To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Despite the mildest winter on record for most of us, Spring has arrived. To me Spring is the season of growth. You look outside and nature is busy growing. The plants are busy growing taller and wider. The animals are busy multiplying. For us humans, Spring often represents growth. To some it is a begins with a good Spring cleaning. For others it starts with a spiritual renewal. In many ways we all begin to prepare for growth in all aspects of our life.

Spring is also a season for growth in our businesses. The busy season is now over. It is time to reflect on what worked and what didn't. It is time to reflect on last year's goals and set new ones. If you haven't realized it by now Lindemann Chimney Co., wants to help you with this. We want to be a partner in your growth. We've spent decades in the field and countless hours with our customers learning what works and what doesn't.

We want to leverage all this experience and customize a program that works for you. We can help you with getting your phone to ring, financing your business, adding your first employee, training employees, pay structuring, sales coaching, marketing and much more. The bottom line is if you partner with us we partner with you. We are willing and uniquely qualified to help you achieve your goals. If you are interested, just reach out to us. My email is rob@lindemannchimney.com. I am very diligent about returning emails, so if for some reason I do not please call, my spam filter may have grabbed it. Our toll-free line is 800-722-7230.

Looking forward to growing together. Rob Lindemann

Written by Rob Lindemann, CEO, Lindemann Chimney Co.

ChimneySaver is the industries' top choice for waterproofing. It actually changes the polarity of the chimney surface to the same as water. This makes the masonry repel water like two negative ends of a magnet. Since it contains almost no solids the chimney can still breathe. This is important because moisture inside the chimney can still wick through to the exterior whereas solids would trap the moisture leading to freeze/thaw damage.

To apply ChimneySaver it's important to use a sprayer with a variable spray head from a straight stream to a flat fan spray. You should start at the base and work your way up. When runoff starts to appear 6" below the spray pattern it's time to move the spray head up. Coverage ranges for a brick wall are 100 – 200 square feet per gallon, concrete 75 - 125, concrete block 50 - 125, stucco and limestone 75 - 150.

The most important part of applying ChimneySaver is the prep work before hand. Overspray and spills can stain shingles, paint, windows, siding, etc. It's important to lay down Sorbent Pads at the base of the chimney. Don't spray on a windy day and protect adjacent parts of the structure with tarps. Cover, protect or move anything that would be on the ground near the chimney base or where overspray could drift.

Treated bricks and a demo bubbler are available to show the homeowner the affects of ChimneySaver. Sales brochures are also available.

From the homeowners point of view they may have dealt with a stained or leaking chimney. Since they can't see ChimneySaver in action unless it's raining, it's very important to make sure they know it won't change the surface or appearance of the brick. They need to understand the value of the application. They are purchasing a chimney "coating" with the following benefits: stain-resistance, leak-proofing, better smelling (less moisture for stinky smells) all while retaining the same visual appeal. With a ten year warranty they won't have to think about it for another 10 years and as a side affect their chimney will be preserved with less future maintenance.

Stained chimneys are an eyesore and should be cleaned before waterproofing. Stains such as rust, efflorescence (white mineral salts), smoke stains, mortar splash, algae, mold, mildew and more can be cleaned with Brick & Mortar Cleaner from SaverSystems. It can be used full strength on the toughest part of the stain and then diluted for general cleaning. It has no harmful fumes and is safer to use than muriatic acid (which pre-dates WWII). Application is with a pump sprayer and a stiff non-fiber metal brush should be used for cleaning. This chemical can be used on stone, brick and other masonry materials except limestone. Each gallon cleans 50-150 square feet per gallon depending on dilution. Sales brochures available.

From the homeowners point of view their chimney is damaged. It has ugly stains on it and they may think the only way to take care of the problem is to tear it down and replace it or have some of the dirty brick replaced. But they can't afford it. And it's way too difficult for them to tackle. They may not know that there is an alternative. Showing them before and after photos of other chimneys and/or the product brochure will help them to see that there is hope for their chimney. They will also be more likely to consider a waterproofing job, stainless steel chimney cap or chimney top fireplace damper to avoid having this problem again.

Flashing repair can be done quickly, easily and profitably using FlashSeal. It is painted on with a paint brush, then the FlashSeal Reinforcement Fabric is set into the first coating, then a second coating covers the fabric creating a strong, secure, sealed sandwich affect. Use painters tape around the base and top of the flashing for quick and easy clean-up as well as leaving a neat line along the repair. FlashSeal covers about 28 linear feet per gallon. The Reinforcement Fabric is 6" X 150'. You can often get multiple jobs out of one container. Sales brochures available.

From the homeowner's point of view they are saving money having the flashing repaired vs. They also have the option of having it done in white, brown or black to more closely match the aesthetics of their home. The rusty, dirty, damaged flashing will "go away" to be replaced by something much more attractive. And, as an added benefit, it will help to stop leaks and preserve their chimney, roofing structure and walls in the home. They also won't have to think about it again for another 7 years.

There are many levels and options for chimney crown repairs. The deciding factor is how much damage the crown is exhibiting. The bigger the cracks or damage the more labor intensive the repairs. To protect a crown and/or repair hairline cracks then CrownCoat is a good option. If there is more damage – wider cracks or a lot of cracks, then CrownSeal is a better option since it can be applied thicker than CrownCoat. For slightly uneven surfaces, larger cracks or when a thicker repair is desired then CrownSaver is the best choice. If the crown is past the point of repair, the Ahrens Crown Forms make crown replacement the best solution.

CrownCoat is applied with a 3" or 4"paint brush so the surface must be relatively smooth with minimal damage. It's premixed and ready to use. It forms a lasting waterproof membrane and is a great product for prevention of deterioration or when hairline cracks are present. Apply a thin coat with a paint brush and follow with a heavier top coat. Cures completely in 2-4 hours and covers 40-square feet per gallon. It has the appearance of a light concrete but mortar dyes can be used. Sales brochures are available. CrownCoat has a 15-year warranty. Cold Weather CrownCoat has a 10-year warranty.

From the homeowner's point of view CrownCoat will brighten their old dirty stained crown, seal up small cracks, prevent or eliminate leaks and protect like a rubber umbrella coating. This will increase the life of the chimney with a minimum investment, all for less than the price of replacing the crown. And they won't have to worry about it for 10 or 15 years.

CrownSeal is applied with a trowel and is used when larger cracks are present. It's a premixed elastomeric coating that forms a flexible waterproof membrane. Drying time is 6 hours and curing time is about 24 hours. Coverage is approximately 14 – 18 square feet at 1/8" thickness per gallon. Appearance is that of a natural concrete color. Mortar dyes may be used. It has a ten-year warranty and sales brochures are available.

From the homeowner's point of view CrownSeal will brighten their old dirty stained crown, seal up bigger cracks, eliminate leaks and protect like a rubber umbrella type coating. This will increase the life of the chimney with a minimum investment all for less than the price of replacing the crown. And they don't have to worry about it for ten years.

CrownSaver is for those crowns that may be a little heavier damaged such as uneven surfaces, large cracks, etc. It is a blend of polymer modified hydraulic cements and powdered water repellents. To apply, first cover the crown with FormFoil which forms a bond break. It is a sticky, rubber backed, aluminum foil flashing (sold separately). Then mix one scoop of CrownSaver with three scoops of clean, fine, mason's sand and water. Trowel over the FormFoil at about a 1/2" thickness (1/4" to 2" thickness maximum). Sold in 28-pound pails, coverage averages about 30 square feet at 1/2" thickness for a 5-gallon container. Sales brochures are available and it includes a ten-year warranty. 

From the homeowner's point of view CrownSaver will brighten their old dirty stained crown, seal up big cracks, repair the surface, eliminate leaks and protect like a regular cement type crown – more of a permanent fixture than the rubbery type products. This will increase the life of the chimney with a minimum investment all for less than the price of replacing the crown. In their mind, they won't have to worry about this for ten years.

Ahrens Crown Forms are lightweight Styrofoam forms that are easy to work with, yet when assembled, are strong enough to withstand the weight of a crown. These forms include a built-in drip edge and a 2" overhang. They also offer two styles: Top Rib or Victorian. When you order a style, each box includes six 5' 4" long forms, a miter box, support wires and instructions. Use the 12" Styro-Form Support Triangles for every installation where they will fit. If the 12" forms are too large, then use the 8" Support Triangles, each sold in a box of 4. Be sure to order the appropriate Support Triangles, 15' Ratchet Strap and Concrete Release Agent, all sold separately.

From the homeowner's point of view they are making an aesthetic investment in their chimney. This fancy new crown will be the best looking one in the neighborhood, giving their home more curb appeal than their neighbors. After all, their chimney is a focal point and lets everyone know they are wealthy enough to have a fireplace/fireplaces. The crown style will match the aesthetics of the home, making it look newer, with a minimum investment.

If you are not currently offering chimney crown repairs then you are missing out on a very important service for your customers that is also profitable. For more information on crown repair please contact us by clicking here or call us at one of the following locations: Albany, NY 877-722-7230; Atlanta, GA 866-450-3111 or Chicago, IL 800-722-7230.

It has been twenty years since I bought my home. I got married last October and my wife mentioned that we now need a bigger house! We certainly were not in a hurry, but thought we'd go ahead and check out properties and visit some open houses on Sunday afternoon's.

We met our realtor Erin at the first open house we visited. She inquired as to where I worked. I told her Lindemann Chimney and she mentioned that her company uses Lindemann Chimney Service all the time. When we found the new home of our dreams, the seller's realtor also mentioned that they use Lindemann Chimney Service all the time.

Never underestimate the importance of a realtor because they are very important people to have in your business network. Whether you send a letter to every realtor in your area or stop by and make a personal visit, they should know who you are, be very comfortable with your business and what services you provide. After all, they are the hub of who is buying and selling their homes. With the average turnover of 5-7 years, your customer base is literally on the move.

Now that we found the house we wanted, all the fun began. In the process of buying a home you need a home inspection by a good home inspector who should be another important person in your business network. Our house did have a wood burning fireplace but I wasn't confident that he knew a lot about this aspect of the house. In his final report he did mention that the fireplace should be inspected by a Certified Chimney Professional.

Last month our head sweep did a presentation to about forty home inspectors in the Chicago area. This is a great way to network and have a lot of home inspectors know your company name! What I'm getting at is they need to know who you are, be comfortable with your company and what services you provide.

Something I found at the seller's home during the inspection was a $50.00 gift card from Lindemann Chimney Service on a bulletin board. I'm proud to be a part of a company who finds a way to get our name out there. Our guys work hard to market our company in creative and traditional ways. As a result, our service company stays busy throughout the entire year with little or no down time.

Written by Tim Freberg, Director of Operations, Midwest and Western States.

It's that time of the year. Chimneys are stained and leaking, animals are nesting and the weather is great! Did your company book spring chimney repairs when cleaning last fall? How good are your employees at conveying the need for repairs and closing the sale?

Often technicians get so caught up in selling the functionality of a product or service that they fail to present the solution in a way that the homeowner can identify with. For instance, if you want to purchase a computer for your business and the computer salesman rattles off technical details about a processor, RAM, Mhz, hard drive specifics — do you really care? Most importantly, you are probably looking for the capabilities of running your accounting, customer data, marketing software and other business specialty applications. Well, it's not so different when it comes to "chimney speak".

"Chimney speak" is the technical terms we use to describe construction (corbels), methods (troweling), procedures (Level I, II, III Inspections), etc., that we use in our every day work language. If we use "chimney speak", how can we expect homeowners to understand or care about what we are saying and keep them from mentally "checking out" of the conversation?

Homeowners recognize the signs and not necessarily the function. For instance, they may see white stains on the chimney. They don't care that it's called efflorescence, they just know it doesn't look good. Terms they may recognize are white stains, rust stains (flashing/chimney cap), dirty chimney (exterior), fallen chunks of mortar or brick, leaking chimney, chimney odors, funny colored brick (spalling) and no chimney cover.

It seems only natural that the homeowner also doesn't understand how the functionality of these issues affect them. Sometimes putting the issue in different terms "Your open chimney is like a giant rain gauge" will get their attention. Or "Lack of a premium quality damper is like living with an open window". And be sure to sell the features and benefits of the solution you are presenting. Speaking of solutions, it's always a great idea to offer them a good, better, best option if available. For instance, single-flue galvanized cap - good, single-flue stainless cap - better and multi-flue stainless steel cap - best.

Many sweeps have success with before and after photos of previous jobs. It's also helpful to take a photo of their damaged crown, etc., with a familiar landmark (their yard, car, etc.,) in the background. This helps them see at "eye level" what they may can't see from the ground.

How are your employees closing the sale? Are they first using a trial close - "Would you like to stop the chimney from leaking?". A further question on the homeowner's part usually means they still have some questions in their mind or they don't understand the value of preventing further damage to their system. When you feel they understand then ask when you can schedule the work. Sometimes they may bring up legitimate concerns such as the decision-maker not being available or affordability. The key is to work with them on these concerns to make it happen. Practice role playing in your business on a regular basis so everyone is comfortable with overcoming objections. If done correctly, filming and then critiquing sales presentations can be fun and can build confidence.

By leading your employees and building confidence in closing sales you will be paving the way for more chimney repair business. When they can relate to the homeowner in their "language" and on their terms it will break the barrier of communication and you should book more business. With this early spring you could book more repair work than ever before.

Written by Jeff Wiles, President, Lindemann Chimney Co.