How to repair brick Chimneys

Brick or masonry chimney has long life if they are constructed properly. But because of their nature, they get corroded and damaged with time and weather.Therefore, they need to get repaired, once you learn about their damage and decay. 

The water damaged or crumbled brick within a chimney causes  the structure to lose some or full of its structural integrity. As such, the structure should be examined and assessed to find the scope of the work to be done. For the solution, either you can get the damaged brick cut individually or repair and rebuild the structure, depending upon your evaluation.

Expert masonry results in long-term, high quality chimney repair. Therefore, you should hire a professional like masonry contractors Lincoln Park, who with their experience and knowledge, fulfill your purpose.

Chimney Rebuilding Procedure: 

·      Assessment: Determining the extent of the mortar damage and removing the damaged one without causing further damage is the main challenge of chimney rebuilding. For assessment, you will need to consult a professional, definitely. An expert starts the examination with visual inspection followed by the inspection using specialized tools such as  metal scrape. After the determination is made, damaged or deteriorated mortar joints should be removed.

·      Removal of damaged mortar joints: While removing the deteriorated mortar joint, an important thing is to remove the joint to an appropriate depth without  causing extra brick damage. The new mortar should be prepared once the old mortar is removed. Make sure that the new mortar composition is as same as the existing mortar or else there will be more chances of premature mortar corrosion.

·      Applying new mortar: The new Mortar is then placed between the brick using finishing tools made of steel with a convex tip. The tool is then run over the newly applied mortar to match the shape of the mortar used on the older joints.

·      Applying sealant:At the end, apply a water resistant sealant layer on the mortar to prevent it from water penetrating in your chimney. It will help in extending the life of your mortar joints.

  

How to Paint over wallpaper without pealing it off?

Painting the interior of the house is easier than doing the exterior, but as the word goes – it is much trickier. It becomes even more complex when you have to paint over the wallpaper that you once treasure so much. 

When it comes to painting the walls with wallpaper – there is a common myth that the wallpaper needs to be removed before painting. Painting contractors in Chicago suggest that you don’t necessarily have to peel off the wallpaper to paint the walls with different color.

If you have had wallpaper on the walls for years, removing it can be a tiresome task and cause damage to the walls. If you want a new color on the wall, and the wallpaper is in good condition with limited or no signs of adhesion failure, you can refrain from investing time in removing the wallpaper instead can paint over it. Painting services in Chicago will tell you that doing so will allow the walls to stay in good condition and will not fall as additional cost for you. 

Exterior painting services in Chicago, which primarily include painting contractors in LincolnPark and painting contractors in Park Ridge suggest that it is vital to prepare walls before painting - following preparation are required before painting over wallpaper. 

• Replace the wallpaper where it is damaged 
• Add adhesive to the loose piece. 
• Apply clear caulk lines around the perimeter of the wall where the paper meets the floor or ceiling. This helps seal the wallpaper in the sides and corners. 
• Heavily textured wallpaper should be covered with a coat of joint compound (spackle). This will smooth out the surface and will cover the texture from showing-up from behind the paint. 
• Now, sand the seams of wallpaper to make it completely smooth 
• Apply a coat of oil-based primer, this seals the adhesive and allows paint to adhere longer. 
• Now, paint over the wallpaper with oil-based paint – latex paint has been seen to loosen wallpaper glue.