What You Should Know About Toronto Chimneys

One of the more desirable features home buyers often look for is a fireplace, yet if you are a Toronto homeowner with a fireplace or looking for one, there are some things you should know about the chimney. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are, literally, playing with fire so it is essential that you play it smart and safe when it comes to this aspect of your home.

Your fireplace has the potential to provide warmth to your home, as well as look good, but also can be a potential fire hazard. It is important to care for every aspect of your fireplace, including the chimney. Here is a little bit that you should know about when it comes to your chimney.

Chimneys 101
The purpose of your chimney is to enable combustion and to exhaust smoke away from the home. A chimney needs to draw correctly, and should be of sufficient height; in keeping with building code standards, and commensurate with the height and pitch of the roof structure.

Dampers must operate, and open freely. Special Fire bricks, located in the firebox; must be sound with no voids or deterioration. High heat cement is used in association with building or repairing such bricks.

When purchasing a home; try to obtain service records from the previous owner, and have the chimney inspected, and cleaned, to avoid issues such as chimney fires, backdrafts, or animal intrusion. Look for voids in exterior brick joints, and deteriorated brick surfaces. Such issues can allow moisture in, and accelerate brick deterioration.

Call on the Pros
Here at AVENUE ROAD MASONRY, we care about ensuring that you get the finest work possible when it comes to every aspect of the work we do for you. We take great pride in the work we do, including the service we provide for Toronto Chimney Repair. Give us a call today at 416-785-5129 or contact us to request a no-obligation consultation.