Custom Stone Installation

West Bloomfield culture stone and stone veneer installers proudly serving Oakland County our installers and masonry contractors are happy to help you with all things Brick, stone, fireplace, and chimney related

Chimney and Fireplace Services

·      Fireplace inserts

·      Fireplaces

·      Gas log service

·      Re-facing and modernization

·      Fireplace inspection

·      Top mount dampers

·      Chimney repair

·      Chimney caps

·      Tuck-pointing

·      Outdoor fireplaces

·      Brick BBQ

·      Brick Pizza Oven

·      Brick repair

The majority of fireplaces are wood burners. Wood burners come in a variety of types and styles.  The first type of wood burning fireplace is the traditional masonry fireplace. While beautiful and warming to be around, masonry fireplaces are the least efficient type of heating source. Masonry fireplaces can be built out of brick, block, or stone and consists of a firebox and damper, which opens and closes to allow smoke draw into a smoke chamber and finally up a chimney. Having glass doors on this type of fireplace will help increase the heating efficiency and reduce the amount cold air entering the home when the fireplace is not in use.

The second type of fireplace is the fireplace insert or wood burning stove. These come in a huge variety of styles, makes, and models. From the latest fireplace inserts for sale that can produce maximum heating efficiency some even have blower motors. These inserts may burn wood, pellets, or other biofuels. They can either vent out of steel multi wall piping often referred to as a zero clearance fireplace. Inserts for fireplaces can also be installed in existing brick or Masonry fireplaces to increase heating efficiency.

The final type of fireplace is the gas fireplace. They come in three types: inserts, for folks who want to retrofit a wood-burning firebox with something more convenient and efficient; built-ins, for those who want a fireplace where there isn't one now; and log sets, basic burners that sit in existing, open fireplaces. Both inserts and built-in fireplaces are reliable heat producers, filling your room with a mix of warm air and radiant heat. Log sets are usually more for looks than warmth. With each type, you have a choice between models that vent the flames' fumes outside or vent-free versions that discharge all their heat, and exhaust, into the house

Metro Detroit Michigan Masonry Contractor Has Tips on Brick Repair and Brickwork for the Do-it-Yourself Homeowner

When hiring a Michigan masonry contractor is cost prohibitive, homeowners often attempt to do their own repairs. Using these techniques can help produce a quality masonry repair

 

Michigan Masonry Contractors

 

Brick Repair llc

 

Michigan Brick Company



Michigan Bricklayer

(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 14, 2012 ) Detroit MI – Brick chimney repair can be dangerous work. Hiring a masonry contractor can be cost prohibitive for some Michigan homeowners. Mark Maupin, Michigan masonry contractor and president of Brick Repair, LLC provides tips for homeowners who attempt to do it themselves.

The first step to any brick repair job is accessing the damaged area. Brick work on the ground that is easily accessible can often times be tuck pointed without a great deal of difficulty. Tuck-pointing is the replacement of damaged mortar joints. A complete step by step video breakdown of tuck-pointing can be seen at http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/Howto.aspx.

Chimneys can be a completely different matter all together. “If your chimney is very tall and difficult to access safely, then I recommend hiring a chimney repair specialist,” said Maupin. “Most reputable chimney repair and masonry contractors will evaluate the extent of repairs to be done and provide a free estimate.” The first thing to fail on a chimney is usually the chimney crown. The chimney crown is the concrete on the top of the chimney.

If your chimney is accessible and the chimney crown is cracked this can often times be a simple enough chimney repair to perform for an experienced do-it-yourselfer. The chimney crown is the top concrete part of the chimney. Any chimney crown repair begins with the removal of the damaged crown. Most Chimney repair specialist will chip away the concrete with a rotary hammer or pneumatic chisel. As a DIY homeowner an older and more manual method may be necessary to remove the chimney crown. For this I would recommend a chisel, 5 lb sledge hammer, & brick hammer. Of course the tools necessary for chimney repair and chimney crown replacement are dependent on the size and thickness of the crown.
Once you have removed the chimney crown inspect the flue on the chimney. The chimney flue liner is the ceramic insert that runs up the center of the chimney. If the flue is cracked it may be time to call in a chimney repair professional. Provided the chimney flu is in sound condition you can begin replacing the chimney crown. The next step in the chimney repair process is the clean and loose debris and dust of the top of the chimney. Use a stiff bristle brush to clean off any particles.
The next step in the chimney repair process is to mix up some concrete. In most cases I recommend that the DIY homeowner use a redi-mix concrete. When I do a chimney repair I prefer using fiber reinforced, crack resistant concrete. I have found that the thicker/stiffer the concrete is mixed the less likely it is to run down the side of the chimney. This will make for a cleaner chimney repair. When working in a warmer climate where temperatures are exceeding 80 you will want to mix your concrete more thin/loose/wet.
Make sure to slope your concrete away from the ceramic flue liner to allow for proper water drainage. I find that when you make your chimney crown thicker it makes for a longer lasting chimney repair. On most chimney crown repairs pour the concrete 4-7 inches thick at the flue and slope it down to a 2 inch edge. Achieving a smooth finish on your concrete can take years of practice to master but with some patience most DIY homeowners can handle this repair.


There are several things that can cause problems with chimneys including chimney leaks, creosote build-up that creates a chimney fire hazard, and a cracked chimney crown to name a few. Mark Maupin currently specializes in chimney repair. Read his latest blog post for DIY Chimney repair tips at http://chimneyrepairmichigan.blogspot.com/2010/05/chimne ...

When asked why he tells people how to do what he gets paid to do, Mark said, “I would rather see the job done right than have to come in and repair a botched chimney repair job later. It’s easier to fix it right the first time. If the repair is easy enough for the homeowner to do it themselves, then I can spend my time where I’m most needed.”

Mark Maupin believes he is doing a great service by providing tips for the DIY homeowner. “It displays honesty and integrity when I’m not hiding behind my knowledge and experience. There will always be someone who needs to hire a professional. As far as I’m concerned, no job is too small, but like most contractors, I prefer to do the bigger jobs. This way, I’m not spending time commuting between jobs.”

Mark Maupin of Brick Repair, LLC provides exemplary masonry restoration to damaged buildings, maintaining cosmetic and structural integrity while beautifying the community through expert handiwork. He provides a satisfying customer experience from demolition and rebuilding to debris removal and clean-up. Mark will provide special care for historical buildings in need of restoration to help communities remain structurally sound and pleasing to the eye. Visit http://michiganchimneyrepair.com to learn more.

Brick Repair llc can provide a bricklayer for you in the following communities
Oakland County Michigan, Farmington, Farmington Hills Livonia, Novi , Bloomfield Hills And West Bloomfield
About Brick Repair, LLC they strive to provide exemplary chimney cleaning, sweeping masonry restoration to damaged buildings, maintaining cosmetic and structural integrity while beautifying the community through expert handiwork.they strive to provide a satisfying customer experience from demolition through debris removal. Brick Repair llc provides special care for historical buildings in need of restoration to help communities remain structurally sound and pleasing to the eye

Cultured Stone Michigan

Michigan Cultured Stone, Brick Repair, & Chimney Cleaning (248) 895-7752

Michigan Cultured stone (248) 895-7752 Chimneyrepairoaklandcounty.com is your local brickwork, masonry construction, and cultured stone contractor serving Oakland County, and Michigan, Michigan. Our Michigan cultured stone and chimney cleaning experts have years of experience specializing in masonry construction, masonry restoration, stonework, and brick repair. Our chimney sweeps can inspect your stone or brick, chimney or fireplace. Our chimney sweeps can provide you with your annual chimney cleaning and provide you with a cultured stone estimate.

If your chimney is in distress and you are in need of cultured stone then look no further. We are happy to help you with any of your chimney related problems. We have built countless chimneys, brick porches, and all types of brickwork. Call today for a free estimate (248) 895-7752.

We have worked hard to earn a reputation in Michigan for quality and look forward to showing the residents of Michigan that it is well deserved. Our goal is to leave every customer satisfied and willing to use us again, or recommend us to a neighbor or a friend. We pride ourselves on building corners, not cutting them.

                       

Choose Michigan, leading cultured stone, chimney cleaning, brick repair and brickwork contractor (248) 895-7752.

We have years of experience matching brick and mortar types. We have worked extensively with the brick commonly found in Michigan, Berkley, West Bloomfield, Beverly Hills, Northville, Michigan, Royal Oak, and the suburbs of Detroit, MI. We take chimney crown repair and brickwork projects seriously. We are not a handyman service; we are skilled masonry repair experts with a passion for brickwork. We strive to be the top chimney company in Michigan, Michigan. Our brick repair and brickwork experts have been serving Michigan, MI, with our quality, brick fireplace chimney construction and cultured stone services for years.. Let us help you fix, repair, and restore your brick home's masonry beauty. Oakland County Brick Repair (248) 850-4708 Michigan, Michigan's leading chimney cleaning, cultured stone, and historic brick repair company.

Brick Repair LLC is group of masonry craftsmen devoted to cultured stone, masonry restoration, and quality brickwork. Beautifying Michigan, Redford, Beverly Hills, West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Berkley, MI, one brick at a time.

Oakland County, Michigan, has some of the most beautiful and custom brick masonry and stone work in southeast Michigan. As brick porch repairs and years of chimney construction have gone by, our brick repair company has gown to the point that no matter where we are in Oakland County, a recent brick wall repair or cultured stone project is never far away. We get a real sense of satisfaction knowing that if we are in Michigan, or even Detroit, a satisfied brick repair customer is never far away. We have strong ties to Detroit, MI, where we have performed historic brick restoration to several homes in Michigan historic district and love the beautiful brick chimney and brick paver porches Michigan, MI, has to offer.

Let us help you fix, repair, and restore your brick home's masonry beauty at Oakland County Brick Repair (248) 895-7752, Michigan, Michigan's leading chimney cleaning, cultured stone, and historic brick wall repair company.

Our Masonry contractors and chimney sweeps offer free cultured stone estimates to all Michigan, Clarkston,West Bloomfield, Michigan, Beverly Hills, and Oakland County residents for any of the following services: chimney cleaning, cultured stone, masonry construction, chimney crown repairs, chimney cap replacement, chimney rebuilds, tuck pointing, natural stone construction, limestone installation and replacement, cultured stone, brick porch repair, brick porch construction, masonry wall construction, brick wall repair, spalled brick replacement, tuck-pointing, pointing and re-pointing work, mortar repair, grout replacement, and historic restoration. We look forward to the opportunity to help you with your brickwork and chimney cleaning projects.

Why a brick fireplace in Michigan, MI, does not work, how to make your brick chimney fireplace draft properly, and how to build a chimney and fireplace that stands the test of time are a common topic of discussion among Michigan bricklayers and masonry contractors. Since man first discovered fire, then dug the first fire pit all the way up till huge brick chimney stacks filled the Detroit sky line, longevity and having a home's fireplace burn properly has been an ongoing concern.

As knowledge of building a brick or stone wall porch, fireplace, or chimney has steadily grown, so has the ability of a fireplace to heat and warm homes. Man's knowledge of engineering, drafting, and how to make a chimney and fireplace work properly has also grown. In today's day and age we have the advantages of learning from our fore fathers and developing formulas and techniques to combat draft and increase fireplace and chimney efficiency. Still today we find that some fireplace chimneys work better than others. That is why when dealing with brick repair and cultured stone it is so critical to use a brick and cultured stone expert.

The main principle of why a brick chimney or fireplace works is because heat rises. After starting a fire in your fireplace, the air inside the chimney warms and begins to rise up the chimney flue. The heat of the fire in your fire box draws in the cooler air from the room it is in. This cooler air flows into the firebox feeding the fireplace fire, increasing the flame in an ongoing cycle. The heat dynamic creates a pressure differential and can also create a pleasant breeze as it moves across the top of your chimney. At Brick Repair LLC we have built thousands of chimneys and are experts in the area of brick chimney building.

There are numerous reasons a chimney and fireplace may not function properly. We'll start with the the most simple & obvious solutions. Please bear in mind this list may not solve all of your fireplace and chimney issues, but it should provide you with a good place to start. Here is a list of common reasons that fireplaces and chimneys don't work .

1. You may have a chimney damper issue. A chimney damper should open and close freely.

2. Your chimney could be dirty and you need a chimney cleaning. Creosote building up and lack of regular chimney sweeping can affect the way your chimney draws air, and can also be a chimney fire hazard.

3. Your chimney may be built wrong. The height of your chimney and the size of your chimney flue liner can have a huge affect on the way that your chimney draws.

For a chimney inspection and estimate call Oakland County Cultured stone (248) 895- 7752

To really understand fireplaces, chimney sweeping, and chimney's in general, it requires extensive knowledge about masonry and fireplaces. Being a chimney sweep does not mean you are qualified to do cultured stones. Likewise being good at masonry and brick work does not make you good with chimneys.

When dealing with your Michigan chimney problem or an Oakland County brick repair issue, you need a contractor familiar with chimney construction codes, pressure differentials, and actual fireplace construction techniques. If the information provided here does not help you solve the problem with your fireplace, chimney, or masonry repair, consider hiring an experienced chimney sweep and masonry repair expert in your area. The problem may be obvious to someone with brickwork, chimney, and fireplace experience once they can actually look over the fireplace and chimney in person.

Michigan fireplace chimney fires are a reality of life. They destroy thousands of homes and lives. Having a regular chimney cleaning by your local chimney sweep can prevent most chimney fires. Most Michigan and Oak park residents don’t even realize the risk their homes could be in from chimney fires. First, let us establish who is at risk.

If proper precautions are taken, brick fireplace chimney fires can be avoided. A Chimney should be inspected by a chimney sweep and chimney cleaning specialist regularly. First, you need to understand the anatomy of how a fireplace works and how a fireplace chimney fire is set into motion. When a fire is built in a masonry or brick chimney it is started in the fireplace fire box.

The chimney firebox is built out of fire brick. Firebrick is a brick made to withstand the high temperatures that occur in a fireplace. A fireplace fire box is the area in which the actual burning happens.. Fireplace firebrick are not as strong and have a lower compression strength than block or architectural brick, however they are much lighter and insulate better than dense bricks. A brick fireplace fire box should be free from cracks to contain the heat from the fire. The fireplace fire brick will taper in toward a damper and smoke shelf. A fireplace firebox is the only spot in which burning wood should occur.

The chimney damper is a metal duct or steel valve which controls or regulates the flow of air in the fireplace. Should a damper become rusted and damaged, in need of being replaced, a top mount damper is installed. A top mount damper attaches to the flue tile liner at the top of the chimney. When closed it provides an air-tight seal. A chain drops down the chimney to control air flow.

Everybody knows where there is a smoking chimney there is fire, so obviously when you are burning wood in your fireplace and chimney, smoke is released and travels up from your firebrick fire box into a smoke shelf and up the chimney flue liner. As the warm smoke travels up the chimney flue liner it begins to cool . As smoke cools it condenses on the inside walls of your chimney flue liner or flue tile and is converted into creosote. Creosote is the leading cause of chimney fires.

Chimney Cleaning, Chimney Inspection, and Cultured stone (248) 850-4708

Creosote and a dirty chimney is the leading cause of chimney fires. Creosote is a highly flammable material that ignites easily from a flame or spark. The type of wood that is burned in a fireplace and the frequency of chimney cleaning affects the amount of creosote built up on the chimney flue liner. Green, or unseasoned wood, contains a lot of moisture. This means it takes more heat to burn the wood in the brick fireplace firebox. Green wood produces more creosote.

Outside temperature also plays a factor in the amount of creosote formed. Chimneys that run up the side of your brick house are more apt to producing creosote than one that runs up the center of your home. This is because brick, concrete, and stone masonry has a low insulation value or R value. The warm smoke being hit by cool temperatures condenses more quickly when a chimney runs up the side of a house.

Proper air flow is critical to your stone or brick chimney. Making sure your fireplace damper is open all the way so that smoke ventilates through the chimney quickly also reduces the risk of creosote forming. A fireplace chimney must be built to a proper height to draft properly. Usually three feet above the roof or ten feet from the roof.

You must make sure to have a chimney cleaning professional or chimney sweep clean your chimney annually if you plan on using your fireplace. When you ignite paper and cardboard in your fireplace, often times small flaming pieces of ash and soot can drift up the flue liner and are more likely to ignite the creosote that has built up.

Having a proper chimney cap on the top of your chimney can help prevent chimney fires. A proper chimney cap has a spark ares-tor to catch these pieces of flaming ash. Chimney caps also protect the top of a chimney flue liner by preventing water and animals from getting inside the flue liner, as well as inside your fireplace.

Oakland County Cultured stone, (248) 895-7752, specializes in fireplace chimney construction, fireplace remodeling, chimney cleaning, cultured stone, and historic brick restoration. Our chimney sweeps can provide cost effective chimney cleaning. We also repair brick porches and brick walls on a daily basis. If you would like more information about chimney fires, please visit http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/ChimneyFires.aspx.

With any cultured stone or masonry restoration project comes debris. Small chunks of mortar, pieces of concrete, and chunks of brick from the demolition of the brickwork can add up fast. And lets face it, its not like your local garbageman or trash removal service is going to grab a garbage can that weighs 500 lbs and carry it away. That is why whenever you plan on doing any kind of demolition project, cultured stone, or brickwork you need to know what to do with your debris and trash once it's said and done.

One option is to remove the brick debris, concrete, and mortar yourself. This involves filling up a trailer or truck and hauling out the brick, concrete, and mortar pieces. You can then haul this material to the dump, but the dump charges by weight. A much more practical method of removing the debris, is to find a local concrete recycling company. Most concrete recycling companies will take any concrete and mortar you have and dispose of it. A select few concrete recycling companies, commonly referred to as the concrete crusher, will take your brick debris also. Concrete, brick, and mortar are ground up to a gravel sized consistency. This aggregate is then recycled into new concrete. The problem with using concrete crushers and recyclers is unless you have a dump truck or dump trailer, you must handle your material and debris not only when you haul it off of the job, but when you dump it. By far the most cost-effective way to go on any large scale demolition project is to rent a dumpster. Whenever you rent the dumpster be sure to specify what you plan on disposing of inside of it.

At Michigan Brick Repair we are committed to the local Michigan environment. We use concrete recycling companies whenever possible. For more information about masonry and masonry repair, our free how-to repair brick videos, please visit us http://www.michiganchimneyrepair.com/. Brick Repair LLC's cultured stone service provides chimney cleaning for residents of Rochester Hills, and encourages you to visit our site: http://www.chimneyrepairrochesterhills.com/.

For information about Michigan chimney sweeps, chimney cleaning, and cultured stone,

check out our masonry repair videos at HTTP://www.michiganchimneyrepair.org/.

Cultured stone in Oakland County and surrounding cities: http://www.chimneyrepairoaklandcounty.com/

West Bloomfield, MI, residents looking for a chimney inspection or a chimney sweep visit:

http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/ChimneyRepairWestBloomfield.aspx

Clarkston, MI, residents seeking chimney cleanings visit:

http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/ClarkstonChimney.aspx

For West Bloomfield chimney cleaning and cultured stone visit

http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/ChimneyRepairWestBloomfield.aspx

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