed, and when the entire project is done with.

As much as possible, local building codes need to be followed to the letter in the course of rebuilding. The majority of the codes require that the chimneys have braces at particular points that are attached to the structure of the house. The repairs are always subject to inspections, irrespective of the person doing the repair. The inspection is done when the demolition of the old chimney is complete, when it is ready for bracing and framing and at the end of the project.

In the event that the damages incurred are severe, there will be likelihood that tiles that make up the liner have cracks. In such instances, the tiles will have to undergo sealing and replacement. The other alternative is to reline the chimneys with heat resistant concrete. When this is done, the original tiles are not interfered with and a layer of concrete used to seal the tiles once again.

Relining with concrete will need special handling, which requires that those doing it have experience working with concrete. There is also the option of relining with stainless steel chimney liner. The technique involves insertion of a stainless steel liner into the flue. The stainless steel is available in both flexible and non-flexible styles and has two key benefits. It not only handles fireplace heat but also provides sufficient draft.

If in any case there are jogs in the flue, flexible liners would be the better choice. The metal liners are able to get pushed up from the firebox to the roof, or they can also be dropped to the firebox from chimneys depending on the level of work involved. In order that extra warmth may be provided, the liner of stainless steel is supposed to be set in place, after which heatproof concrete is poured between it and the brick facades on the outer brick.

It is recommended that homeowners schedule annual inspections to find out if there are any problems. During the inspections, the chimneys are swept, removing of connector pipes done and their proper inspection so that there is no spillage. Annual checkups ensure damages are repaired well in advance.

When scheduling chimney repair Portland OR homeowners can look to benefiting greatly. There will be no need to rebuild the structures often. People that do not have the relevant skills should seek services of experienced masons.




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