Chimneys have been in use since Roman times when they were used to withdraw smoke from bakeries. But chimneys only came into use in residential dwellings much later in Europe in the 12th century.

The first chimneys in ordinary houses were generally built from wood and mud or plaster. Later, brick or stone became the typical construction materials.

Today, building a chimney involves draws on many of the same principles that have been developed over the history of masonry chimney construction, with a good dose of modern expertise and technology.

How are modern chimneys built?

When designing a chimney, aside from practical considerations, it is important to be aware of building codes — because there are many when it comes to chimneys and fire safety. Our masons are well versed in all relevant construction codes and can advise you on this.

The exact design and techniques used depend somewhat on whether we are discussing how to build a stone fireplace and chimney or if we are talking about how to build a brick chimney, but the basic principles are the same. The basic things to decide are what fireplaces/devices the chimney will be used to vent, what path the chimney flue will take, how wide it will be, where it will leave the roof, and how the protruding structure will be built.

The process of building a chimney usually starts from the bottom — above the fireplace if that is what the chimney is being used to vent. The masonry is gradually built up in layers. The flue (which connects the fireplace to the roof) can be made of masonry or metal pipe. In the case of masonry, tiles can be laid inside to form the flue as the outside of the chimney is built up.

Where the chimney goes through the roof, flashing must be applied to seal the gap and keep out water. A chimney cap is installed on top of the flue. “Custom home builders near me” are conveniently located in your area and have an in-house team of designers and architects.

Let’s face it – the majority of homeowners don’t really have the know-how, time, or resource to examine their own masonry chimneys and make an informed assessment as to whether any repair work is needed for the chimney brickwork.

We know that this mismatch of information can make homeowners a bit nervous as can leave them vulnerable to unscrupulous contractors that may try to take advantage of the situation and charge for unnecessary maintenance work.

The professionals at Masonry Chicago always strive to help customers understand the entire process of assessment, chimney build, and step-by-step repair of any masonry work we carry out. This often involves utilizing photography or other visual aids to capture the condition of your chimney and to make clear if and why repair work is required.