Each week, I receive quite a few emails from readers of this column. I treasure each one because they provide a window to ...

Q: Not long ago you answered a question from a reader about fireplace chimneys. You talked at length about dampers but you did not mention the need for a chimney liner. My house is 1906 vintage, and a ...

Q: Our 1940 home has a brick fireplace and chimney. We had it inspected recently and were told by several people that it has a crack near the roofline and needs to be taken down and rebuilt. The ...

Rosanne is an interior design and home improvement writer with 8 years of experience. During that time she has worked with numerous businesses and publications. Rosanne has been with Forbes Home for ...

Q. My chimney needs some tender loving care. I had a few contractors come to assess the repairs, but none of them made me feel very comfortable. They all talked about how my chimney top (some called ...

There are best practices when it comes to chimney caps or crowns. Unfortunately, most roofers, masons and chimney sweeps are either unaware of them or don’t use them. I estimate that fewer than 1 in ...

Q. This week: The brick chimney on our 1930's era house looks like it needs repair. From the ground I can see cracks in the bricks, and some of the cement and pieces of the bricks have come off and ...

Q: Our house has an unusual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape. What’s the best way to install a cap on a masonry chimney? A: The chimney cap I’d build would be a ...

Each week, I receive quite a few emails from readers of this column. I treasure each one because they provide a window to view the real problems and challenges you face with your homes. Some messages ...