You fell in love with your beautiful Victorian home. With its warmth and charm, you couldn’t resist. You knew there would be a lot of upkeep due to its age. A chimney takes quite a bit of wear and tear over the years. What is the best thing you can do to change out or update your dated fireplace and chimney without losing its charm? Let us discuss the challenges that may arise and the possibilities for restoring your historic home.

What Can I Expect With a Historic Chimney Restoration?

• Wear and tear- You can imagine the abuse a chimney gets over the years. Age plays a big part in the deterioration of the chimney. Winter storms bring wind, rain, sleet, and snow, which can cause bricks and masonry to crack. Water entering the masonry can be quite detrimental in winter. The freeze-thaw effect can cause cracks to widen as water freezes and thaws. Summer storms can be just as bad. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and just typical rainstorms can bring havoc to your chimney. With temperatures rising sometimes into the 100s, this can be brutal on your chimney. Water damage is also a concern. 
• Historic preservation regulations. Local and state historic commissions may require approvals, permits, or adherence to strict guidelines regarding materials, methods, and appearance. You must check with your local town hall or historic society for rules and regulations.
• Structural damage. You may not see all the issues that may arise. Hidden structural issues and deterioration inside the chimney, such as cracked flue tiles, failing liner, or internal concerns, may not be visible until work begins.
• Water intrusion and moisture management. When you purchase a historic home, chimneys often lack modern flashing, caps, or waterproofing. Without these modern-day mechanics, moisture damage will recur if left unaddressed.

Modern-Day Upgrades that Will Preserve Your Historic Chimney.

• Masonry. Repair cracks and replace missing bricks, keeping with regulations for the historic appeal 
• Moisture protection. Copper or stainless steel chimney caps keep water, animals, and debris out without altering the historic appearance. 
• Flue and Fire Safety. Install a stainless steel flue liner to meet safety standards. This will allow safety without changing the exterior, preserving the historic charm.
• Energy efficiency. Sealing any smoke chamber gaps and closing the damper when not in use.
• Monitoring and regular maintenance. Professionals, like Keystones Fireplace, recommend an annual chimney sweep and inspection to maintain the longevity of a chimney.

Call Keystones Fireplace for a comprehensive discussion on what can be done to repair your historic chimney and fireplace. 

We have been in business for over 30 years as Anderson’s Chimney Sweeps. We pride ourselves on superior customer service and our commitment to the communities that we serve.

Through the years, we have sold and installed gas, wood, and pellet hearth appliances. We have opened our walk-in retail location where you, our customer, can comfortably view over 40 displays and talk with one of our fireplace experts. Our team is available to meet your needs in Camp Hill, Harrisburg, Hershey, New Cumberland, Shrewsbury & York areas.