Chimney Relining and Restoration

We have on staff certified technicians that specialize in the field of chimney lining and restoration. Our skilled technicians can reline and restore chimneys from the inside out, using a U.L. Listed lightweight concrete formula manufactured by Golden Flue, that bonds to your existing chimney structure for added strength and durability.

Golden Flue is made from a naturally insulated material which drastically minimizes heat transfer. Heat transfer is the number one cause of structural fire. Golden Flue eliminates most third stage creosote and withstands temperatures in excess of 2100 degree Fahrenheit. A bonder is used for allowing the mixture to adhere on surfaces covered with creosote. Refine perlite is added for a better insulation value. A plastercizer is added to improve the mixing and flowability of Golden Flue. This flowability is important for sealing voids, cracks and for structurally strengthening the chimney. Other Air intrainment, another ingredient, creates tiny air bubbles which allow the mix to expand and contract within itself, without cracking.

How the process works:

A chimney former is temporarily installed in the casing and inflated to the proper flue size. A technique devised by Golden Flue spaces the chimney former away from the interior casing to assure proper lining thickness and to provide you with a better quality flue. The bottom is temporarily sealed to confine the Golden Flue mix which is pumped into the chimney in a semi-liquid state. In addition, pumping the mix eliminates excessive walking across the roof. After a proper curing time, the chimney former is deflated and removed. The results are a one-piece, highly-insulated Golden Flue liner with no seams to weaken at a later date. Due to the flowing of the mix, all loose bricks, voids and cracks are permanently sealed. The structural strength of the chimney has been increased far beyond a masonry chimney. In older chimneys, the deterioration of the flue is stopped from the inside.

Golden Flue liner is so highly insulated that it will dramatically reduce water and smoke condensation which develops with the use of oil, gas and wood stoves. Golden Flue is ideal for use with modern, high-efficiency oil and gas furnaces and boilers.

Stainless Steel Relining:

We also provide stainless steel liners as another alternative for chimneys / fireplaces that are good candidates for this option. We also use stainless steel lining kits (full kits) for a direct connection to woodstoves.

An overview of the different Stainless Steel types we use:

316 Type stainless steel – can be used for wood burning, coal burning, oil burning and category 1 gas. (This is what we use 95% of the time due to the wide range of fuels used in fireplaces / chimneys.)
304 Type stainless steel – would be used by us for solid fuel burning conditions (pellet stoves, wood stoves, open wood-burning fireplaces) only. The reason is a lot of consumers tend to covert over to gas. One might think that the ideal material for these liners would be 304 stainless steel. Well, the flexible pipe manufacturers tried this and the chlorides in the exhaust vapor of natural gas caused corrosion.

Installation Process:

Anytime we install a stainless steel liner, whether we take out the existing flue tiles or not, we insulate the liner with an approved insulation mix or insulation blanket. The insulation mix has to be poured around the liner at a minimum one-inch thickness. The insulation blanket has to be a minimum ½ inch thickness or a minimum ¼ inch thickness depending on the situation.

Chimney Repairs:

Chimney Re-pointing Brickwork – Re-pointing is a masonry skilled craft. It is the process that involves the removal of existing deteriorated mortar from the joints of a brick wall, and replacing it with new mortar for added strength and durability.

Flashing - Flashing is a metal material that is placed at the base of the chimney structure near the roofline. This process is designed to waterproof the joints where they penetrate the roof. Improperly installed or deteriorated flashings can cause severe water damage to the roof structure and has been proven to eventually migrate into the interior walls of your home.

Water Repellent - All masonry chimneys are susceptible to water damage. Chimney structures are highly exposed to the elements and freeze/thaw conditions. The GOOD NEWS is water damage can be prevented. At Owens Chimney Systems, Inc., we use Chimney Saver Water Repellents™. This process comes with a 10-year warranty and has been used by chimney professionals for over 20 years. The active ingredients in Chimney Saver Water Repellents™ will significantly reduce water penetration into the masonry by 99.9% and is also 100% permeable, which means it won’t trap water vapors.

Website links

Chimney Saver Water Repellents: http://www.chimneysaver.com/chimney_saver_water_base.html
Golden Flue: http://goldenflue.com/
Chimney Caps: http://chimneycaps.net/
Chimney Safety Institute: www.csia.org
North Carolina Chimney Sweeps: www.ncchimneysweeps.com