09
Sep
Why Your Chimney Should Be Domed

What Is A Chimney Dome?

A chimney dome is a relatively easy and generally inexpensive way to ensure proper water runoff on the top of your chimney. It is comprised of masonry cement and an adhesive admixture (glue) that increases the bond between the dome and the chimney top or crown.

Why Dome Your Chimney?

By adding a slope of masonry cement around your flue tile and chimney liner, you prevent water from sitting on the crown. In the late fall and early spring months, when water freezes at night and thaws in the day time, water stuck on top of your chimney can cause erosion and even form cracks. Also, the added cement secures the individual parts of the crown.

How Often Do You Need To Dome Your Chimney?

There is no set duration that a dome will last. It all depends on the individual chimney’s exposure to weather, as well as the health of the rest of the chimney. Chimney’s should be inspected every so often in order to get ahead of any further damage that may be caused by improper water runoff.

Why You Should Hire A Mason To Dome Your Chimney

Repairing the crown of your chimney can be a relatively quick job, but should be handled by someone properly trained in working at heights. Many chimneys can be difficult to access and require scaffold, taller than average ladders and proper harnesses to be worked on. Beyond that, you want an expert who knows the proper repair techniques for each specific job, each individual chimney requires it’s own custom dome.

How Do I Know If My Chimney Needs To Be Domed?

While most home owners have no easy access to the tops of their chimneys, you may be able to tell from the ground if your chimney needs to be properly domed. Water leaking into your fireplace can be a sign that repair is needed. Check your fireplace for water during heavy rain.

Get Your Toronto Chimney Repaired 

Call Wilkens Masonry at 416 425 8055 or request a free estimate online. We will respond right away and have someone evaluate your masonry needs with a no obligation quote. Family owned & operated for over 40 years, we are proud to be one of Toronto’s oldest masonry companies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

14
May
Chimneys

Chimneys Toronto
Despite the fact that chimney maintenance is so important, people tend to either forget about them or neglect them. Often it is simply that they are not that noticeable when walking around the yard. In this article by Wilkens Contracting Inc. we will talk about the importance of chimneys in Toronto. Read on for more information.

The most common problem with chimneys in Toronto is wear and tear due to the elements and the exhaust of your heating system. As the chimney is completely unprotected from the weather it gets deteriorated more rapidly than the house walls. Since the advent of more efficient heating systems chimneys in Toronto are subject to condensation from the warm exhaust of the furnace or boiler coming into contact with the cooler air of the exposed chimney above the roof. The damage shows up as either the mortar joints wearing out or the bricks crumbling or spalling. If the mortar joints are eroding the repair could be as easy as simple tuck pointing. Once the bricks begin to rot the chimney usually needs rebuilding. The reason for rebuilding at that point is that the spalling bricks are the worst and easily visible. The adjacent bricks will have degraded as well so replacing just the few obvious ones will still leave you with an unsound structure. Most chimneys can be rebuilt from the roof up as below the roofline they are well protected by the eaves and haven’t been worn out.

As a note, when having your chimney rebuilt many people are sold precast concrete caps. These are fine but were not in use until the 50s as well. On older homes Wilkens Contracting Inc. prefers to corbel the top of the chimney to maintain the period design. Many homeowners are told the reason for the chimneys wear was the lack of the precast cap which is simply not the case. The reasons are stated above. To verify this for yourself you simply need to go to an older part of town and look at the chimneys. These homes are older than most of the homes in Toronto and are still in good condition and were mostly have a corbel at the top. It is wear and tear that deteriorates the chimney, not the crown design. I think a corbel, in keeping with the design of your home, looks much better.

If your chimney is in need of repairs, you can trust the professionals at Wilkens Contracting Inc. to get things back in shape. With years of experience, no chimney is too damaged for our skilled team. For more information about how we can repair and restore chimneys in Toronto, please feel free to continue browsing through our website. Click here to find our contact information and to request a quote.

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