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Brick Repair in Grand Prairie, TX 75050
3 Signs You Need to Contact a Grand Prairie, TX Brick Repair Expert to Fix Your Chimney
You love your fireplace. It’s more than just a reliable source of heat; it adds to the comfort and aesthetic appeal of your Dallas County home. There’s nothing better than sitting back and relaxing in front of a roaring fire on a chilly night. In order for your fireplace to remain a beloved feature, it has to be in excellent condition. Masters Services is here to help you do just that.
Of all the components of your fireplace, the chimney is the most important. Not only does it play a vital role in its function, but it also impacts the overall look. If it’s damaged, instead of adding to the beauty of your home, it can end up being an eyesore, and more importantly, it can end up turning your fireplace into a serious hazard. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), residential chimney fires, carbon monoxide exposure, and other types of chimney-related hazards result in countless dollars in property damage and even worse, loss of lives, throughout the United States each year. Damaged masonry work – the bricks and mortar that the structures are made of – is one of the leading causes of chimney fires.
Since chimney safety is so vital to the safety of your family and your Dallas County home, as a homeowner who has a brick chimney, familiarizing yourself with the signs of damage is crucial. Get in the habit of visually inspecting the structure on a regular basis, and if you notice any of the following, avoid using the fireplace and get in touch with a company that specializes in brick repair near you as soon as possible.
Mortar Damage
Damaged mortar joints are the most obvious sign that a chimney needs to be repaired. Mortar is like the glue that holds the brickwork together. If it’s damaged, the structural integrity of the chimney is compromised. There are several factors that can contribute to mortar damage. Constant exposure to harsh conditions, such as high temperatures, smoke, and soot, and the elements (moisture, wind, fluctuating temperatures, and the harsh UV rays of the sun,) as well as poor installation, and even ground settling are just some of the causes. Mortar can become cracked and entire chunks can end up falling out, and eventually, the entire structure could end up collapsing. Of course, damaged mortar takes away from the visual appeal of a chimney, too.
Pay attention to the mortar. As soon as you notice any damage – whether minor or severe – start searching for companies that specialize in brick repair near you. A Grand Prairie, TX brick repair professional will address the problem, restoring the safety and the aesthetics of the structure.
Spalling
Does it look like any of the bricks on the interior or exterior of your chimney are flaking, peeling, or crumbling? If so, you’ve got a spalling problem on your hands.
Spalling is a common form of brick damage. Bricks are made of clay, which is a highly porous material, and as such, they easily absorb water. When the temperatures dip, the water that’s trapped inside the bricks will freeze and expand, and the ice will push out small pieces of bricks, creating small cracks. When the weather warms up, the water will melt and drain out of the bricks. Water will then fill the cracks that were created by the expanding ice, and when it freezes again, it will bush out more of the brick, creating an even bigger crack. The cycle continues, and eventually, the brickwork will be riddled with cracks and will become severely deteriorated.
Initially, spalling is a cosmetic problem; however, if it continues, pieces of the masonry will peel off and pop out, and eventually, the structural integrity of the chimney could end up being compromised. To avoid extensive damage, serious safety hazards, and costly repairs, at the first sign of spalling, start researching “brick repair near me”. A reputable Grand Prairie, TX brick repair expert will conduct a thorough assessment of the masonry work and will make the necessary repairs.
Shifting
Take a step back from your chimney – both inside and outside of your Dallas County home – and examine it. Does it appear to be a bit cockeyed? Is it shifting to one side? If so, you have a major problem on your hands, and you need to schedule an appointment with a contractor that specializes in brick repair near you right away.
There are a few different reasons why a fireplace can start to shift. It may be the result of ground settling. As the ground that your Dallas County house sits on moves, the house moves, too. When that happens, the masonry work that the chimney is made of can shift. The shifting will continue, and eventually, the mortar and bricks will crack and crumble, and the entire structure could end up collapsing. Poor installation could also be the cause of the problem. No matter the cause, a shifted chimney is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed by a professional Grand Prairie, TX brick repair specialist right away. A credible professional that specializes in brick repair near you will be able to address the problem, restoring the structural stability, the safety, and the visual appeal of your chimney.
Looking for Reliable and Affordable Brick Repair Near You?
If you’re experiencing one of the above-mentioned issues or any other problem with the masonry work that your chimney is made of, don’t delay; contact Masters Services today! Offering more than 18 years of experience and a proven track record of success, our team of professionally trained technicians are experts in their trade, and they will not only improve the function and safety of your chimney’s brickwork, but they will revitalize the look of the structure, too.
For the best brick repair near you, instead of searching the internet for “brick repair near me”, get in touch with the team at Masters Services! For more information or to schedule a consultation, browse through our website, submit an online contact form, or give us a call directly at 972-877-4650. Our knowledgeable and friendly associates are standing by and are looking forward to restoring the safety, function, and beauty of the most beloved feature of your Dallas County home: the chimney.
Some information about Grand Prairie, TX
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas County, Tarrant County, and Ellis County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It has a population of 175,396 according to the 2010 census, making it the fifteenth most populous city in the state.
The city of Grand Prairie was first established as Dechman by Alexander McRae Dechman in 1863. He based the name of the town on Big Prairie, Ohio. Prior to then, he resided in Young County near Fort Belknap. The 1860 U.S. Federal Census – Slave Schedules shows an A McR Dechman as having 4 slaves, ages 50, 25, 37 and 10. Dechman learned that he could trade his oxen and wagons for land in Dallas County. In 1863, Dechman bought 239.5 acres (96.9 ha) of land on the eastern side of the Trinity River and 100 acres (40 ha) of timber land on the west side of the river for a broken-down wagon, oxen team and US$200 in Confederate money. He tried to establish a home on the property, but ran into difficulties, so he returned to his family in Birdville before joining in the Civil War. In 1867 he filed a town plat with Dallas County, consisting of 50 acres (20 ha).
After the war, he returned to Birdville for two years before selling that farm in 1867 and moving to Houston, where yellow fever broke out, causing the family to settle in Bryan. In 1876, Dechman traded half his ‘prairie’ property to the T&P Railroad to ensure the railroad came through the town. The railroad named the depot ‘Dechman’, prompting its namesake to relocate his home from Bryan to Dechman. His son Alexander had been living in Dechman and operating a trading post and farm. The first church in the area was the Good Hope Cumberland Sabbath School, established in 1870 by Rev. Andrew Hayter. The church was later renamed West Fork United Presbyterian Church and remains an active church.
The first U.S. post office opened in 1877 under the name ‘Deckman’ rather than ‘Dechman’, because the U.S. Postal Service couldn’t read the writing on the form completed to open the post office. Later that same year, after the Postal Service had adopted the ‘Deckman’ name, confusion resulted from the T&P Railroad designation ‘Grand Prairie’. This name was based on maps drawn from around 1850 through 1858 that labeled the area between Dallas and Fort Worth ‘the grand prairie of Texas’. In order to alleviate the confusion, the Postal Service named the post office ‘Grand Prairie’.
Learn more about Grand Prairie.
Useful links for Grand Prairie, TX
Directions from Grand Prairie, TX to Masters Services
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