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Blackstone | Our Blog

Tips, News & Expert Advice

Chimney safety tips, maintenance guides, and answers to the questions homeowners ask us most. Written by our crew.

San Fernando & Conejo Valley

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Booked Before the First Fire

Repairs Set for Dry Weeks

Next Visit Date on Every Report

Inspections to NFPA 211

Phones Open 7 AM to 7 PM

Sherman Oaks Based

Booked Before the First Fire

Repairs Set for Dry Weeks

Next Visit Date on Every Report

Inspections to NFPA 211

Phones Open 7 AM to 7 PM

Sherman Oaks Based

A man lights a wood stove inside a cozy room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Remodels

Oct 29, 2026•5 min read

Fireplace Contractor in Sherman Oaks, Booked by Season

Choosing a fireplace contractor in Sherman Oaks: how a remodel is scheduled, what sets the price, and what to ask for in a written quote.

Close-up of hands opening and maintaining a warm fireplace for a cozy indoor setting.

Gas

Oct 29, 2026•5 min read

Gas Fireplace Repair in Sherman Oaks, Booked Ahead

Gas fireplace repair in Sherman Oaks: what a technician checks, what sets the price, and how to book before cold weather fills the calendar.

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Inspections

Feb 20, 2026•8 min read

How Chimneys Built Before Modern Seismic Bracing Move During an Earthquake

A masonry chimney raised decades ago was rarely tied to the house the way current construction requires. Here is how that older connection responds when the ground shakes across Studio City and the surrounding valley.

Orange roof tiles and chimney casting long shadows under a bright blue sky.

Guides

Feb 14, 2026•8 min read

Prefabricated Fireplaces and Original Masonry Do Not Age the Same Way

Tract construction across the valley shifted from full masonry chimneys to factory-built metal systems as the decades went on. Here is why telling the two apart changes what an inspection or repair actually needs to cover.

From below of exterior of contemporary building facade made of red brick under cloudy sky

Maintenance

Feb 8, 2026•8 min read

The Firebox and Smoke Chamber Behind an Original Masonry Fireplace

The materials and hand methods used to build a firebox and smoke chamber decades ago were different from what goes into new construction. Here is how that original build shows its age from the inside.

Equipment

Feb 1, 2026•7 min read

What the Damper on Your Fireplace Says About When It Was Built

Damper hardware changed as building practices moved through the decades. Here is how to read the style installed in your fireplace and what decades of use typically do to it.

Tips

Jan 25, 2026•8 min read

Reading the Mortar Your Chimney Was Actually Built With

Mortar mixes and application methods used decades ago were not identical to what goes into a repair today. Here is why matching the original mix matters when tuckpointing an older masonry chimney.

Safety

Jan 18, 2026•8 min read

Flashing Methods Have Changed Since Your Chimney First Met the Roof

The way a chimney was sealed to the roof decades ago was not always built to last as long as the masonry around it. Here is how older flashing methods differ from current practice, and what that means for water intrusion today.

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