Where to start with chimneys? Probably here: A chimney is not just an elongated window, not just a portal from inside to outside with deep, brick sills. A chimney, in fact, is a machine for generating ...

What sits quietly on top of a chimney yet carries a big job in keeping a home safe, dry, and comfortable? A small metal guard called a chimney cap works harder than it looks. When that little ...

Rob Robillard is a general contractor and editor of AConcordCarpenter.com. Q. What is the proper installation for a squirrel-protector cap for a residential chimney? I’ve been told that our cap is too ...

Our house has an unusual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape and I’m worried about damage. Each contractor I talk with has a different solution and none of them are ...

It is a good idea to have your chimney professionally inspected before installing a chimney cap. Chimney caps protect the chimney and flue from water and ice damage, enhance air flow and reduce the ...

Each week, I receive quite a few emails from readers of this column. I treasure each one because they provide a window to ...

Q: Our house has an unusual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape. What’s the best way to install a cap on a masonry chimney? A: The chimney cap I’d build would be a ...

Q. I have a brick chimney on the west side of the home. My problem is the bricks on the outside of the chimney are flaking and falling off. Do you have any idea what is causing this or what can be ...

Q. I own a ranch home that is about 50 years old. About 10 or 12 years ago the facing of the chimney brickwork began to spall and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick pieces began to fall off a number of the bricks ...

A fireplace can be an asset in a home, even if it hasn't hosted a roaring blaze in decades. Inactive fireplaces supply charm, rather than warmth. But as lovely as they are, chimneys -- both inactive ...

Your chimney and fireplace work together to create an eye-catching home centerpiece and a source of warmth and comfort. (Plus, without them, how does Santa Claus slide down or Mary Poppins’ ...