Masonry

Chimney Fires: How to Protect Your Wisconsin Home

March 18, 2019 by Over the Top Roof

No matter where you live, a fire can start where you least expect it. The National Fire Protection Agency estimates that United States fire departments responded to 355,440 house fires from 2015 to 2016. However, your chimney can also cause a house fire. Here’s what you need to know about chimney fires and protecting your Wisconsin home.

How Common are Chimney Fires?

Chimney fires sounds strange when you say it out loud. However, they are more common than you think. According to statistics from the Chimney Safety Institute of America, there was an average of 22,300 chimney fires between 2012 and 2014. Knowing the signs of a chimney fire can help save you and your home. The Chimney Safety Institute of America says that homeowners should look out for popping noises, dense smoke, and a “hot smell.”

Common Causes of Chimney Fires

Chimney fires are often the result of improper care and maintenance. Here are some of the common causes of chimney fires:

Creosote

The number one cause of chimney fires is creosote. Creosote is a black, tarry substance that occurs due to incomplete burning. When creosote builds up, it prevents fumes from fully exhausting and prevents chimneys from controlling a fire. Besides causing a fire, the incomplete burning causes the exhaustion of fumes that are harmful to humans, leading to a buildup of soot.

Soot

Soot is another by-product of incomplete burning that looks like black stains. This by-product occurs when homeowners burn untreated wood, plastics, or don’t completely burn wood. Soot is especially dangerous since it can exhaust carcinogenic gases. Breathing in carcinogens often leads to respiratory illness.

Improper Maintenance

Calling the chimney sweeper can help prevent chimney fires. The job of chimney sweepers is to clean soot and make sure your chimney is functioning properly. Homeowners should have their chimney swept at least once a year.

Knowing is half the battle, and when it comes to chimney fires, knowing how to prevent them is everything.

Preventing Chimney Fires

There are a number of things you can do in order to prevent chimney fires and producing carcinogenic gases:

Get an annual chimney inspection. Inspectors will be able to tell you if your chimney needs maintenance, or whether creosote has built up.
Use a chimney liner. Also called a flue liner, this will help contain combustion.
Build small fires with dry wood. Wet wood can attribute to creosote build up and bigger fires create more smoke.

Final Word on Chimney Fires

Performing maintenance, and knowing the signs of a chimney fire is essential for homeowners. If you recently had a chimney fire or you need maintenance done, Over the Top specializes in rebuilds and restoration of chimneys!

How Does a Chimney Work and Why Does it Need Maintenance?

October 17, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

The first chimney we know about dates back to the 12th century. Before that, people placed fire pits in the middle of their dwellings.

Back then, homeowners didn’t really understand how their chimneys worked or why taking care of them was so important. So, even though there was a hole in the roof, the homes were constantly filled with smoke and there was always the danger of the house going up in flames.

Luckily, those days are long gone. But it’s still a good idea to learn how a chimney works so you can better understand what kind of maintenance yours needs.

Smoke billows from a chimney from a house with an old roof

The Science Behind Chimneys

A chimney works due to principles of airflow. Hot air rises because it is not as dense as cold air. Instead of venting hot air up and out of your home, chimneys remove hot gasses from your house’s heating system. This rising hot gas leads to a difference in pressure. This is called a draft. The draft pulls in combustion air into your furnace and pushes out exhaust gas.

A chimney has both internal and external parts and so, is subject to weather, which can cause damages.

Common Chimney Problems

Understanding how does a chimney work isn’t as easy as it seems. And it’s a complex system that is often overlooked by homeowners. But failure to maintain a chimney can be dangerous.

Here are some of the most common chimney problems of which homeowners should.

Blockages

Debris such as bird nests can block your chimney flue. Even small blockages can prevent your chimney from working effectively. These blockages should be removed to restore your chimney to full functionality.

Creosote Buildup

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, the gasses from the fire cause a buildup that is called creosote. This buildup is combustible and corrosive. A large buildup could even start a fire in your chimney.

One of the easiest ways to remove this buildup is with special logs that you burn in your fireplace. However, this is not a substitute for a yearly professional inspection and cleaning. You should let the experts take care of your chimney inspection and repair.

Cracks and Holes in the Flue

Wood fires can over time cause tiny holes and fissures in your flue. As a result, dangerous gasses could enter your home.

You should have a chimney expert look at your flue each year. They can make repairs as needed to prevent further problems. If untreated, expensive structural repairs will be inevitable.

Damage to Chimney Crown and Cap

Both the crown and cap of a chimney are out in the elements. Their role is to keep debris and rain out of your flue.

If these items become damaged, they may not be able to do their job, which can result in further repairs. In the winter, water in the chimney could cause a leak in the attic as the mortar joints freeze and crack apart.

All chimneys need to be sealed every 8-10 years to prevent water from getting in.

How Does a Chimney Work? Ask No More!

We hope you now can confidently answer the question, “How does a chimney work?” But remember: Just because you understand how it works doesn’t mean you can service it yourself. Always consult certified technicians to treat any problems with your chimney.

If you make a habit of inspecting your chimney and having a professional perform regular maintenance, you will get many years of use out of it.

If your chimney needs servicing, contact us. At Over the Top Roofing and Construction, we offer chimney repair and maintenance, as well as professional roofing in Milwaukee and the surrounding communities.

Driveway Maintenance: 4 Simple Steps That Will Dramatically Extend Your Driveway’s Life

July 29, 2018 by Over the Top Roof

How many homeowners reading this post would say that they take good care of their homes?

If you clean the gutters, get your roof checked out after every long winter, and spend time mowing and fertilizing your lawn, you may think that you’re doing every home maintenance task a homeowner should do.

And sure, you may have home maintenance covered, but what about driveway maintenance?

someone apply sealer to a driveway

Four Tips for Maintaining Your Driveway

Driveways are often treated as an afterthought by homeowners, despite their importance and constant use. Think about it: You use your driveway almost every day, and you don’t spend time maintaining it!

A driveway that’s full of cracks and weeds doesn’t just look bad—it could end up damaging your car or hurting someone.

An overturned, jagged paving stone could do a lot of damage to a tire or an unsuspecting person. That’s why it’s important to keep your driveway as well maintained as your home.

If you’re new to driveway maintenance, here are four, simple tips for properly maintaining your driveway.

1. Remove Stains ASAP

A good driveway sealer should help protect against some spills, but over time stains can do a number on concrete and asphalt.

As the years pass, oil, gas, and grease can degrade your driveway materials. Remember: The longer you keep the stain, the harder it’ll be to take out. Imagine trying to drive on a driveway that’s slick with years of old oil and grease.

Consider investing in a good power washer so you can clean stains fast.

2. Regularly Clean and Seal

If you want to know the golden rule for driveway maintenance, it’s three words: clean and seal.

Keeping your driveway cleaned and sealed is the best way to keep it maintained and looking fantastic. And when we say “regularly seal,” we aren’t talking about monthly maintenance. In general, a concrete driveway should be resealed about every two years.

If you notice your finish starting to wear, don’t hesitate to reseal a little early. Milwaukee winters can do a number on your driveway, so you may notice the finish starting to go faster than usual.

3. Use Deicing Solutions Sparingly

We know that half of you reading this would never willingly part with your deicing chemicals. But here’s something you should know: The harsh chemicals in de-icing agents can slowly degrade your driveway sealing and concrete. And if they’re used heavily over time, they’ll eventually start to affect your driveway.

Yes, the winters in Milwaukee can be brutal, and sometimes you need that extra boost to make your driveway usable. But if you want to keep your driveway in good condition, you’ll only use that deicer when it’s truly needed.

4. Skip the Metal Shovels

You will need a big, heavy shovel to handle our cold winters, but the shovel doesn’t have to be made out of metal. The sharp corners of metal shovels can easily chip away at concrete and asphalt. Eventually, you’ll start to notice chips, cracks, and dents in your driveway.

Invest in a plastic shovel or use a snowblower in the winter. Your driveway will thank you for it!

Does Your Driveway Need More Help?

If your driveway is past the point where good driveway maintenance can help, we can help you. Our Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls masonry services include driveways and garage slabs.