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“On Oct 27, 2009, the Connecticut Supreme Court for the district of New Haven ruled that a jury could consider a carbon monoxide wrongful death suit against a propane distributor.” So begins an article in the BPN Butane-Propane News, a publication for the propane and butane trade. This distributor hooked up their propane tank to an installation (already completed) in a cottage. The building, under construction by the owner, had not yet received a final inspection or given a Certificate of Occupancy. The owner and his wife spent the night at the cottage, and were found dead the next day of carbon monoxide poisoning. The vent was incorrectly installed, causing the buildup of the deadly gas. In this litigious society in which we live, anyone in business for any period of time is bound to face the threat of a lawsuit. In this case, the poor guy who supplied the fuel is somehow deemed responsible for the venting system, not yet approved for use by the inspector. Everyone knows how it goes. You touched it, you own it (liability wise). It seems nearly hopeless. There is light in the liability tunnel. If your reputation is good, your work high quality, and the products listed and well made, you stand a better than average chance of walking through unscathed. Here are a few tips to help keep you out of the courtroom: Always handle problems quickly. When a customer complains, it should be top priority. If you or your employees made a mistake, fix it… fast and free! A customer once told me a company is not judged by how they perform when all goes well, but by how they perform when “stuff” happens. Always follow code. I can hear you thinking.. There’s always an exception to the rule…exceptions are what lawsuits are made of! If it can’t be done right, it can’t be done. Always use U.L. Listed materials. If you install a U.L. Listed woodstove, but don’t use a U.L. Listed liner, you’re playing the odds. Keep good records. If you can show what you did, when you did it, and what materials you installed, you’re ahead of the game. I once represented a customer in an arbitration hearing. The insurance company of the homeowner brought suit six and a half years after a fire claim was paid out. Thanks to good record keeping, it became obvious that someone else had worked on the system after the original installation, and changed out the top support system, which probably led to the fire. THINK. Just this past week, an air traffic controller was suspended for letting his 9 yr old repeat instructions to the pilots on the ground. I’m sure he was right there, in control, while his youngster repeated the commands. And all was well. The pilots seemed to enjoy the youngster, and got a chuckle out of it. But… what if there was a disaster at that moment? What if two planes collided on the taxi strip? Do you think the controller would be found liable? Of course. Always consider the worst case scenario. Posted by Chuck Phillips, Business Coach, Northeastern Region 
(Chimney Industry News) Permanent linkThis is part three in a series on tuckpointing chimneys. To read Part 1, The Need for Restoration, click here. To read Part 2, Preparation for Tuckpointing, click this link here. Part Three, Applying the Mortar, addresses filling in the mortar joints after the weak or damaged mortar has been removed. Before applying the new mortar, dust and debris should be removed from the cleaned joint. A Masonry Brush may be used along or rinsing with water or blow out the debris with air. 
The replacement mortar should be carefully selected. In the construction of buildings of historical significance the mortar was often mixed from local materials. For example, the photo, below, is of a building that was built in the 1800's along a river. Sand from the river, river rock, and shell bits and pieces were used in the mortar mix. If this mortar is replaced with today's popular mixes, the different texture and color will be obvious. To retain the originality, the new replacement mortar will need to be mixed using original materials. See the photo,below, where new mortar (darker gray) was applied next to historical mortar. 
Check out the original mortar that was mixed with bits of shell, river sand and river rock, below. 
Also, older mortar mixed with local materials didn't contain Portland Cement. As a result, the mortar tended to be softer. If new modern mortar mix is used, it will set up harder that the softer historical mortar and this can cause structural movement issues. It also may not be aesthetically appealing. Portland Cement was used more commonly in the U.S. starting in some area's as early as the late 1800's. It became more common around the "turn of the century" - 1900's that is. If you are working with a relatively modern structure and are using modern mortar mixes with Portland Cement, make sure it's prehydrated to reduce shrinkage. If additives or color is needed make sure you have extra on hand. First place all dry ingredients in bucket, tub, or mortar box. Thoroughly mix all dry ingredients. Then add some of the water and mix it to the proper consistency. Most mortar mixes require that the existing mortar joint be dampened. This prevents the masonry from drawing too much moisture from the mix which would affect the strength and set-up. This also assures a strong bond.  
A Hawk and a tuckpointer are used to hold, apply and pack the mortar into the mortar joint. Various widths of tuckpinters are available depending on the height of the mortar joint. Make sure the tuckpointer is slightly smaller than the width of the joint. This helps keep mortar from "piling up" on the masonry units, keeping the work area cleaner. The mortar should be layered into the joints at about 1/4 thick. Packing too much in too soon may result in "hollow joints" such as air pockets or voids. When the mortar cures to the consistency of a thumbprint, the joint is ready for finishing. There are tools available to obtain a variety of finishes. The jointer, bottom left, creates a concave (curving in) joint. The raker, bottom right, creates a "squared joint". There are also jointers that create a "V" shaped joint.  
At the same time, mortar "snot" or "piling" should be brushed off to reduce further smearing and make removal easier before it sets up hard. Commercial cleaners may later be used to clean the surface. Masonry products take a full 28 days to cure to full strength. These mortar joints will be moisture resistant, but to preserve the chimney and obtain the longest usable life from the chimney, ChimneySaver Water Repellant should be applied. ChimneySaver is a vapor permeable water repellant. This means it will let moisture within the chimney wick to the outside. A waterproofing agent with solids can actually block this action, locking the moisture in, leading to increased damage to the chimney especially during freeze/thaw cycles. This will repel moisture, acid rain and moisture mixes (dirt, soot from factories, etc.) from entering the chimney thereby extending the useable chimney life. As you can see in the first photo, at left, it rarely affects the appearance of the brick. .jpg) .jpg)
Posted by Karen Lamansky, Director of Marketing (Chimney Industry News) Permanent link
Preparing the chimney for tuckpointing involves demolition work, safety practices and knowledge of different types of masonry construction. Here are some of the issues to consider: How large of an area needs to be tuckpointed? Can it be tuckpointed or does the chimney need to be rebuilt? How deeply has the mortar eroded? Will you tuckpoint areas with hairline cracks between the brick and mortar or use a repair product like CrackMagik? Does the surface need to be cleaned or freed from debris such as vines and ivies as part of your evaluation? Does this chimney have historical significance that may require special permits? Will you be able to match the existing mortar texture and color?
 
Once these questions are answered, many photos should be taken to help plan the job. Be sure to get different angles of the chimney. Take photos of where you plan to place your ladder. Will there be direct access to the chimney? Are there shrubs, lawn ornaments or other things that could impair the placement of your ladder or scaffolding? Will falling chunks of mortar damage anything below the chimney? These and many other preparation considerations must be taken when planning the job.  
What type of tool will work best in this job situation? A masonry hammer and a tuckpointers plugging chisel? An angle grinder with a 1/4 diamond embedded tuckpointing wheel? Or, perhaps a power impact tool to remove the old mortar. While mechanical tools may make removal of mortar joints easier, it may also damage the brick or masonry units. In the case of historical buildings, only hand tools may be allowed. When tuckpointing, the mortar is usually removed to a depth of about 1/4" to a 1/2" or until the damaged is removed. Care should be taken not to damage surrounding masonry units. 
Also, make sure that the area is prepped to prevent damage to the structure surrounding the chimney. While drop cloths may be used on the ground, usage should be avoided on the roof to prevent slipping or falls. Posted by Karen Lamansky, Director of Marketing (Chimney Industry News) Permanent link
Most people think that since a masonry chimney is made of durable masonry products and mortar that it is virtually indestructible. Unfortunately, this belief is far from the truth. Take the Grand Canyon for example. As water eroded and formed the Grand Canyon, it can also deteriorate mortar joints in a chimney. Fast forward to today where there may be acid rain, pollution and debris from factories. This can lead to a more rapid deterioration of the chimney verses the conditions of 100 years ago. Meanwhile, the chimney flue can be exposed to the following: heat, acidic residue, cresosote, and debris, which can take a toll on the flue and mortar joints. If moisture combines with a residue, it can bring it through the residue through the mortar joints. Often this may now be a damaging acidic residue. One obvious sign that this is happening is the evidence of efflourescence. This is where white mineral salts are carried by moisture through the wall of the chimney as in the photo, below.  l
Masonry chimneys are usually built by skilled craft-workers. When properly built, in average masonry construction, mortar joints are serviciable for 35 years or more when properly installed. Masonry units such as brick or block usually have a service life of 100 years or more. However, a chimney tests this to the extreme. When a chimney inspection reveals cracked, deteriorated or missing mortar joints, tuckpointing restoration is necessary to repair the chimney and maintain the integrity of the system. Posted by Karen Lamansky, Director of Marketing (Chimney Industry News) Permanent link
Have you noticed that good leaders seem to draw followers without effort? Have you ever heard the phrase "Natural Born Leader"? A little known secret is that leaders are made, not born. Leaders work continually towards self-improvement. They just don't wake-up some day and become a leader. Being a good leader means developing character traits that evoke trust, admiration and respect. Here are some of the most important traits of an effective leader. Influence - leadership is about your ability to influence others. Navigation - leadership is about plotting the course, not just steering the ship. E.F. Hutton - when true leaders speak - people listen. Solid Ground - trust is the foundation of leadership. Trust must first be established before obtaining buy-in whether you are working with employees, vendors, customers or family. Respect - people naturally follow leaders who are stronger than themselves. When people are stronger, they garner respect. Intuition - leaders evaluate everything with leadership bias. Inner Circle - a leader's potential is determined by those closest to him - good attitudes, capabilities, positive outlook, etc Magnetism - who you are is who you attract. Do you draw positive, ambitious, motivated people? If not, change your attitude and your circle of influence. Connection - leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. They respect their employees, care about their families, etc... Do you know their spouses names? What are their children like? Empowerment - only secure leaders give power to others. Insecure people don't want to give up power. Instead they create a big funnel where everything has to move through them. They need to empower individuals to make decisions. Train 'em, trust 'em and turn them loose. Reproduction - it takes a leader to raise a leader. Can you step away from your company and will it continue to run effectively? Buy-in - people buy-in to a leader first, then a vision. Victory - leaders find a way for the team to win. Big Mo - momentum is a leaders best friend. A big project, success, etc,. carries momentum. Priorities: - leaders understand that activity does not necessarily mean accomplishment. List makers get 25% more done than anyone else when they prioritize their list. Relationships must be at the top of your priority list. Sacrifice - leaders understand that they must give up somethings to continue to move upward. Timing - when to lead is as important as what and how to do it. If someone is dragging fellow employees down, they should have been let them go sooner. Timing also applies to decisions such as when to go to different markets, etc. Explosive growth - to grow you need to lead followers. To expand - lead leaders. Owners should consider their time as $5000 - $10,0000 an hour. What can you pass on to your qualified staff tasks that could be actually costing your company time and money that you could be using effectively on other projects. Legacy - what do you leave behind? Customers will remember you, staff will remember you, others will remember your imprint/footprint. Posted by Karen Lamansky, Director of Marketing Based on David Pomeroy's presentation, the Keynote Speaker at the National Chimney Sweep Guild Show. (Business Building) Permanent link
A leader is defined by this process: one person who influences others to accomplish objectives while making the process more cohesive and coherent. Have you ever noticed that great leaders seem to collect followers? They may even seem to be a "natural born leader". Perhaps they have a charisma that attracts people like a magnet. Well, here's a secret. Leaders are not born, they are MADE. If you possess the desire, willpower and drive to become an effective leader, you are already halfway there. An effective leader not only shares their beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge and skills, but they live them by example. Being a great leader requires continual work and study. Good leaders are constantly improving their life and relationship skills. This includes self study, education, experience and on-going training. So the next time you find yourself admiring a great leader, learn their story. Where did they start? How did they get there? How long did it take? Posted by Karen Lamansky, Director of Marketing, Lindemann Chimney Supply (Chimney Industry News) Permanent link
Yes, it’s that time already! Did you know that the end of the burning season is the best time to clean and maintain your heating equipment for fall? Often chimney sweeps offer better pricing in the spring. Like snow tires, everybody waits till the storm is eminent before shopping. The same is true for chimneys. That means your sweep is under the gun in the fall, so price breaks are not the norm. The spring is also a good time to clean out the system so that smelly, corrosive creosote build-up doesn’t sit in the system all summer, causing odors and possible breakdown of liners and pipes.
Don’t forget to clean the ashes out of the stove, too. Check your door gasket. The basic rule of thumb is that if you can close a dollar bill in the door and then pull it out with the door latched, it’s time to replace the gasket. Many serious wood burners also keep a pot of water on the a stove to help keep the humidity in check. Often the water spills on the stove top causing rust. Spring is the perfect time of year to touch up the stove and pipe with a high temperature stove paint.
Check your masonry work as well. Are there loose bricks, missing mortar, or other apparent damage? Now is the time to repair, waterproof and rebuild any defective areas.
If you are in an area that is inhabited by chimney swifts, and you want birds in your fireplace or woodstove, you may want to have your sweep remove your chimney cap to provide nesting for these beautiful creatures. Be sure to have him stop back in the early fall to check for abandoned nests and replace your cap. If you don't have a cap, now's the time to invest in a cap or a top-sealing damper to prevent animals from nesting in your chimney/fireplace/woodstove. Caps also protect against rain, leaf and debris entry.
Remember, there is no good reason to procrastinate! It’s less expensive, more protective, and the peace of mind that an early storm won’t catch you unprepared is priceless! And maybe... just maybe, you should consider a deal on next year’s snow tires as well! Posted by Chuck Phillips, Business Coach, Northeast Region
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