Lindemann Service Blog

Fall is just around the corner here on the north shore of Lake Michigan and soon that brisk, cool air will settle in along with frosty mornings and chilly evenings. Fireplaces and woodstoves will be fired up and fall leaves will rustle as neighborhood children play in the yard. Squirrels will be building nests and animals will be looking for a warm home. Will it be in your chimney? A screened chimney cap can prevent cold critters from using your chimney as a warm snuggly place to hole up over the winter months.

Another important consideration is whether you have adequate spark protection on your chimney cap. Can  you imagine what would happen if a spark from your chimney landed on your neighbor's pile of leaves? Chimney Caps with spark arrestors minimize the chance of this happening. They are so effective that in dry parts of the country, like California, special spark protection is required by code to be installed to prevent forest fires. The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 also recommends spark protection on woodburning chimneys. Screens also prevent debris from entering your chimney which could cause a blockage.  

A chimney with no cap is like an large open rain gauge. It is very important to prevent the entry of rain and snow. The lid on a chimney cap is similar in principal to an umbrella keeping the chimney dry. Entry of moisture can lead to freeze/thaw damage, leakage into the home, damaged dry wall, plaster and more.

I know you don’t want to hear it, but winter is just around the corner. Are you prepared so you don’t have to deal with all those last minute heating stressors? If not, don’t worry, there’s still time to get it taken care of before the fall rush sets in.

One of the most important things to consider is making sure your chimney is in working order. It’s one of the most important appliances in your home. Yes, you can think of it as an appliance that operates under extreme conditions. It actually functions just like an appliance only you don’t see all of the mechanics. Like an oven, it’s designed to handle a certain amount of heat. It’s not designed to handle extremely high temperatures for prolonged periods as in a chimney fire. So make sure it’s cleaned and inspected before the winter winds and cold set in.

Just as you wouldn’t want your pipes to leak water in your home, you don’t want your chimney to leak. A leaking chimney can cause a much more dangerous situation like carbon monoxide and other byproducts of combustion to leak into the home. We can scan your chimney like an X-ray and can show you if there are any cracks or damage.

A refrigerator is designed to cool your groceries and most have a freezer with a defrost function. Your chimney has to handle warm temperatures inside while also being exposed to outside freezing temperatures. This means it needs to be in top condition to handle the extreme temperature conditions it’s exposed to on a daily basis. Making sure there’s no water entry is very important. Moisture can freeze in the brick and split the brick front or facing and make it pop off. This is known as spalling. By having your chimney waterproofed with ChimneySaver (which keeps water out, yet lets your chimney breathe) this helps avoid countless dollars that would eventually be spent to repair the chimney.

Speaking of refrigerators, if the seal on your refrigerator was deteriorated so it wasn’t sealing well, wouldn’t you make sure it was replaced before that next big family gathering? This can also happen to a fireplace damper. If you can close a dollar bill in your fireplace damper and pull it out, then it's not sealing effectively. We can install an Energy Top Damper that will seal out the cold air and preserve "paid" heated air from your home. This chimney top damper also seal out rain, insects and animals and can pay for itself within a short period of time in energy dollar savings.

One last major thing to consider is fuel. Let’s assume you have to purchase electricity in bulk to power your refrigerator. Would you wait until the last minute to do this? “Hmmm. Thanksgiving is next week, I think I should purchase electricity” only to find out that you are put on a waiting list a mile long. It’s the same thing with fuel and with having your chimney inspected and cleaned. It’s best to purchase wood now and have any cleaning or work done while time is on your side. When buying wood in the summer, you have top pick of the quality of wood as well as getting summertime pricing. Waiting until the fall rush could cost you more as well as putting you on the backburner or a waiting list.

It only makes sense to be prepared for winter while it’s still around the corner. Will you be caught without electricity this winter? Will you have to wait to use your furnace chimney because it needs repairs? Don’t get caught short this year. Be one of those people who can kick back, relax and enjoy the fall while your neighbors are running circles around you preparing for winter. In fact, you might be amused to watch your neighbors preparing for winter and tell them, “well, I took care of that last summer. I’m going in to watch football now. Let me know if you need anything.”

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces.

With the onset of summer, many families will be enjoying their outdoor living room. Outdoor fireplaces are becoming commonplace in America's backyards. As people spend more time outdoors, they create a healthy outdoor "living room" environment. Whether used for family gatherings or entertaining friends and business associates, the outdoor fireplace is quickly becoming the most important focal point of the outdoor living environment. 

Outdoor Fireplace Choices  There's an outdoor fireplace for every budget. They can be as basic as a metal portable fireplace on wheels to an elaborate fireplace that's built into an outdoor living room. Basic portable fireplaces are being enjoyed by many. They are an ideal choice when you are renting a home, have a small yard, are on a budget, or just want to experience the fireplace before putting more money into a permanent one. When using this type of fireplace they should be located on a noncombustible surface. Never set one of these units directly on a wood or other combustible materials such as a deck.  Never ever use one of these units in a garage or near flammable liquids such as gas.

Some outdoor fireplaces can be incorporated into a barbeque station with a sink, refrigerator and gas grill. These are usually gas fireplaces. More elaborate outdoor fireplace units may have carved stone, elaborate tile, waterfalls and ambiance lighting.

Fuel Choices When people think "outdoor fireplace" they usually think of anything from a woodburning fire pit to a woodburning fireplace. While wood is the most common fuel, some locations may prohibit open fires or woodburning because of fire dangers, flying sparks, burn restrictions or emissions. Many gas fireplaces are being installed. Almost all incorporate a stainless steel weather resistant firebox and stainless controls. And yes, they have options like remote controls and flame height adjustability. Keep in mind that gas fireplaces should not be used to cook foods. Juices from meats, burnt marshmallows and other wood "debris" can stain the logs and gunk up the controls making it a potentially unsafe fireplace. Another choice is artificial logs. They will burn for some time and are usually spark free. Check the label on the log before using for cooking to make sure it is food safe.

Fireplace Location Choices  The location options for your fireplace is limited by your home, local codes and landscaping. Consider the usual direction of prevailing winds and try to locate the fireplace in a direction that smoke and flue gasses will blow away from your house. Make sure you check local codes to see if there are any requirements in locating a fireplace within a certain distance from your house, other structures or a neighboring home. Fireplaces located right under trees can kill the tree and sparks could ignite the tree. While all outdoor fireplaces should have a spark screen in place it's still possible for a spark to escape.

Other basic location choices are in regards to whether a fireplace is located on an exterior wall of a home, is separate from the home, or actually a see-through fireplace that can be viewed from outside or inside. Consider not only codes, but the advice of your insurance company when making your decision.

Finishing Touch Choices  To bring your fireplace together with your home and landscaping, consider the natural elements available. A field stone fireplace could be constructed of locally available stones. If your existing chimney is made of cut stone, you may be able to match the stone for your fireplace. If your home is painted, perhaps you might want to enhance the fireplace facing with decorative tiles. If the fireplace is to be included in an outdoor living room, consider the types of furnishing, architectural elements of the home, color schemes and current landscaping to tie it altogether. 

Plan your outdoor living room appropriately before spending your first dime. If you need help, we will be happy to assist you. The most successful projects are ones where plenty of thought and preparation are spent initially before the purchase is made. Use locally available materials for construction and or accenting with finishing touches. Use your outdoor living room for healthy entertaining and gatherings and enjoy your investment.

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, Author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces

Many popular HGTV (Home & Garden) reality-based television shows often transform rooms from dull to amazing all within the show's thirty to sixty minutes. Many include fireplace “makeovers”. They usually paint the brick surrounding the fireplace and sometimes replace the mantle shelf. Although this brightens the room, it makes it very difficult to remove the paint. If you are considering selling your home, the new owners may not like the painted brick or may think you’re trying to cover up a defect or evidence of a smoking problem.  

If your goal is to mesmerize your guests, there are other innovative ways to make your fireplace “pop” without making hard to reverse changes. Consider combining various colors, styles, designs, patterns and textures. This allows you to define your style. Accessories are must-haves when considering the possibilities of design. They will go a long way in achieving the desired effect of adding drama and flair, making the fireplace the focal point or your room. Accessories are also easy to change and are great for adding "spot accents'.  

To accessorize, first decide on a theme. If you are going for the contemporary look, consider sleek chrome or silver finishes with elegant lines. If traditional is the look you desire, go for black or antique copper in a hand-forged style. To add luxe, use gold or brass accessories to add inspiration. This upstanding finish adds glisten and glow to an otherwise dull room. Toolsets, wood holders, ash buckets, glass doors and fireplace screens are all available in these finishes.    

If your tastes are more abstract, show off your favorite colors by painting black accessories another color. Many color options are available. However, there are some limitations. Any part of the accessory that comes into contact with heat must be painted with high-temperature stove paint. Other paints will not stand up to the heat. Also, if the accessory is used, it will be soiled and the affect will be more visible on a painted surface.   

A portrait above the mantel, a vase with flowers, photo frames, collections, and many more items can be used without calling out too much of a good thing – bold colors. This also makes it easier to change the look if you desire to have a fireplace with many “seasonal” looks.   

Texture can be obtained with hearth rugs, baskets, wreaths, tapestries and even the fireplace mantle shelf. A professional could design a decorative stone or tile design above the mantle shelf in place of a picture. Combine textures and patterns for a riveting first impression. To add depth to texture, use light to illuminate your finished design. Candles provide soft, subtle lighting. Recessed lights or track lighting can be used to highlight specific hotspots in your design. Use a dimmer switch so the lights can be softened when the fireplace is in use.

It’s important to make sure you are comfortable with the desired effect in daylight as well as the evening glow emitted from the fireplace. Too much light can overwhelm the firebox canceling out the flickering sizzle of the burning logs.     

To create more drama, consider having the firebox painted. A black firebox with burning logs will create more flair than a buff or grey firebox. Make sure a high-temperature stove paint is used. This project should be left for a Chimney Professional like the team at Lindemann Chimney Service. We will need to first clean and prepare the firebox surface for painting to make sure there is proper adhesion.  

Define your style. Add your signature. Express yourself. The world is your pallet and you, the artist. Whether your tastes include tranquility, diversity, simplicity, flair or accessories with attitude, splurge wisely. Trends travel quickly and are often hard to reverse. Rely on accessories to achieve that striking embellishment.

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, Author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces

It's that time of year again in the Chicagoland North Shore Area! The trees have shed their springtime jackets, seed pods and maple "spinners" right into your gutter! Add to this dirt, shingle erosion, sticks and other debris and you can end up with foundation damage, wall damage, and even leaking into the home! Lindemann Home Services has a professional knowledgable staff that can help you with this problem!

Gutters were originally designed to channel water away from your home's foundation. When they are clean and installed correctly they do a great job! However, debris can litter the gutter bringing water movement to a standstill. As a result, gutters will overflow onto your deck, around your foundation and can even seep into your interior walls. You can also end up with damage to your roof, facia and soffet like the photo at bottom right.

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I once heard a very smart man say that it's better to hire someone with the right tools and knowledge to do a job than to attempt something you aren't prepared for. It' much more economical in the long run than having to deal with a broken leg, damaged window, or other things your time would be better spent doing. This is very true of gutter cleaning. While we are cleaning your gutters we can look for evidence of roof damage like the photo above. We can check for other types of damage like algae forming on your shingles (some algae can ruin shingles if not cleaned immediatley - see photo below). We are also very thorough in making sure your gutters are clean and smooth flowing.

We are happy to provide you with an instant Free Estimate. Just give us a call 847-918-9016. And check out the full services we offer by clicking this link.

 Damaging Roof Algae

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, Author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces

Chimney swift sightings are happening all over North America as these fast-moving "flying cigar" birds migrate back north for the summer. They will soon be coming to your neighborood! Here is some helpful information and video links about chimney swifts. 

• Two chimney swifts and their offspring will consume about 12,000 flying mosquitoes, gnats, terminates, biting flies, etc. 
• Only one active nest should be in a chimney, hollow tree or other structure at one time although some nesting families permit non-nesters to occupy their home. 
• The loudest noise comes from the babies when they are being fed. In about 2 weeks from this onset, they leave the nest to fend for themselves. Click here to see the parents feeding their young. 
• Chimney swifts build their nest by attaching small twigs to the chimney with their  "glue-like" saliva (click here to see a video). The nests typically hold 1-5 eggs. Check here to see the nest building in action. 
• Unlike other birds, chimney swifts do not sit on perches but cling to vertical walls, like a chimney, with their long claws. They also bathe and drink "on the wing" by dipping into the water. 
• The shallow 1/2 cup nest protrudes about 2-3" from the chimney wall. 
• Chimney swifts are protected under Federal Law by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and cannot be removed once they are nesting in the chimney.

Chimney swifts are beneficial to the environment and are fast losing their nesting habitat. If they end up in your chimney, be sure to wait until they leave on their own to have your chimney cleaned and capped.

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces

Spring has finally sprung here in the Chicagoland and with it we will start to see green grass, tiny leaves poking out past winter-hardened branches and soon there will be lots of baby animals. Sounds like a dream after the particularly harsh winter we had this year. But it may not be all that dream-like if those baby animals end up in your chimney.

Racoons, birds, squirrels and other animals are known to nest in chimneys. It offers a quiet, somewhat warm, solid shelter for animals to have their young in. A nesting animal can use your chimney for up to a few months. That still may not seem too bad until someone opens the fireplace damper and a sooty squirrel and her babies take off to different parts of your home leaving behind smudges of sooty squirrel prints everywhere they go.

Or perhaps it's the birds that chirp, chirp, chirp away in your chimney at all hours of the day and night. Or the mother racoon that scratches around on the bricks as she makes her way in and out of the chimney. If you wait until this happens, you will have to hire an animal removal team to relocate the animals or put up with it until the animals leave on their own.

The best way to prevent animals from nesting in your chimney is to have a chimney cover installed. We would be happy to provide you with an estimate on a chimney cover. We can get covers to match any decor or style. They are available in an assortment of styles and finishes; black, stainless steel or copper. If you have a fireplace, the best solution would be an Energy Top Plus. This is a tight-sealing top damper that holds in heating and air conditioning. It is topped off with a stainless steel chimney cover with screen. All of these chimney covers will prevent animal entry as well as protect your chimney from the entry of rain, snow, debris and leaves while also acting as a spark arrestor. In the long run, a chimney cover will prove to be one of the best investments you have made in your home.

Posted by Karen Stickels Lamansky, author of Design Ideas for Fireplaces

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