by Mark Hudson | May 29, 2019 | chimney repairs
In Jacksonville, Hurricane season falls between June and November. Although we can expect heavy storms year-round, hurricanes can cause more damages to your home and chimney. Don’t let storm damages get you down, but give the team at Hudson Chimney a call for your chimney and fireplace repairs.
Jacksonville is our home. We work here, live here, know the area, its municipal codes and the climate. We know that ocean air can lead to efflorescence on your chimney structures, which can cause leaks and alter the look of your chimney. As we prepare for the terrible hurricane season ahead, we want to help you be more aware of storm damages and what you can do to protect your chimney.
Common Storm Damage
During and after hurricane season, we often get calls for chimney inspections. We commonly see missing or dislodged flashing, damaged chase pans, chimney caps, masonry, worn chimney crowns, and more. This type of damage can happen suddenly or over time when the chimney is exposed to tropical storms and hurricanes year after year. The most important thing is getting regular chimney inspections after burn season or hurricane season to minimize and stay on top these damages.
Professional Inspections
You can make sure your chimney system is in tip top shape by scheduling an inspection. Generally, a level one inspection is required annually when the chimney has not been through any changes. However, a level two inspection should be scheduled for natural occurrence, which affects your chimney system. When we complete a level two inspection, we include a video scan to access the entire system—even unseen portions of the flue.
After your inspection, our technician provide a detailed report including necessary footage and a repair plan. It’s important to address repairs as soon as possible to avoid more damage. If your system needs repairs, you can call Hudson Chimney now to get the necessary work done before storms come your way!
Water Damage and More
When you leave repairs undone, you leave your chimney system exposed to the elements. Missing flashing or caps and damaged crowns or masonry can allow water to go directly into your system. When water enters your system, it can ruin walls and furniture, rust parts, and even cause respiratory issues to your family members.
Hudson Chimney Repairs
Some of your masonry damages are visible. There could be missing mortar, gaps, cracks, flaking masonry, and stains. While other masonry damages are unseen, and they are only detected by a video scan during a level 2 inspection. Whatever damage you are experiencing, we have the repairs to address them. Our team of masons and certified chimney sweeps can repair your masonry with tuckpointing. We rebuild masonry, repair and seal mortar crowns, and we install flashing and caps to protect your chimney system for future storms.
For added protection for your chimney, you should also consider waterproofing your chimney. It is a simple process that protects your masonry from water penetration for many years. Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159!
by Mark Hudson | Apr 30, 2019 | Real Estate Chimney Inspection
If you’re in the market to buy or sell a home, you may want to take another look at the home inspection. A standard home is a general assessment of the entire house. If the home you’re looking to buy or sell has a chimney, it needs a home inspection and a chimney inspection. While the home inspection is an overall assessment of the whole property, the chimney real estate inspection is a thorough assessment of the entire chimney system—inside and out.
Chimney Inspections for Real Estate
If you’re working with a REALTOR or lender, then they might have already mentioned a home inspection. However, if your property is under contract, then you likely have a home inspection already scheduled. If your home has a chimney, however, it’s important to schedule a chimney inspection by a certified professional. A home inspection determines if the interior and exterior of the chimney are sound and the structure is “plumb”. A real estate chimney inspection checks out the chimney from top to bottom thoroughly to ensure structural soundness and it’s working properly. In the industry, this inspection is called a level two inspection, required when properties are sold or transferred.
For a real estate inspection, a chimney professional will take a look the following:
- All accessible portions of the chimney interior and exterior
- Chimney access by way of attic, crawlspace, and basement
- Inspection of connections, working parts, firebox, and interior/exterior fixtures
- A video scan of the flue interior
After your inspection, you should receive a written report from your chimney sweep, include photos and video footage. Once the chimney is assessed, any damage or repairs can be added to your real estate disclosures. If you’re the buyer, you can add stipulations to the contract for the sellers to complete the repairs.
Your New Chimney
A new home purchase is something to celebrate. The last thing you want is for the joy of the occasion to be clouded by the realization that your new fireplace isn’t safe to use. If your home inspector gives your chimney a clean bill of health, and you go ahead with your purchase without scheduling a chimney inspection, you may find that your chimney is actually a hazard.
Scheduling chimney sweeps and inspections on a regular basis keeps your systems safe and efficient. If you’ve never owned a home with a fire appliance or chimney system, no worries!
Call Hudson Chimney for your chimney needs
Contact Hudson Chimney and we’ll complete your real estate inspection. We offer a report, make a repair plan, and can take care of all your comprehensive chimney care needs. Our team members are CSIA certified, and we have been serving the Jacksonville area for over 30 years. We work with REALTORs, lenders, property managers, and real estate attorneys to bring prospective home buyers the safest and most comfortable fireplaces in their new homes. Reach Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159, and schedule your real estate inspection today.
by Mark Hudson | Feb 21, 2018 | Chimney Inspection
Whether you’re a homebuyer, looking for a home to purchase, or a seller looking to sell a house, your chimney needs some attention. Before a sell, you might find yourself scheduling a home inspection. Depending on the realtor associated with your sale, the seller may pay for and schedule the inspection, or the buyer may. Regardless, you will want a chimney expert to check out the chimney system—because the home inspector won’t!
Disclosure Statement
When you’re buying or selling a home, there is a disclosure statement that includes known issues with the property. Oftentimes, instead of scheduling an inspection with a chimney expert, a seller will include the chimney in the disclosure statement. This frees them of costs and damages that may be associated with the chimney system. This may seem A-okay, but it can cost you more than you bargained for in the long-run. If you think the only thing you’ll be paying for when you take ownership of your house is a chimney inspection (required by most homeowners insurance), think again. If the previous owners don’t have an up-to-date chimney inspection, there is probably neglect and damage behind the scenes. These costs will add up quickly, and will likely mean you can’t use your fireplace until it is repaired.
The CSIA Signature
To ensure you have a safe chimney—or at least an accurate report of condition—you need to look for the CSIA signature on the report. This means the inspector is a classroom trained, tested, and field trained certified chimney sweep, with current membership in the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the nation’s standard for chimney professionals.
The CSIA Inspection
A home inspector will focus on the structure of the chimney and note visible issues. A CSIA certified chimney expert, however, will assess it from the inside out. Hudson Chimney, Jacksonville’s choice for chimney care for over 30 years, inspects chimneys year-round. Not only do we offer level 1, 2, and 3 inspections, but we proudly use a Chim-Scan camera to view the inside of the system, hidden to the untrained eye. Our technicians do not miss a chimney issue, large or small. If you are selling, we are happy to complete a level 2 inspection (required for land transfers and sales) and provide you with a thorough report for your potential buyers.
The best way to make your house more desirable is to leave no questions for the potential buyers. If your realtor has a current chimney inspection in-hand when speaking with potential buyers, they’re more apt to view it as what it is—a benefit. An inspection report is necessary for insurance policies, code enforcement, and more. Leaving it up to the home inspector is like hiring a veterinarian to remove your appendix. Professional training doesn’t always transfer to other uses.
Save time and money by hiring a chimney expert to assess your chimney. Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159 and schedule your chimney inspection today.
