This option completely removes the existing chimney and replaces it with a new chimney. It is the most expensive option but may be necessary if the existing chimney is beyond repair or is a safety hazard.

1. Plan the Chimney : Determine the chimney location and desired materials. Most chimney installations will require permits and inspections.
2. Build the Foundation : Chimneys need to be built on a solid foundation, so a concrete pad will need to be poured or a precast foundation will need to be installed.
3. Add the Crown : For mortared chimneys, add a rounded mortar crown at top to facilitate water drainage.
4. Construct the Chimney : Build the chimney with materials such as brick, stone or metal.

5. Install the Flue : As the chimney rises, install the clay flue blocks in the center of the chimney to carry away smoke and fumes.
6. Install the Flashing : On the roof, install the chimney flashing—the metal apron that encircles the chimney at its base to prevent leaks and water damage.
7. Install the Cap : Install the chimney cap. This is the metal cover on top of the chimney that prevents water, debris and animals from entering the chimney.
8. Test the Chimney : After installation, test the chimney to ensure that it is properly drawing.

Will help prevent the risk of fire, leaks and improve the overall look of your home. Chimney rebuilds can be partial or complete. Chimney Repair could include a variety of different things, rom tuckpointing (filling in the mortar between the joints, where the mortar has eroded), or fixing a chimney liner when it has been damaged or is old and needs replacing.Getting your chimney fixed, especially in North/Central Jersey ,where there is so much freezing and thawing happening is very important. Leaving it can lead to leaks where water comes into the house through the chimney which in turn leads to unnecessary expenses! Sometimes part of the chimney would need rebuilding, but you must ensure that when the top part of the chimney is rebuilt the bottom part must be solid and in good shape or it is pointless. The bottom part will erode further and you will end up having to rebuild the gas chimney linerwhole chimney later on. Ideal Home Improvements will do a full inspection of the chimney and ensure that what you need gets communicated and the job is done right the first time!

A flue lining in a masonry chimney is defined as “A clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.” Although building codes vary from one state or locality to another, the installation of flue lining has been recommended since the early part of this century, and indeed most fire codes now mandate liners.
In the 1940’s and again in the 1980’s, masonry chimneys were tested by the National Bureau or Standards for durability due to rising concerns about their performance and safety. The tests revealed that unlined chimneys were so unsafe that researchers characterized building a chimney without a liner as “little less than criminal”.
Chimney liners serve three main functions:
1. Protecting the house from heat transfer to combustibles. In the NBS tests, unlined chimneys allowed heat to move through the chimney so rapidly that the adjacent woodwork caught fire in only 3 1/2 hours.

2. Protecting the masonry from the corrosive byproducts of combustion. In the tests it was determined that if the flue gases were allowed to penetrate to the brick and mortar, the result would be a reduction in the usable life of the chimney. The flue gases are acidic in nature and literally eat away at the mortar joints from inside the chimney. As the mortar joints erode, heat transfers more rapidly to the nearby combustibles and dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide can leak into the living areas of the home.
3. Providing a correctly sized flue for optimum efficiency of appliances. Modern wood stoves and gas or oil furnaces require a correctly sized flue to perform properly. The chimney is responsible for not only allowing the products of combustion a passage out of the house, but the draft generated by the chimney also supplies the combustion air to the appliance. An incorrectly sized liner can lead to excessive creosote buildup in wood-burning stoves, and the production of carbon monoxide with conventional fuels.

Types of chimney liners:
* Clay tiles are the most common type of masonry chimney liners. * Advantages: They are inexpensive, readily available, and perform quite well for open fireplace chimneys that are properly maintained.
Disadvantages: They cannot rapidly absorb and evenly distribute heat during the rapid temperature rise that occurs during a chimney fire, causing the flue tiles to crack and split apart (see the video below). The second disadvantage is that tiles cannot adequately contain the liquid combustion byproducts produced by modern gas appliances. Metal chimney liners, usually of stainless steel or aluminum, are primarily used to upgrade and repair existing chimneys.
* Advantages: If properly installed and maintained, metal chimney liners are extremely safe and durable. Stainless steel is suitable for wood-burning, gas, or oil appliances, while the aluminum is an inexpensive alternative for certain medium efficiency gas applications only. It is usually required that high temperature insulation be used in conjunction with the liners for safety and performance considerations.

* Disadvantage: Considerably more expensive than clay flue liners.
* National Chimney offers a line of metal chimney liners that have been accepted by CSIA as safe for home use when properly installed.
* Cast-in-place chimney liners are lightweight, cement like products that are installed inside the chimney forming a smooth, seamless, insulated passageway for the flue gasses.
* Advantage: They can improve the structural integrity of aging chimneys, and are permanent liners suitable for all fuels.
* Disadvantage: Challenging installation and could be cost prohibitive.
Considering the dangers of old unlined or damaged chimneys, and the many cost effective options now available to make these chimneys safe components of the home heating system, we encourage you to have your chimney professionally inspected by a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep an an annual basis to be sure it meets modern safety standards.

We, Ideal Home Improvements Llc offer different level of chimney inspections,wood burning or gas burning.
There are approximately 20,000 chimney fires in the U.S. every year. We often forget about the important role our chimneys play during the warm summer months, but they provide a lot of value during harsh winters. It is important to have your chimney inspected annually to ensure it is in tip top shape before you light your first fire.
Here are five major reasons why each homeowner should inspect the chimney at least annually before start using it.
1. Prevents a potential fire: One of the biggest reasons to get your chimney inspected is to help prevent a potential fire. Chimney fires are mainly caused by creosote which is a highly flammable substance that begins to stick to the chimney walls over time. This can be extremely dangerous if it is not taken care of in a timely manner. A thorough chimney cleaning will remove this substance from chimney walls.

2. Keeps pesky animals out: Animals such as squirrels, birds, racoons love to hide and nest in dark safe places and chimneys fit the description perfectly. Although this is a plus for them, it is a big negative for you. These animals can create a lot of issues for your chimney. The habitats they create inside cause the chimney to be unable to vent properly which can lead to a blockage. A chimney inspection will help identify nests and possibly remove them.
3. Lowers carbon monoxide risk: Carbon monoxide can be very dangerous. It is important to not only have detectors inside your home, but to also have a professional check for any trace of CO2 during your chimney inspection. Carbon monoxide can begin to build up in your chimney’s flue, giving the poisonous gas nowhere to flow out of so. Consequently, it begins to leak into your home, creating a major safety concern.

4. Gets rid of any lingering odors: Chimneys can begin to give out an unpleasant odor if they are not cleaned regularly and properly. During the summer months, it is more common that you may begin to discover an odor due to the fact that the weather is warmer and more humid than usual. If you begin to smell any type of odor coming from your chimney, it is important to call a professional right away to have it inspected.
5. Longer lasting chimney: Getting your chimney inspected annually can drastically extend the life of your chimney, especially if there has been any recent damage. An inspection will help save you money in the long run by allowing you to fix any issue promptly so they don’t become a larger, more expensive, fix overtime.

The peace of mind knowing that your chimney is working efficiently and you and your family are safe from any potential dangers is well worth having an annual inspection done. It is one of the major items to prepare your home for fall!

Chimney Sweeping

The purpose of having a chimney sweep performed is to remove soot and creosote from the inside lining of a fireplace flue. The majority of sweeps are done from the inside of the home because this is the only way to gain access to certain areas of the smoke chamber and flue. The smoke chamber is a large cavernous area located directly above the damper, and is one of the most important areas when sweeping a chimney. Specialty rods and brushes ensure a complete cleaning of the chimney from firebox to chimney cap. Sweeping a chimney is a dirty job, proper equipment is a must. An industry specific vacuum is running the entire time the sweep is being performed to guarantee a spotless work area, and absolutely zero mess for the homeowner.

Like every other appliance, wood burning fireplaces come with common concerns and issues that need to be taken into account, and problems that need to be dealt with promptly. Here are the top 10:

#1 Lack of maintenance, cleaning, and inspections.
No matter the age of your wood burning fireplace, it’s vital that you keep up with annual inspections and service. If every homeowner made maintenance, regular cleanings, and annual inspections a priority for their wood burning fireplace, the number of chimney fires would drop exponentially, and there would be very few issues.
Annual maintenance and service will help prevent problems with your wood burning appliance and allow you to address issues while they’re still small, so you can safely enjoy the warmth it provides. If you’re considering having a wood burning fireplace installed, consider the amount of maintenance required, and make sure it’s manageable for you before you purchase.

#2 Opening the damper/proper operation.

When we get calls because a wood burning fireplace isn’t working, the most common reason is that the homeowner doesn’t understand the function of the fireplace damper or how to open it. If the damper — the metal plate between the fireplace and chimney — is closed, smoke will have no way of exiting the home, and it will appear as if your fireplace isn’t working.
Before you light a fire in your fireplace, take a look up into the chimney and make sure you can see all the way up to the top. If you can’t, your damper is closed and needs to be opened before you build the fire. If you’re unsure of how to open your damper, check out these tips. If you still need assistance, just give us a call.

#3 Improper installation of the fireplace.
Every factory-built or prefab fireplace has specific manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation that must be followed to the letter. If your wood burning fireplace isn’t working and you did the installation yourself, there’s a good chance that installation is behind the performance or safety problem you’re experiencing. The best thing to do is to schedule an inspection with a qualified chimney sweep and have the installation checked. And always, always, always leave installation to certified and experienced chimney professionals who know what they’re doing.

#4 Water in the fireplace. Water is, by far, the most damaging thing your fireplace comes into contact with. Unfortunately, leaks are pretty common, especially if annual maintenance is skipped, flashing is damaged, or the chimney is missing a cap. The good news is that chimney leaks and water damage can be prevented by taking some simple steps:
Have a big, outside mount chimney cap installed.Make sure flashing is installed properly and in good condition.Waterproof the brick of your chimney with a siloxane-based sealant.

#5 Improper repairs by unqualified contractors.
If the wrong person is doing the work, repairs could end up making even more problems for you. That’s why it’s important to always call a qualified, certified, and experienced chimney sweep when scheduling annual inspections, maintenance, and repairs. This will save you time and money, and give you the confidence to use your fireplace, without worrying about poor repair work causing efficiency, structural, or safety problems.

#6 Burning green wood or trash in the fireplace. Wood burning fireplaces are made to burn — you guessed it — wood. But many homeowners burn trash and other materials in their fireplaces. If you’re guilty of throwing used gift wrap and other paper products in your fireplace, it’s time to start recycling those things and investing in quality wood.
The wood you burn in your fireplace should have a moisture content of about 10-20%. Wood with a higher moisture content is known as “green wood,” and is not ideal for fire building. This type of wood will always produce more smoke and make it seem like you have a fireplace performance problem, and will also lead to creosote production, which brings us to our next common issue.

#7 Creosote buildup.
Creosote is a highly flammable substance that results when unburned wood particles settle on the flue walls inside the chimney. The problem with creosote isn’t just that it’s damaging to the chimney itself, but that it can easily be ignited during the regular use of your fireplace. In fact, the majority of chimney fires are the result of creosote re-igniting. The best way to avoid this is to schedule annual inspections and routine cleanings. Only burn wood that’s properly seasoned.
#8 Improper wood storage.
Another common issue with wood burning fireplaces has to do with the storage of the wood itself. Many homeowners keep their wood outside, uncovered, which allows bugs and even termites to get into the wood pile. When this happens, you end up bringing those insects into the home with you when you get fuel for your fire, which can be a serious problem — especially if those insects are termites.

#9 Inefficiency.
A regular wood burning fireplace is an energy boss in the house. Considering the amount of fuel you put in, you get very little heat out of the fireplace, and end up losing a lot of the heated air that you paid for with your HVAC system up through the chimney.
While modern wood fireplaces and inserts are typically highly-efficient, the reality is that most traditional wood fireplaces are only about 20% efficient, and waste a good deal of energy and money.
#10 Potential for house fires.
Finally, wood burning fireplaces can be dangerous because there is always the potential for a house fire. Does that mean a house fire is inevitable? Absolutely not. As we mentioned at the very start of this post, scheduling annual inspections and routine service and cleanings can significantly reduce your risk of a house fire, so you can enjoy your fireplace responsibly. You have the power — you just have to make it a priority.

One of the most over looked areas of chimney maintenance is a properly sized chimney cap. The reason a chimney cap is needed is because of rain and animals. Our caps are 100% stainless steel with solid bases that rest on top of the flue, screws dig into the flue tile that ensure no animal can pry the cap off. They also have a large lid to protect against even the heaviest of rainfalls.

Flashing refers to thin pieces of impervious material installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure from a joint or as part of a weather resistant barrier system. In modern buildings, flashing is intended to decrease water penetration at objects such as chimneys, vent pipes, walls, windows and door openings to make buildings more durable and to reduce indoor mold problems. Metal flashing materials include lead, aluminium, copper, stainless steel, zinc alloy, and other materials.

Before the availability of sheet products for flashing, builders used creative methods to minimize water penetration. These methods included angling roof shingles away from the joint, placing chimneys at the ridge, building steps into the sides of chimneys to throw off water and covering seams between roofing materials with mortar flaunching.

The introduction of manufactured flashing decreased water penetration at obstacles such as chimneys, vent pipes, walls which abut roofs, window and door openings, etc. thus making buildings more durable and reducing indoor mold problems. It is also essential to prevent leaks around skylights or roof windows.[citation needed] Moreover, flashing is important to ensure integrity of the roof prior to a solar panel installation.
Flashing may be exposed or concealed. Exposed flashing is usually of a sheet metal and concealed flashing may be metal or a flexible, adhesive backed, material particularly around wall penetrations such as window and door openings.

When a throat style damper is no longer functional and a new damper is needed, we install the highest quality top seal damper. The reason a top seal damper is the preferred choice for damper replacement is because of the cost associated with throat style dampers. To install a new throat style damper, at least half of the firebox needs to be disassembled to be able to remove the old damper and install the new one. Our method is to install a top seal damper mounted at the top of the chimney, with a stainless steel cable running from damper to the firebox where new damper controls are mounted.

This barrier will prevent water from seeping into the pores of the masonry, which can cause cracks and other damage. A clear sealer will also protect your chimney from the damaging effects of UV rays, as well as pollutants and other debris that might be in the air.
The materials used to construct a chimney are numerous. The outer layer is masonry (bricks and mortar) with an inner liner frequently made of fire-resistant metal.
Maintaining your chimney in excellent working condition requires regular maintenance, which for many homeowners means using a chimney sealant. Which type of sealer provides the most durable finish, while letting the beauty of the brick or stone shine through?
If you have a clear sealer on a chimney, it will protect your home from water damage and keep your property looking good for years to come. While there are many types of clear sealers available on the market, they are not all equal. Let us help you choose the best clear sealer for your chimney.

Why Seal a Chimney?

Maintaining your chimney is a job that must be done regularly, and it entails keeping moisture out. The bricks in your masonry chimney will deteriorate faster if rain, humidity and condensation get inside. This is because the freeze/ thaw cycle causes the masonry to decay. Water expands the pores in a brick as it freezes. When the water thaws and evaporates, there is more room for water to fill the next time. This cycle repeats throughout the winter months until the bricks’ structural integrity is lost, causing fissures and eventually detaching entirely. This would mean more damage to repair the longer you wait to seal your chimney. To fix cracks and fissures, you would need to utilize masonry crack fillers, to fix any damage before you can waterproof your chimney.

Even if you live in an area that rarely experiences a freeze/ thaw cycle, preventing moisture from penetrating the brick or stone of your chimney is still necessary. Mold thrives in dark, damp and isolated places. Unfortunately, your chimney might be one of those locations. Mold can cause various health problems for people. Asthma and allergies are associated with mold growth, as well as more serious illnesses like respiratory infections and lung disease. Aside from that, mold can damage your chimney and necessitate costly repairs! Mold can be easily avoided by properly sealing your chimney.

Protect from Moisture

Clear sealers are designed to create an invisible barrier between the masonry and the outside elements. This barrier will prevent water from seeping into the pores of the masonry, which can cause cracks and other damage. A clear sealer will also protect your chimney from the damaging effects of UV rays, as well as pollutants and other debris that might be in the air.

Retain Aesthetic for Long Term

Clear sealers are also effective at repelling stains, which can make your chimney look dirty and unattractive. The right clear sealer will help your chimney maintain its aesthetic appeal for years to come.