Most well constructed full masonry chimneys will last around 100 years.  I just looked at him.  He sighed as he sat down by my desk and explained, “The foundation was broken.”  “How is that possible?” I asked.  “Poorly placed sprinklers,” he replied.

As the story unfolded I began to understand what had happened.  It seems the owners are avid gardeners and were willing to pay big water bills to keep their garden flourishing.  There were plants around the chimney base that needed a lot of water.

All masonry has tiny cracks.  It is normal and expected.  Bricks are porous and will absorb water.  In the normally dry Southern California weather, this is not a problem.  However, constant exposure to water, as in a sprinkler hitting the base daily and the ground never getting completely dry is a formula for eventual disaster. In this particular case, water collected at the base and slowly eroded the ground under the chimney foundation.  The combination of less and less dirt to support the foundation and the constant weight of the entire chimney caused the foundation break.

What really irritated the production manager was it all could have been avoided.  Moving a few plants to another part of the garden, planting bushes and flowers that needed less water and readjusting the sprinklers could have saved the owners the expense of rebuilding their entire chimney.

My advice:  make sure there is no cause to water your chimney.

For more chimney tips, go to www.bostonbrick.com

Fast forward many years later, I am taking pictures of newly completed Boston Brick & Stone fireplace facing.  The proud owner pointed to the brass cricket on the hearth and asked me if I knew about good luck crickets.  I knew that certain cultures revere the cricket but had never heard they were considered good luck.

It seems crickets have had a long mystical history.  The Japanese used crickets as an early warning system, the cricket will stop chirping when a stranger approaches.  For centuries finding a cricket on the hearth meant protection for the home and family. There is now a mini-industry built around the good luck cricket.  Personally, I believe in making my own luck, but I don’t mind hedging my bets.  I could happily live with a brass cricket (sorry I still think of the live ones as bugs)on my hearth.

To see a copy of the brass cricket go to http://www.bostonbrick.com/galleries/chimneys-fireplaces/ and scroll over to the very last picture

Do not be fooled.  The technique is simple but it should always be done by a professional mason.  First of all, there is a great deal of cement dust involved.  The mason must wear a mask at all times.  Each area must be assessed on how deep to scrape the excess old mortar and how much to leave to preserve the integrity of the structure.  The mortar needs to be mixed and colored to closely match the old mortar. (It is almost impossible to exactly match the color, but time will even out the final result).

Once the new mortar is inserted into the openings, the surrounding bricks must be carefully cleaned.  This may look as easy as mud pies. (I have seen the result of the “mud pie technique”, not pretty!) That is why it is called a restoration project. The true secret of professional Tuck Pointing is in the execution. The dedication to perfection and the patience to insist on doing it right; separate the skilled mason from the mud pie maker.

Boston Brick & Stone has done many Tuck Pointing jobs, check http://www.bostonbrick.com/services/brick-restoration/ .

Of course we save money by buying the food and cooking it instead of paying restaurant prices. As for health, fresh and raw is what is usually placed over the coals, that means less additives and chemicals.  It is certainly cleaner; paper plates and plastic utensils, means little wash-up.  I am surprised that only 36% of Americans see this as a family tradition.  Memorial Day, 4^th of July, Labor Day, and Summer Birthdays were traditionally family barbeques in my life.  It is so easy to satisfy individual taste, Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Steak, Chicken, Shrimp and Fish all using sections of the same grill.

There is a lot of debate on the type of grill that works the best.  There are technological breakthroughs that claim to seal in the juices and improve the flavor.  Then there is the discussion about the proper position of the grill, and is an outdoor kitchen worth the expense.  I know many people wish for one, but believe the expense is beyond them.  Many of Boston Brick & Stone’s clients build their outdoor kitchens in stages.  As long as the design is sound, this is an easy and affordable solution for many people.  Click on the following link to get a few ideas on outdoor kitchens, http://www.bostonbrick.com/galleries/outdoor-living/.

When I sit back and look at all these great reasons to barbeque, I tilt head and think,” that’s all true but it is not why I barbeque” I barbeque for one reason only, the taste.

Boston Brick & Stone inspectors are now available on Saturdays and Sundays.  We will always have inspectors available during business hours throughout the week, but we are now making it possible to schedule appointments on the weekend.  We will also have someone who will man the phones all day Saturday to answer questions and set appointments beginning May 5, 2012.

At Boston Brick & Stone, Inc. we are earning your trust, one brick, one stone, one chimney inspection at a time (including Saturday and Sunday).

I lived most of my life in apartments with no back yards or patios. I did not know what I was missing until I came to live in Los Angeles a decade ago.

I discovered back yards and patios starting at my first house in Glendale and enjoying many parties, dinners and barbecues at my friend’s patios. On this Californian heavenly weather (even if it is raining today) it is difficult to have days where you cannot enjoy sitting in your patio and having the sky as your roof.

In winter there are outdoor fireplaces and chimneys that create the warmth that makes conversations possible in January. In summer the pergolas provide the shadow to breathe when heat is hitting hard and the fireplace comes handy in the cool nights that bless many areas of Los Angeles, even in September. Happiness Return on Patio Investments is really high in California, and I have learnt to appreciate it.

There are many ways (that do not have to be expensive) to have a beautiful and practical patio. You have to find somebody that knows the tricks of the sun and how the shades of the trees around your house can be used to your advantage and is also an expert in manipulating the materials that make these spaces so special: concrete, bricks, stone and wood.

Take a look at this page and discover some ideas that may help you in the search for you piece of heaven here in Los Angeles: http://www.bostonbrick.com/services/outdoor-living/

Over the years I have seen many pictures of chimneys with cracks.  Some were as obvious as that old Spanish beauty; some were so bad they were defying gravity.  On the other hand hairline cracks can deliver an unpleasant surprise.  They can be an indication of internal damage that only putting a camera inside the flue could detect.

If you have a chimney of the first kind, badly cracked and threatening to spit bricks at your car, contact a reliable chimney repair company (such as Boston Brick & Stone).  If a rebuild is not in your budget, ask if there are alternatives.  There may be a temporary solution that will insure the safety of your family, neighbors and property until you can afford to rebuild.

If you are seeing hairline cracks, it is wise to get a complete certified chimney inspection that includes a camera up the inside of the flue.  For more information about chimney inspections see http://www.bostonbrick.com/services/chimneys/chimney-inspection/

There is a famous classic children’s movie that had chimney sweeps dancing and singing over the roof tops of London. Unfortunately the only similarities of that delightful film to real life were the Sweeps covered in grime and the brushes. Yes we still use the same brushes, or at least the same design. Here are the differences:

1. We tape up clear plastic over the fireplace entrance. We use special tape that will not damage woodwork or tile.

2. The hearth and floor adjacent to the hearth is covered with a drop cloth.

3. Furniture near the fireplace is covered with plastic.

4. The chimney sweep puts on coveralls before he vacuums out the fireplace while keeping the plastic around him to prevent dust from coming into the living area.

At Boston Brick & Stone we believe that every swept chimney should also have a complete certified inspection. We have radically reduced the fee on inspections to make this affordable to the homeowners. For more information about Boston Brick & Stone chimney sweeps, please see http://www.bostonbrick.com/services/chimney-sweeps/

If you really have your heart set on hearing Chim Chim Cher-ee, light a fire in your newly cleaned fireplace, snuggle up with the family then pop in the Mary Poppins Video. At Boston Brick and Stone we know chimneys, but we leave the singing and dancing to the professionals.

What create wear on a full masonry chimney are poor construction, time, weather, neglect, water intrusion, and earthquakes.  The general rule of thumb is that chimneys should be inspected yearly and as the chimney ages it will require some maintenance; a 100 year old masonry chimney probably has a rebuild in the near future.

Boston Brick and Stone, Inc. during an inspection are able to tell the present condition of the chimney and fireplace with a 12 point inspection.  We see all of the above reasons for a worn out chimney. The solutions we recommend are based on the current building code requirements as well as fire and health safety standards.

You can get detailed information on Boston Brick & Stone’s chimney inspection process at http://www.bostonbrick.com/services/chimneys/chimney-inspection/

Depends.

Are all of the sprinkler heads pointed effectively and efficiently?  Too many times I have seen driveways getting a thorough watering.  I used to think that was a terrible waste of water. However, it is more than a waste; constantly watering a masonry structure can cause major damage by erosion.  People laugh, “Come on, that driveway is not the Grand Canyon, and this sprinkler head is not the Colorado River.  By the time it erodes my entire family will be long gone!”

They are right, but I am not worried about the driveway wearing away, I’m concerned with the underpinnings of the structure; the dirt below it.  That dirt is susceptible to erosion.  The water builds up under the foundation, liquefying the ground beneath and compromising its ability to support the driveway above. As the weight of the driveway bears down, particularly with heavy vehicles parked on it, the masonry gives out and it either cracks or buckles.

Make sure your sprinkler heads are pointed in the right direction and away from your driveway, sidewalks and house foundation.  This is one of those times where an ounce of prevention…