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Chimney Sweep Video Link Sweeping chimneys requires specific techniques, skills and specialized tools. In addition to our professional expertise, we have a large investment in equipment specifically designed to help remove hazardous soot and creosote from your chimney. Although the work is dirty, you won't even know we've been in your home after we roll up our drop cloths. We leave nothing behind, but your peace of mind.
Chimney Inspection Video Link
Chimney Cleaning
We use clean drop cloths and a high power vacuum to control the dust, soot and creosote. All fireplace cleanings are done from inside the home in order to control the dust and soot. All wood & coal stoves are swept from inside or outside the home with dust control.
When are Chimney Liners Required?
This has become a common question for fossil burning fuels that has a multi-part answer. But first, let's explain some facts. Water condensation and flue gas temperature are the main culprits when it comes to venting high efficiency gas and oil equipment and the need for liners. The constant heating and cooling of flue gases in a cold chimney creaes an acidic condensation that destroys brick, mortar and terra cotta clay liners. The other fact is that a cold chimney doeas not draw very well and can cause venting and carbon monoxide problems. the solution is an aluminum or stainless steal liner. Aluminum flex liners are normally used for gas and stainless steel for oil.
In summary; all chimneys require some sort of liner to be compliant; outside gas chimneys with less than 450,000 BTU's require a metal liner and an indoor gas chimney can utilixe the terra cotta clay liners for gas equipment because they are warmed by the heat of the house.
Chimney Relining System
A chimney relining system will revitalize your chimney. The liner is composed of stainless steel, developed specifically to resist corrosive furnace flue acids. This liner acts as a barrier between the flue gases and the defects in your chimney walls.
Not only will it add to the safety of your home and family, it will also increase the resale value of your home. In addition your furnace will run more efficiently. We can reline virtually any configuration you may have from: single, straight flues, to multiple flues and flues with bends and size changes.
It's what you need when the original clay tile liner was either never installed, or when the tile lining cracks, crumbles and deteriorates over time. Water damage, chimney fires, or just age can cause the deterioration of your clay liner. When that happens the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) code 211 says it must be replaced. Chimney Rebuild and Repair
As odd as it may seem, water causes more damage to masonry chimneys than fire. Think about it for a moment. All the brick and other materials that make up your home are protected by the roof and eave, all that is, except your chimney. The chimney bravely sticks up above the roof constantly exposed to all the elements; rain, snow, and freeze/thaw cycles.
A masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, tile, steel and cast iron. All of these materials will suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water. Think about it for a moment. All the brick and other materials that make up your home are protected by the roof and eave, all that is, except your chimney. The chimney bravely sticks up above the roof constantly exposed to all the elements; rain, snow, and freeze/thaw cycles.
A masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, tile, steel and cast iron. All of these materials will suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water. A1 Armor's Lyemance damper mounted on the top of the chimney. A1 Armor's's Lyemance rubber gasket seals tightly like a storm door for your fireplace, and keeps heating and cooling dollars where they should be...in your home. A1 Armor's Lyemance mounts on top of your chimney to keep out animals and rain. A1 Armor's's Lyemance easily operates from inside your firebox and seals tight everytime you close it—eliminating any draft.
When most people think of chimneys, they think of fireplaces. Memories of cold winter evenings, relaxed and cozy in front of a crackling fire are hard to beat, and the ability of an open fire to soothe the wild beast within us all is legendary. Since the dawn of time, humans have gathered around the open fire for a sense of safety and community, and the fireplace is still the focus of family living in many homes, especially around the holidays.
A1 Armor's's Lyemance rubber gasket seals tightly like a storm door for your fireplace, and keeps heating and cooling dollars where they should be...in your home. A1 Armor's Lyemance mounts on top of your chimney to keep out animals and rain. A1 Armor's's Lyemance easily operates from inside your firebox and seals tight everytime you close it—eliminating any draft.
Let's start with a quick anatomy lesson, and a brief explanation of commonly used terms : Fireplaces come in two general types, masonry fireplaces built entirely of bricks and mortar, and factory built fireplaces consisting of a lightweight metal firebox and a metal chimney. (There are a few hybrids too, the most common being a heavy metal firebox and smoke chamber coupled to a regular brick chimney). To figure out which you have will take only a moment of detective work on your part. metal firebox and a metal chimney. (There are a few hybrids too, the most common being a heavy metal firebox and smoke chamber coupled to a regular brick chimney). To figure out which you have will take only a moment of detective work on your part. A masonry fireplace has a firebox built of individual generally yellowish firebrick, a brick chimney above the roof, and if you look up past the damper you will see a roughly pyramid shaped affair also built of brick. A prefab fireplace generally has a firebox of cast refractory panels, and usually some metal is visible in the room all around the firebox. If you look up past the damper you will see a round metal chimney. And above the roof is more round metal chimney, sometimes surrounded by a simulated brick housing. Although basically similar, there are some important differences. We have provided areas with some special considerations for masonry or prefabricated fireplaces that you can jump directly to by clicking the appropriate name. Masonry fireplaces, built entirely of brick and mortar, are massive structures often weighing between 6 and 7 tons! They are aesthetically pleasing, long lasting, and add real value to your home. With a little care and periodic maintenance they can literally give you a lifetime of enjoyment. Masonry fireplaces require an extensive footing capable of supporting their great bulk, and if not provided with one will often shift and crack, allowing the fire to escape to nearby combustibles. You should always keep an eye out for any signs of settling or movement. Just inside the firebox, where the facing material meets the firebrick, is one weak spot where this settling is often first apparent. Keeping downspouts directed away from the fireplace and careful sloping of the ground around the fireplace to be sure water runs away from the structure can keep settling problems to a minimum. Although masonry is quite durable, and in fact is often seen as indestructible, this is certainly not the case, especially for a chimney. While the rest of the brick on the house is somewhat protected by the eave, the poor chimney is sticking up like a flagpole, exposed to every raindrop and freeze/thaw cycle. A quality chimney cover, keeping the crown in good repair, and a waterproofing treatment, are money well spent to avoid expensive repairs or rebuilding. See the section on waterproofing for a more detailed explanation. The firebox of course takes the brunt of the fires' heat and it requires some special attention. The firebrick can take the heat pretty well, but the fireclay joints will fail in time from the constant expansion and contraction. In a fireplace without a chimney cover, the rain water will also pool on the smoke shelf, mix with the soot behind the damper, and form an acidic slurry that seeps into the fireback destroying the mortar joints. These joints must be kept in good repair with a high temperature refractory mortar to insure the fire is contained. The tile liners used in most masonry fireplaces are just fine as long as the fireplace is properly maintained and not exposed to chimney fires. One good chimney fire will usually crack these tiles, rendering them incapable of performing their intended function. The general rule of thumb is that a masonry fireplace should be cleaned before 1/4" of soot accumulates. If you ever do experience a chimney fire, it is very important to have the chimney cleaned and carefully evaluated before it is used again. Unlike prefabricated fireplaces which are factory engineered products, a masonry fireplace is built on site brick by brick, giving the mason ultimate control of the final product. This results in a wide range of masonry fireplaces available, from long lasting, heat producing beauties, to smoky pits that crumble in a relatively short time. Most masonry fireplaces that chimney sweeps encounter, although far from perfect, can, with a little tender loving care, and carefully considered maintenance procedures, provide you with many peaceful, relaxing hours in an otherwise often hectic world. Factory built, or prefabricated fireplaces, are relative newcomers to the fireplace scene, commonly available only for the last 25 years or so. Unlike traditional site-built masonry fireplaces, most factory built fireplaces are made of metal, and come from the factory as complete units with a firebox, a specific chimney system, and all miscellaneous parts. With proper installation and maintenance, they can give years of service, but there are some special considerations owners of these systems should be aware of: 1) The factory-built fireplace and chimney are a complete system, engineered to work safely and efficiently together. Both units(fireplace and chimney), undergo testing together, then are listed specifically for use with each other. To insure a safe system, you MUST use the exact chimney specified, along with the specified rain cap, flashing package, and all other system components. 2) The installation instructions must be followed exactly, especially the specified clearances from the firebox and chimney to any combustible materials. Most manufacturers require 2" minimum air space (no insulation allowed either), between the chimney components and all wood framing. If you are installing a new unit be sure these clearance instructions are strictly adhered to. If you have a unit already installed it is very important you check these clearances wherever possible. Any wood that is too close to the chimney will continue to dry and undergo a process called pyrolisis. It can eventually catch fire at temperatures as low as 200 degrees. Over half of the units inspected by chimney professionals are improperly installed, and a trip to the attic to check clearances is definitely time well spent! It is much more difficult to inspect the firebox clearances, but we suggest you consider installing an access port to both check these clearances and monitor the units condition as the years go by. 3) Most factory built fireplaces are tested and listed as decorative heating appliances and will not withstand the abuse often heaped on their masonry counterparts. Although they are tested to U.L. standards, severe overfiring and chimney fires will often badly damage these units. Regular yearly maintenance, cleaning at generally 1/8" buildup, and careful monitoring can assure a safe enjoyable system. 4) Many prefab chimneys, especially older units with an imitation brick housing above the roof, seem to be a preferred nesting site for birds in many areas. It is not unusual for chimney sweeps to take literally buckets of nesting material from these chimneys. This nesting can catch fire directly, or it can block critical air passageways between layers of metal chimney pipe, allowing the chimney to overheat. Both scenarios routinely cause house fires. Most after market chimney covers do not correctly address the problem, and can often make the situations worse. A careful screening of all potential nesting areas with the proper sized screening may be in order. 5) Finally, prefab fireplace systems eventually just plain wear out. Models go out of production and manufacturers go out of business. A factory-built unit will reach the end of is useful life when repair of the unit is no longer possible, particularly if the components that are necessary to maintain the listing are no longer available. Keep a close eye on an aging unit, and be prepared to send ole faithful to the great recycling plant in the sky before she fails completely. Call Today for the Best Rates in the Tri-State Area----1-888-515-9222
Whether your chimney is in need of major or minor repairs, A1Armorconstruction is the solution! We are the specialists when it comes to chimney repairs and rebuilds. We have been serving New Jersey homeowners for years and are leading experts in chimney construction.
WATER DAMAGE AND YOUR MASONRY CHIMNEY
As odd as it may seem, water causes more damage to masonry chimneys than fire.
FIREPLACES
But in spite of all the glowing aesthetics, there are some practical considerations. When your dealing with an element as capricious and potentially dangerous as fire, knowledge really is power, so please read on to learn how to make your fireplace both safer and more enjoyable. 
MASONRY FIREPLACES - some special considerations
PREFABRICATED FIREPLACES
