Entries by writer

Masonry chimneys and fires

The pictures show the inside of a chimney which has cracks and also the outside and top with a cracked crown. Signs you have had a chimney fire: You may have had a dangerous fire in your chimney which has compromised the structure of your chimney, and not even know it.  It is estimated that […]

Is your fireplace a fire hazard?

This is the first in a series of articles to warn consumers about possible fire hazards in their homes. If your chimney looks similar to the one pictured, it is probably a Rampart General pre-cast cement fireplace.  These were manufactured in Santa Ana from the early 1960’s to the mid 1990’s.  There are whole communities […]

Fireplace built in 1933

Old but not abandoned. This fireplace was built in 1933 restored in 76and 2015 after the flood. It was originally attached to a picnic shelter that collapsed during the flood of 2013 — at Lavern M Johnson Park.

Why all pre-cast chimneys should be inspected prior to close of escrow

Here is a quote from a property inspection report done  by a property inspection company last week on a home in Lake Forest: “Pre-cast concrete chimneys were built in factories and then trucked to a site and erected, as distinct from masonry chimneys that are built on site with individual bricks and mortar.  In this […]