Category Archives: Fireplace Repairs

03
May
The Masonry Season Well Under Way!
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The Masonry Season Well Under Way!

Every year, the question we ask at Wilkens Masonry is: when can we get back to work!? The main barrier we face in the masonry repair and restoration industry is the weather. For larger jobs, we can avoid the cold and wet weather of the winter months by closing jobs in with a series of tarps and scaffolding and then install job site heaters. For smaller repair jobs, the cost would be too high. So, we find ourselves waking up in March and April, and checking the weather before we even have our first cup of coffee.

This year though, we’ve had a streak of good luck! The masonry season has begun and we are off and running. The weather turned in our favour at the beginning of April and we are finally able to get to all of our wonderful customers who have been waiting for Mother Nature to play ball! We are so happy to be back at it and can’t wait for the weather to get warmer and warmer.

What To Look For On My House

Now that the weather has stabilized, it is a good time to take a walk around your home and look for signs of brick, mortar and other forms of masonry deterioration. Look for discolourations that show where water has saturated the wall. Identify areas where the brick and mortar appear to be softer or seem to be flaking off. These are spots on the wall that are being effected by the weather and, while the cause of the deterioration needs to be addressed, reinforcing the masonry is a good idea.

Honesty And Ethics With Your Quote

The trades and restoration, with masonry as no exception, are home to all types of people and companies. When dealing with any company, you should always trust your feelings with the person who is trying to sell you on having them perform your work. There are many outfits that can do good work, but they aren’t always  a pleasure to deal with. At Wilkens, we aim to show you that honesty and ethics in the world of masonry are not forgotten concepts or simply a banner to add to your website’s homepage. These are two ideas that are at our very core and philosophy as a company. You can learn more about us here

Give us a Call for a Free Estimate!

At Wilkens masonry, our estimates are always free. We serve the Toronto and Hamilton areas. We will come by and give you an honest assessment coupled with a fair price for the services we deliver. Also, if the scope of work is something we don’t cover, we can always point you in the right direction of a company that can service your needs.

Check us out on Homestars and Google! You can also Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

 

15
Jul
Update the fireplace in my Toronto home
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Update the fireplace in my Toronto home

A fireplace is a popular feature to have in a home, and in older homes it was originally a valuable source of heat. Today they’re prized as room focal points that add extra ambience when lit. Over the years, however, an old wood-burning fireplace can become less efficient, a hassle to maintain and a source of dirt and mess in a home. Some older fireplaces may also have inherent design flaws that make using them harder than need be. Getting rid of the fireplace isn’t an ideal option because you’ll lose the character it adds to the room. Updating your old fireplace is easy and comes with several benefits that will make your love your fireplace even more. If you are looking for a fireplace update in your Toronto home, then Wilkens Contracting can help!

You can save money!

Older fireplaces can be drafty and aren’t an efficient heating source, 90% of the heat escapes through the chimney rather than entering the home when using a traditional wood burning fireplace. When you’re running the heat in the colder months some of it likely is escaping through the chimney or settled fireplace surround, sapping money as much as a drafty window or door. This problem can be easily solved by upgrading your old fireplace with a wood or pellet burning insert. Unlike freestanding wood or pellet stoves, inserts fit nicely in pre-existing fireplace openings. They’re generally sealed with a door, eliminating the draft problem. These highly efficient units create less mess since they’re enclosed and will keep the smoke from getting into the house. These styles of inserts can also heat a larger area than traditional fireplaces.

Increase the value of your home!

Because fireplaces are such desirable features, having a home with a lovely, new, efficient fireplace can increase the value of your house. Gas and electric fireplace inserts are more energy efficient and create a smaller carbon footprint since they don’t emit smoke. Being green is a popular feature with today’s environmentally conscious homeowners and home buyers. Having a beautiful fireplace that you can additionally list as energy efficient and recently updated can add value to your home when you’re ready to sell.

Update your home’s look!

While a fireplace itself is a timeless home feature, trends and designs come and go over time. You might find yourself loving the idea of having a fireplace but hating the ugly monstrosity in your home, especially if its aesthetic doesn’t match the rest of your home decor and design.

A simple facelift and upgrade can dramatically update the look and efficiency of your existing fireplace.

For all of your fireplace updating needs in Toronto, Wilkens Contracting has got your back! Contact us by clicking here! We can’t wait to hear from you!

 

 

 

20
Jun
How To Check Fireplaces For Hazards In Toronto Homes
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How To Check Fireplaces For Hazards In Toronto Homes

Lighting up a fire in your fireplace creates a sense of coziness and relaxation, but when a fireplace or chimney falls into disrepair, calming feelings can quickly turn into panic and danger. Learn how to check fireplaces for hazards in Toronto homes, so you don’t fall victim to a house fire and the ensuing damage and destruction it causes. In this article by Wilkens Contracting, we will go over some of the signs of a damaged fireplace and what you should do in those cases, so continue below to find out how to safely examine the hearth of your home.

Look Over Your Firebox

The firebox is the area of the fireplace where you build your fire on the inner hearth. It is essential to check the interior of this section, examining the lining for any cracks or gaps and noticeable signs of wear. If you do spot these things, then call a professional for repair services. If left untreated, and the fireplace continues to see use, you could cause severe and permanent damage to your home.

Examine The Area For Smoke Stains

One of the most noticeable signs that your fireplace could be hazardous to use is the telltale markings of smoke stains. If you notice these stains on the ceiling, or above the fireplace opening, the inner workings of your fireplace are damaged and need professional repairs.

Check Your Chimney, and it’s Cap

The chimney cap is a covering that sits atop your home’s chimney on the outside, ensuring that outside debris, animals, and rainwater do not enter the chimney and reach the fireplace. Make sure your chimney cap is secure, and while you’re at it, examine the overall state of the stack itself. As chimneys are open to environmental conditions year-round, inspecting the structural integrity of your chimney is a must when considering fireplace hazards.

The Wood You Use

When you check for fireplace hazards, you should not only check the fireplace and chimney but consider looking at the wood you use to fuel your fire as well. Make sure not to use chemicals such as gasoline, kerosene, or charcoal starters. Do not use painted or pressure-treated wood, as they are known to produce toxic chemicals in the home. Wet and rotten wood, as well as diseased or mouldy wood pieces,  should be avoided as well.

Enlist Our Help

With these pointers in mind, individuals can check fireplaces for hazards in Toronto homes easily and efficiently. If you have thoroughly examined your fireplace, and have noticed signs of damage, then give us a call at Wilkens Contracting, and we would be more than happy to facilitate the required repairs! We offer a free estimate to the Greater Toronto Area, so give us a call today and secure yourself one now.

Please click here to find our contact information online, and tell us about your fireplace needs.

04
May
Hire Contractors For Building Toronto Fireplaces
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Hire Contractors For Building Toronto Fireplaces

The hearth has always had a special place in our homes, as it has been the heart of civilizations since we began constructing shelters thousands of years ago. The hearth gave us light and heat, it was where we cooked our food and gathered together on long nights to weave stories and build cultures. Since then, the hearth has grown into an even more personal and intimate space within each of our homes, becoming a sanctum and retreat from the busy world outside of our doors. With such important connotations and a history of providing warmth and comfort to humanity everywhere, homes should be equipped with fireplaces that reflect their grandeur. If you are looking to hire contractors for building Toronto fireplaces, then we here ay Wilkens Contracting can help! To learn more about what we can do for you and your home, please keep reading below.

Family Run Business

As a family based company, we treat all of our employees, and clients, as if they were part of the family, providing attentive customer care and performing all of our jobs with respect and dignity. Your home is a very personal space, and our expert team will always conduct themselves respectfully under your roof, discussing your project in a friendly and open manner, always cleaning up after themselves when the job is done.

The Results You Want

We are highly capable of producing a fireplace that works with your home aesthetic and fits your personal style, as we offer our clients a wide range of building materials to choose from. Whether you would like a fireplace that grabs the eye and ties in the design of the entire room, or you want something a little more quaint and comfortable, we have the skills and experience to create the perfect hearth.

Hire Us Today

So if you are looking to hire trusted contractors for building Toronto fireplaces, we can aid you in your endeavours! By enlisting our help at Wilkens Contracting, you are assured courteous service and quality work, as we use our experience and skills to create a fireplace that works for you, and encapsulates the importance of the hearth in your home.

Please click here to find our contact information online, and let us know how we can help you attain a beautiful and functioning fireplace that you can enjoy for many years to come.

10
Jan
Benefits Of A Fireplace In My Home
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Benefits Of A Fireplace In My Home

Some things in life can’t be beaten; the pristine beauty of a winter’s first snowfall, being the first one to jump into that untouched snow, and the feeling you get after coming in from the cold outdoors, stripping off those wet clothes, and thawing out in front of a warm fire. Looking to indulge yourself this winter in much the same way, but your fireplace has fallen into disrepair? No need to worry! Wilkens Contracting offers the GTA expert fireplace repairs and builds for those looking to benefit from a fire this winter.

 Heating

Eco-friendly heating, or just a great alternative to using electricity, a fireplace is a perfect way to heat your home. Light a fire to add a little extra warmth to your home, on top of your electricity, or use it as a sole source of heating and cut down on your energy costs!

 What’s best, if the power ever goes out, especially during the winter, you will have your fireplace to keep you warm.

 Cozy

What’s better than snuggling up to the fire with a big blanket, a cup of tea, and a great book? Not much, that’s what! Fireplaces offer a space to recline and unwind, letting the warmth seep through your bones and muscles to reach optimum relaxation.

 Alone, or huddled around the crackling flames with family and friends, there is nothing cozier than spending some quality time in front of your fireplace.

Ambiance

The ambiance of a fireplace can completely change the dynamic of the room. Set a blazing fire to completely light up the room during those cold, dark winter nights, or keep a small flame alight for those romantic dinner plans of yours. Whatever your intentions, using a fireplace to set the mood will make your space feel that much more warm and inviting for you and your guests.

That’s where we come in, as Wilkens Contracting has decades of experience in repairing and maintaining the proper safety standards of fireplaces and chimneys across the GTA. Whether you are in the market for repairs, rebuilds, or a new fireplace, Wilkens Contracting has you covered!

Contact us online or visit our facility in person to get your fireplace builds and repairs underway with us this season!

28
Nov
Toronto Fireplaces
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Wilkens Contracting and Toronto Fireplaces

Fireplaces have been at the center of hearth and home since the construction of shelters within our species’ history. They act as a source of heat, light, and food, fireplaces can be defined as the heart of our homes. Wilkens Contracting in Toronto focuses a great deal of energy and time perfecting our fireplaces as a means to provide our clients with a healthy heartbeat for their homes.

To learn what Wilkens Contracting can do for you and your fireplace, read on for more details!

Expert Service

Fire has been the driving force behind human evolution, and as such, fireplaces have become a gathering place for human interaction. Serving as a focal point in a room, Wilkens Contracting understands the importance of fireplaces in your Toronto based homes. Our company has been building, reconstructing, and repairing wood-burning fireplaces for over thirty-five years now, making us experts in the industry.

Since our conception in 1977, Wilkens Contracting has been the leading fireplace restoration company in the Toronto area. If you or someone you know are looking to entrust the heart of their homes to construction- you have come to the right place. Here at Wilkens Contracting, we provide top quality services to all of our clients. Take a look at our testimonials to see just how serious we take our business!

Materials Galore

Wilkens Contracting offers their Toronto clients an array of materials to use in the construction and repair of their fireplaces. Whether you are looking for a fireplace that will act as the eye-catching focal point, match the elegant interior of your home, or the unique personality of your furniture, we have the materials for you!

Many clients ask us to completely rebuild their fireplaces to match modern designs and contemporary looks. We are happy to revitalize your hearth as a means to breath new life back into the home. Wilkens Contracting offers a host of materials to achieve your desired look. The facade of your fireplace can be built, or rebuilt, with marble, tiles, stone, brick, or slate to suit you and your home’s design.

We can be the cardiologist of the contracting industry- resurrecting your fireplace to become the heart of your hearth and home. Overall, Wilkens Contracting can provide all of our prospective Toronto clients with the fireplaces they deserve!

Get in contact with a member of our team online or through the phone (416-425-8055) to start your fireplace revitalization today!

22
Oct
Fireplaces with Wilkens Contracting
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Fireplaces with Wilkens Contracting

Wilkens Contracting knows what we are doing when it comes to all things fireplaces. If you are in need of repairs or rebuilds for your fireplace and are located in the Greater Toronto area than Wilkens Contracting is for you!

Our family based company is fully licensed and wholly knowledgeable when it comes to masonry restorations. Continue to browse this post to discover why Wilkens Contracting is the best in the business when it comes to repairing and rebuilding your fireplaces!

Expertise You Can Trust

We have been working with fireplaces for over four decades now and understand the care needed to keep your hearth in optimal condition. In that time, our company has seen many types of fireplaces in all kinds of disrepair. Our expertise comes from the extensive experience we have gained while working in the GTA.

Our fireplace expertise spans repairs, builds and rebuilds, facade updates, and more. Wilkens Contracting understands the type of weather conditions Canada has, so we are very knowledgeable when it comes to repairing the weather damage most prominent in this region. No matter what your fireplace material consists of, we have all of your bases covered at Wilkens Contracting, as we work with brick, marble, tiles, stone, and slate.

Fireplace Anatomy

You would not trust your health with a medical doctor who does not understand the human anatomy- and so you should not trust your fireplace with a contractor who does not understand the inner workings of fireplaces. Here at Wilkens Contracting, we can provide top of the line services for all kinds of fireplaces, because we know the shape of such things.

It is crucial to understand the terminology and anatomy of what makes up a fireplace when dealing with them. Head on over to our Fireplace Anatomy Page to see a full diagram and terminology list. We provide this information to our clients so that we can discuss your repairs transparently, so you understand the step by step process to revitalize your fireplace without fear of miscommunication or misrepresentation.

Estimates

We offer a free masonry estimate to all of our potential clients as a way to show our sincerity at transparency. Just provide us with your contact information and what you are looking to have repaired or replaced, and we will get back to you in a timely manner.

Contact us online or visit our facility in person to get your fireplace repairs underway with Wilkens Contracting.

 

19
Jul
Fireplace Repairs in Toronto
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Wilkens Contracting Inc. has been the leader in fireplace restoration in Toronto since 1977. We only work on masonry fireplaces only. Forty plus years of building and maintaining wood burning fireplaces only makes us very knowledgeable on the subject.

The main things to check on a fireplace are the condition of the hearth extension, the solidity of the firebrick interior and the operation of the damper. If your fireplace is smoking into the room it is usually caused by one of the following. The opening is too large for the chimney flue size, the damper is not high enough above the top of the opening or someone has placed a flue tile at the chimney top which is restricting the drought.

At Wilkens Contracting Inc. we are often asked to redesign the fireplace completely. With new renovations being done some of the older designs don’t fit in. We can completely rebuild the fireplace into the original structure giving you a fireplace that suits the new look of your home. That being said, many homes have stunning fireplaces and the design of the room can be worked around the fireplace itself.

Fireplace Room

Fireplaces have been around since before the wheel. They are not mysterious and properly used they are not dangerous. We don’t deal in gas or electric units because we are a masonry company, and personally, we feel a wood burning fireplace is simply the most pleasurable fireplace to have. Take a look at the main web site at Wilkens.ca and you will find the anatomy of a fireplace. This will help you understand the structure and will also help you check the various parts of your fireplace to ensure its operational design. If you are looking for fireplace repairs in the Toronto area, feel free to call us and we will surely be able to help you have the fireplace you are looking for.

 

 

14
May
Fireplace Repairs Toronto
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Wilkens Contracting Inc. has been the leader in fireplace restoration in Toronto since 1977. We only work on masonry fireplaces only. Forty plus years of building and maintaining wood burning fireplaces only makes us very knowledgeable on the subject.

The main things to check on a fireplace are the condition of the hearth extension, the solidity of the firebrick interior and the operation of the damper. If your fireplace is smoking into the room it is usually caused by one of the following. The opening is too large for the chimney flue size, the damper is not high enough above the top of the opening or someone has placed a flue tile at the chimney top which is restricting the drought.

At Wilkens Contracting Inc. we are often asked to redesign the fireplace completely. With new renovations being done some of the older designs don’t fit in. We can completely rebuild the fireplace into the original structure giving you a fireplace that suits the new look of your home. That being said, many homes have stunning fireplaces and the design of the room can be worked around the fireplace itself.

Fireplaces have been around since before the wheel. They are not mysterious and properly used they are not dangerous. We don’t deal in gas or electric units because we are a masonry company and personally we feel a wood burning fireplace is simply the most pleasurable fireplace to have. Take a look at the main web site at Wilkens.ca and you will find the anatomy of a fireplace. This will help you understand the structure and will also help you check the various parts of your fireplace to ensure its operational design. Feel free to call us and we will surely be able to help you have the fireplace you would like.

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