Construction & Contractors Blog
If you want to add a fireplace to your home renovations, there may be some repairs that need to be done first. There are several things to consider about the fireplace you add to your home renovation project. When you are doing the repairs to the chimney, specific repairs and features may be needed for inserts or wood-burning fireplaces. The following chimney repair information will help you prepare your home for the type of fireplace you plan on using.
Restoring the Chimney Exterior
The exterior should be the first place you start with repairs that need to be done to your chimney. The problems with the exterior of chimneys that may need to be repaired include:
The exterior chimney repairs are the most important work that needs to be done before installing a new fireplace.
Repairing and Updating Flue Pipes
The flue pipe of your chimney is one of the areas that may need specialized repairs and upgrades. If you are going to be using the original pipe, it may only need to be cleaned and minor repairs. The problem is when you are using other systems like gas. These systems have to meet special requirements and may need to be inspected. Often, older chimneys can be retrofitted with liners or a new double-wall pipe for gas and alcohol inserts.
Installing Gas Lines or Alcohol Systems
If you plan to install a gas or alcohol insert, additional lines will need to be installed. Some of the different pipe and fuel storage installations that you may need for these inserts include:
The gas systems give you options to use the local gas service or have a storage tank installed if your home is in a rural area. The alcohol systems will require the systems to be installed to supply your fireplace insert with the type of fuel it was designed to use.
Repairing the Damper for the Fireplace Installation
The fireplace also has a damper at the flue pipe. This is the component of the chimney that allows you to control the draft and prevents heat from escaping. It is also an area of your fireplace that you want to have inspected when you are doing chimney repairs. If you are using wood in your fireplace, the old damper needs to work properly to allow smoke and gases to escape without losing heat. If you are going to be using a gas or alcohol insert, you may need a different type of damper for these systems.
The installation of a new fireplace can add value to your home, but you want to make sure your chimney has been repaired and updated. Contact a residential chimney repair service for help fixing these issues before you add a fireplace to your renovations.
Share24 March 2021
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
