A New Year is a time for fresh starts, and not only do people start diets, change hairstyles, and take up new hobbies or practices after the calendar starts over...they start looking around their homes and wondering if it’s time to give the house a makeover, too.

At American Chimney, we pride ourselves on our masonry work. 30 years of experienced craftsmanship goes into our consultation and construction, and it informs the products we choose to use on the projects that clients retain us to complete.

When you’re considering the long term life and health of your chimney and other masonry, applying a water repellent solution is key, not only to maintain aesthetic appeal but also to forestall expensive repairs down the line.

Purchasing firewood that is already seasoned from a trusted distributor is one way to ensure that you are using fuel for your fireplace that will help it perform the way it should, but if you’re gathering your own wood, following the correct procedure for seasoning is essential to forestall potential fire problems.

As heating implements, pellet stoves offer the perfect balance between building a wood fire and the push-of-a-button convenience of gas fireplaces. They can provide the ignition ease of gas and the heat generation capacity of wood, with a quaint look that’s customizable, if you look at the right brands.

Although cooking and baking outdoors is a year round possibility, summer is probably the pinnacle of grilling season. Nothing says “Summer” like hot dogs, burgers, and steaks on the grill, cooked to perfection alongside buttery ears of corn or other, more imaginative side dishes.