Yes, you will be told it’s not ideal to do chimney repairs when the weather is less than ideal. There are several reasons for this, the primary one is that mortars do not set properly when temperatures are lower. Another reason is safety, roofs...

Dayco General Masonry and Concrete Experts
Resources to help you decide what is best for your chimney, masonry, and concrete constructed areas of your home or business. Dayco General is here for all your residential and commercial needs.
Brick Manufacturing
Brick manufacturing is a straightforward process. We use any of these style bricks and sometimes reused bricks as well. Bricks are very universal and such a green building material. They last a very long time, but not forever. There are 3 common...
Building Code History and It’s Importance
Here is a little bit about the history of Masonry Building Codes and How We Fit into It, with a lot of acronyms. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are the two organizations that are most...
The Basics of Stone
Stone is a green building product. It's all natural and environmentally friendly. We can use it as a building product for either structural or veneer applications. Someone can reuse stone very easily as well which adds to its green characteristics....
The Basics of Mortar
The primary component of all masonry is mortar. Mortar is a mixture of sand, lime, and cement. That is really all there is to mortar. See my story could end, but mortar is so much more interesting than this. There are 5 commonly used mortar types,...
Chimney Cap Repair – The Key To It All
Chimneys typically display deterioration from the top down. The concrete cap or crown is at the very top of the chimney serves to protect the composite structure below. On a masonry chimney, the concrete chimney cap is commonly the first component...
Smoke in House
Why does smoke come down our chimney? We’re wondering if you could look at our chimney for problems with venting. I can tell you we’ve had several opinions on how to fix it and you were referred by __ who told us you’d be...
Masonry Tools Basics
Many people don't know the basics about tools used in masonry, so we've put together a little FAQ's section to help explain the very basics about some of our tools.
Chimney Repair Minneapolis, MN Area
Dayco General knows value of quality chimney repair in Minnesota. Water intrusion is usually one of the major causes of chimney deterioration due to our severe winter weather. Whether your chimney needs minor repairs, masonry repairs, or possibly a...
What is the first thing that would need servicing or repair on a brick chimney?
The first thing that would need servicing on a brick and mortar chimney is the concrete cap. The cap, which is normally designed of poured concrete is the first line of defense against costly water damage. The cap is also the first thing on a...
What should we look for, in a chimney repair professional?
You'll want to look for the normal licensed and insured, but long experience and professional certifications are super important as well. This is something to look for particularly in a chimney repair professional. Here at Dayco, we have always...
Should we repair or replace our chimney?
Is it best to repair or replace a worn chimney? Here is the answer from the professionals at Dayco.