Yes, you will be told it’s not ideal to do chimney repairs when the weather is less than ideal. There are several reasons for this, the primary one is that mortars do not set properly when temperatures are lower. Another reason is safety, roofs often become slick when...
Educational
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Understanding Brick Manufacturing and Masonry Materials
Brick manufacturing is a straightforward process. We use any of these style bricks and sometimes also have availability of reusing bricks. Bricks are very universal and such a green building material. They last a very long time, but not forever. There are 3 common...
Understanding Building Codes and Their Importance in Masonry
Here is a little bit about the history of Masonry Building Codes and How We Fit into It, with a lot of acronyms. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are the two organizations that are most responsible for building...
Understanding Mortar: Types, Applications & Best Practices
The primary component of all masonry is mortar. Mortar is a mixture of sand, lime, and cement. That is really all there is to mortar. See my story could end, but mortar is so much more interesting than this. There are 5 commonly used mortar types, These types are...
Troubleshooting Smoke Problems in Your Home
Why does smoke come down our chimney? We’re wondering if you could look at our chimney for problems with venting. I can tell you we’ve had several opinions on how to fix it and you were referred by __ who told us you’d be able to figure it...
First Steps in Brick Chimney Repair: What Needs Attention
The first thing that would need servicing on a brick and mortar chimney is the concrete cap. The cap, which is normally designed of poured concrete is the first line of defense against costly water damage. The cap is also the first thing on a brick and mortar...
How to Choose the Right Chimney Repair Professional?
You'll want to look for the normal licensed and insured, but long experience and professional certifications are super important as well. This is something to look for particularly in a chimney repair professional. Here at Dvorak Masonry, we have always made it a...
Chimney Repair vs Replacement: Making the Right Decision
Is it best to repair or replace a worn chimney? Here is the answer from the professionals at Dvorak Masonry.












