15
Jul
Update the fireplace in my Toronto home

Update the fireplace in my Toronto home

A fireplace is a popular feature to have in a home, and in older homes it was originally a valuable source of heat. Today they’re prized as room focal points that add extra ambience when lit. Over the years, however, an old wood-burning fireplace can become less efficient, a hassle to maintain and a source of dirt and mess in a home. Some older fireplaces may also have inherent design flaws that make using them harder than need be. Getting rid of the fireplace isn’t an ideal option because you’ll lose the character it adds to the room. Updating your old fireplace is easy and comes with several benefits that will make your love your fireplace even more. If you are looking for a fireplace update in your Toronto home, then Wilkens Contracting can help!

You can save money!

Older fireplaces can be drafty and aren’t an efficient heating source, 90% of the heat escapes through the chimney rather than entering the home when using a traditional wood burning fireplace. When you’re running the heat in the colder months some of it likely is escaping through the chimney or settled fireplace surround, sapping money as much as a drafty window or door. This problem can be easily solved by upgrading your old fireplace with a wood or pellet burning insert. Unlike freestanding wood or pellet stoves, inserts fit nicely in pre-existing fireplace openings. They’re generally sealed with a door, eliminating the draft problem. These highly efficient units create less mess since they’re enclosed and will keep the smoke from getting into the house. These styles of inserts can also heat a larger area than traditional fireplaces.

Increase the value of your home!

Because fireplaces are such desirable features, having a home with a lovely, new, efficient fireplace can increase the value of your house. Gas and electric fireplace inserts are more energy efficient and create a smaller carbon footprint since they don’t emit smoke. Being green is a popular feature with today’s environmentally conscious homeowners and home buyers. Having a beautiful fireplace that you can additionally list as energy efficient and recently updated can add value to your home when you’re ready to sell.

Update your home’s look!

While a fireplace itself is a timeless home feature, trends and designs come and go over time. You might find yourself loving the idea of having a fireplace but hating the ugly monstrosity in your home, especially if its aesthetic doesn’t match the rest of your home decor and design.

A simple facelift and upgrade can dramatically update the look and efficiency of your existing fireplace.

For all of your fireplace updating needs in Toronto, Wilkens Contracting has got your back! Contact us by clicking here! We can’t wait to hear from you!

 

 

 

20
Jun
How To Check Fireplaces For Hazards In Toronto Homes

How To Check Fireplaces For Hazards In Toronto Homes

Lighting up a fire in your fireplace creates a sense of coziness and relaxation, but when a fireplace or chimney falls into disrepair, calming feelings can quickly turn into panic and danger. Learn how to check fireplaces for hazards in Toronto homes, so you don’t fall victim to a house fire and the ensuing damage and destruction it causes. In this article by Wilkens Contracting, we will go over some of the signs of a damaged fireplace and what you should do in those cases, so continue below to find out how to safely examine the hearth of your home.

Look Over Your Firebox

The firebox is the area of the fireplace where you build your fire on the inner hearth. It is essential to check the interior of this section, examining the lining for any cracks or gaps and noticeable signs of wear. If you do spot these things, then call a professional for repair services. If left untreated, and the fireplace continues to see use, you could cause severe and permanent damage to your home.

Examine The Area For Smoke Stains

One of the most noticeable signs that your fireplace could be hazardous to use is the telltale markings of smoke stains. If you notice these stains on the ceiling, or above the fireplace opening, the inner workings of your fireplace are damaged and need professional repairs.

Check Your Chimney, and it’s Cap

The chimney cap is a covering that sits atop your home’s chimney on the outside, ensuring that outside debris, animals, and rainwater do not enter the chimney and reach the fireplace. Make sure your chimney cap is secure, and while you’re at it, examine the overall state of the stack itself. As chimneys are open to environmental conditions year-round, inspecting the structural integrity of your chimney is a must when considering fireplace hazards.

The Wood You Use

When you check for fireplace hazards, you should not only check the fireplace and chimney but consider looking at the wood you use to fuel your fire as well. Make sure not to use chemicals such as gasoline, kerosene, or charcoal starters. Do not use painted or pressure-treated wood, as they are known to produce toxic chemicals in the home. Wet and rotten wood, as well as diseased or mouldy wood pieces,  should be avoided as well.

Enlist Our Help

With these pointers in mind, individuals can check fireplaces for hazards in Toronto homes easily and efficiently. If you have thoroughly examined your fireplace, and have noticed signs of damage, then give us a call at Wilkens Contracting, and we would be more than happy to facilitate the required repairs! We offer a free estimate to the Greater Toronto Area, so give us a call today and secure yourself one now.

Please click here to find our contact information online, and tell us about your fireplace needs.

19
Jul
Fireplace Repairs in Toronto

Wilkens Contracting Inc. has been the leader in fireplace restoration in Toronto since 1977. We only work on masonry fireplaces only. Forty plus years of building and maintaining wood burning fireplaces only makes us very knowledgeable on the subject.

The main things to check on a fireplace are the condition of the hearth extension, the solidity of the firebrick interior and the operation of the damper. If your fireplace is smoking into the room it is usually caused by one of the following. The opening is too large for the chimney flue size, the damper is not high enough above the top of the opening or someone has placed a flue tile at the chimney top which is restricting the drought.

At Wilkens Contracting Inc. we are often asked to redesign the fireplace completely. With new renovations being done some of the older designs don’t fit in. We can completely rebuild the fireplace into the original structure giving you a fireplace that suits the new look of your home. That being said, many homes have stunning fireplaces and the design of the room can be worked around the fireplace itself.

Fireplace Room

Fireplaces have been around since before the wheel. They are not mysterious and properly used they are not dangerous. We don’t deal in gas or electric units because we are a masonry company, and personally, we feel a wood burning fireplace is simply the most pleasurable fireplace to have. Take a look at the main web site at Wilkens.ca and you will find the anatomy of a fireplace. This will help you understand the structure and will also help you check the various parts of your fireplace to ensure its operational design. If you are looking for fireplace repairs in the Toronto area, feel free to call us and we will surely be able to help you have the fireplace you are looking for.

 

 

14
May
Fireplace Repairs Toronto

Wilkens Contracting Inc. has been the leader in fireplace restoration in Toronto since 1977. We only work on masonry fireplaces only. Forty plus years of building and maintaining wood burning fireplaces only makes us very knowledgeable on the subject.

The main things to check on a fireplace are the condition of the hearth extension, the solidity of the firebrick interior and the operation of the damper. If your fireplace is smoking into the room it is usually caused by one of the following. The opening is too large for the chimney flue size, the damper is not high enough above the top of the opening or someone has placed a flue tile at the chimney top which is restricting the drought.

At Wilkens Contracting Inc. we are often asked to redesign the fireplace completely. With new renovations being done some of the older designs don’t fit in. We can completely rebuild the fireplace into the original structure giving you a fireplace that suits the new look of your home. That being said, many homes have stunning fireplaces and the design of the room can be worked around the fireplace itself.

Fireplaces have been around since before the wheel. They are not mysterious and properly used they are not dangerous. We don’t deal in gas or electric units because we are a masonry company and personally we feel a wood burning fireplace is simply the most pleasurable fireplace to have. Take a look at the main web site at Wilkens.ca and you will find the anatomy of a fireplace. This will help you understand the structure and will also help you check the various parts of your fireplace to ensure its operational design. Feel free to call us and we will surely be able to help you have the fireplace you would like.

Click the image below to view our full service area: