Category: <span>Blog</span>

Chimney Repairs “To Do” this Summer

Now that winter is far behind us; it’s likely that you won’t find yourself thinking too much about your chimney. However, now is the best time to take care of any chimney repairs you have, so when the temperature starts to drop, you’ll be glad you had your services early. Delta Chimney has listed common repairs that we would be happy to help you with this summer. 

Masonry Repair

Because your chimney is exposed to weather elements, it’s essential to have it checked for any masonry repair or chimney tuckpointing needs. This is essential if you are dealing with faulty, crumbling, or damaged masonry. Our technicians use two different colors of mortar for your chimney tuckpointing to make it look brand new. This will help prevent chimney fires, as the structure is no longer vulnerable to moisture. This summer is the perfect time to have masonry repairs for a complete rebuild of your chimney. 

Chimney Cap

A chimney cap plays a considerable role in protecting your chimney. Chimney caps prevent water from entering your chimney; that is why keeping this in good condition is essential. A wood-burning fireplace sparks go up to the chimney and can cause potential fire on the roof or dry debris. During our fireplace inspection, we can tell if your chimney cap needs repair. When you choose to hold off on repairs, rain, thaw damage, and chimney leaks will worsen over time, leading to more costly repairs and sometimes replacement. 

Chimney Liner

Your chimney may look good on the outside, but during the inspection, you will sometimes find that there are hidden dangers on the inside, like a damaged chimney liner. Your chimney liner is an important part that directs all smoke and gasses from your home. We can restore your chimney’s liner to eliminate hazards and draft problems caused by cracks, spalling, and gaps. 

Trust Delta Chimneys for a more detailed inspection of your chimney. We have the industry’s latest tools and techniques to repair your chimney properly and cost-effectively. 

Selling a house on a whim can be a real challenge especially when the property is in a secluded area that nobody passes by casually or when it is simply not in its best condition. At WE BUY HOUSES, we make everything smooth and efficient, just the way you like it. With us, you can sell house as-is Chicago! Property owners have different reasons for selling. There are some that sell to move homes, others that experience financial difficulties, while some that were simply tasked to sell a property in the market. Whichever your reason may be, selling your house can be easy-peasy with the right company guiding you. 

We give cash offers on houses Chicago at reasonable rates so you can move on to the next chapter of your life without your current property weighing you down. Call us today!

The Most Durable Building Material, Brick Masonry in Wilmette and Nearby Regions Requires Little Maintenance

Wilmette, Glenview, and Winnetka are all part of one of America’s greenest cities, Chicago.  Building structures with lower operating costs and enhanced indoor environmental quality are extremely attractive to a fast-growing group of corporate, commercial, and private sector buyers. Building performance is increasingly on the minds of those who are looking for a new space, whether that’s to buy or rent. Brick masonry remains one of the most sustainable and durable building materials worldwide. When considering the sustainability of masonry, it is important to appraise its life cycle from a few perspectives. These may range from energy efficiency, recycling options, fossil fuel usage, effect on habitats, ozone depletion, water consumption, general human health, and others.

With an average lifespan of a century, bricks have a tremendous advantage over vinyl’s 50 years, or wood, which can last about 20-25 years. According to the Brick Institute of America, brick manufacturers have dramatically reduced the energy needed to produce bricks down to 1,239 BTU per pound, where it used to be approximately 4,000 BTU per pound, which is significant in the world of masonry.

There is very little waste in the production of bricks, as they are recyclable.  A pound of clay material yields nearly a pound of brick after the water is extracted. Any material remaining during the manufacturing process can simply be mixed into the next batch of bricks. Once in play on the construction site, brick debris is easily incorporated into the landscape or worked into other projects by the masonry contractors throughout the Chicago area, including Glenview, Winnetka, and Wilmette.

The materials needed to produce bricks are abundant all over the globe, making them readily available. The Brick Institute of America notes that most brick is manufactured using materials that are on average only 15 miles away from the production facility, making bricks a very local product for masonry contractors to use. There are at least two manufacturing facilities situated within 500 miles of 49 of the 50 largest metropolitan cities in the United States.

Brick walls are meant to be heavy and dense, so they can absorb external heat and slow its transfer through to the interior. This moderates temperature fluctuations, limiting heat intake through the summer and capturing it over the winter. This “lag time” makes bricks a unique construction material that tuckpointing and masonry contractors favor.

GETTING YOUR BRICK HOME’S TUCKPOINTING CHICAGO READY FOR SUMMER – TUCKPOINTING CONTRACTORS CHICAGO

As the weather begins to warm up, it’s natural for people to head outdoors. A great way to stay productive as that happens is to get your home’s masonry in Chicago ready for all that summer heat and activity. While the bright summer sun gives us the opportunity to enjoy months of great outdoor weather, it’s important to prepare your brickwork to take that excessive heat and handle those powerful UV rays, not to mention the humidity. That’s where our masonry contractors come in. A brick home takes a beating throughout the year with intense freeze and thaw cycles that can cause mortar and bricks to spall, which is an industry term for crack, chip, or crumble. If the issue is not addressed by those like the professional masonry and tuckpointing contractors at Custom Masonry Contractors in a timely fashion, summer humidity can exacerbate the issue. It’s a good thing spring and summer offer the best weather opportunities to take care of your masonry repair or tuckpointing in Chicago so that it is all set for the season and the looming winter.

As summer takes hold, it’s time for you to take advantage of the weather with a professional inspection by our masonry contractors in Chicago. So you can simply enjoy the outdoor season without worrying about your home.

One of the most aesthetic features that a home can have is bricks. However, throughout the years, they need to be cared for and maintained. The bricks and mortar that hold them together will eventually begin to deteriorate. If this happens, it is time to contact your professional tuckpointing Chicago contractors in the Chicago area. Voytec Tuckpointing Contractors is the tuckpointing company you can count on and trust.

CAN TUCKPOINTING BE DONE IN THE WINTER?

Yes and no. The perfect time to have your tuckpointing services done in Chicago is during the spring or fall months where the weather is more temperate. This is usually between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Tuckpointing services are best done when there’s no heavy precipitation the day before or hours after installation. There are times when work needs to be completed so your bricks and home won’t be further damaged. When it comes to professional tuckpointing contractors in the Chicago area, we are the ones that you can trust!

Masonry Chicago work is an ancient art form, having been around for centuries and is still used today. The skilled professionals that work in this field have had years of masonry experience behind them. It takes a qualified tuckpointing contractor to match the existing color and pigment to the original concrete used. Age, harsh weather, and sun damage all contribute to significant deterioration. If left unattended, your Chicago building can eventually suffer from moisture in the walls, creating mold and rot and ultimately compromise your whole structure. So hire one of our professional masonry contractors with tuckpointing experience. We will evaluate your building and give you our best recommendation to preserve your building’s integrity of your building for years to come. We will outline our restoration plan along with a timeline and cost. Our customer service reps await your call.

If you are looking for expert tuckpointing Chicago, Voytec offers exceptional and skilled services. Tuckpointing is a method of restoration for deteriorating masonry on the exterior of homes and commercial buildings. Our experienced masons will remove the cracked and damaged mortar and “tuck-in” new concrete to preserve your structure’s longevity. Damage to masonry work occurs after years of damage from UV rays, harsh weather, and climate changes.

What separates the average mason from the experts is the ability to match the existing mortar color to the newly applied mortar. It takes a keen eye to mix the right pigments and aggregates for a perfect match. Allowing your masonry to continue to deteriorate can lead to water getting into your interiors and causing damage such as sagging beams, rotting wood, and mold 

If you notice your exterior masonry is crumbling and cracking, call Voytec in Chicago for an inspection and remediation. 

Voytec masonry contractors Mount Prospect have expert, experienced masons who specialize in tuckpointing in Mt Prospect. Masonry is an art form that goes back centuries and needs immediate attention when it starts to deteriorate, crumble and fall out. The masonry exterior of your home is what protects the interiors of your house or business. If it is not functioning correctly, you face the danger of further deterioration and costly repairs to your building’s exterior and interior.

Tuckpointing replaces the damaged concrete, and the skill comes in trying to match the original pigment color with the new installation. Not easily done, after years of ravaging winter storms, UV damage, and general wear on your masonry. Our amazing artisans can give your building a fresh look that will stop the deterioration and keep your home looking perfect for years to come.