Looking after chimneys and fireplaces in LaCrosse

Spotted a brown ring on the ceiling or a damp patch on the wall near the chimney in your home in LaCrosse? Water is getting in somewhere above it, and a chimney has several ways to let it through: a cracked crown, a missing or rusted cap, flashing that has lifted at the roof line, worn mortar joints, or brick that soaks up rain.

The stain rarely sits right under the entry point, so guessing leads to paying for the wrong repair. Our pros trace it from the cap downward, checking each possible source from the roof and the attic side, and where the answer isn't obvious, they can run a controlled water test one area at a time to prove it.

Once the entry is found, it's fixed properly, and then they look at what the water reached: the damper, the firebox, the attic insulation and the wall. Drywall and paint repairs belong to other trades, and the quote says so, along with when the wall should be dry enough to fix. Meanwhile, pencil a line around the stain's edge so you can tell if it's growing.

The first look costs nothing, and every repair is given a written price first. Photos of the stain after each storm help too, especially if it only appears in certain winds. Want the stain near your chimney in LaCrosse traced to its source? Set up a visit in LaCrosse at (352) 675-6366.