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The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page D2

Location:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Issue Date:
Page:
D2
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

D2 SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 main THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR INDYSTAR.COM Home garden calendar Angie's advice Inspection and cleaning keep chimney safe for fireplace use Indianapolis Home Show 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Indiana State Fairgrounds, Exposition Hall, 1202 E.

38th St. $13, Angie Hicks ages 6-12 $3, ages 5 and younger free. (317) 705-8719, or www Wonderful World of Birds 2 p.m. today Zion Nature Center, 690 Beech Zionsville. Ages 7 through adult.

A program on exploring backyard birds. Free. (317) 873-8950, or www.ZionNatureCenter Friends.org. Qui Iters' Guild of Indianapolis Satellite Group 1 to 3 p.m. Friday PrimeLife Enrichment Center, 1078 Third Ave.

S.W., Carmel. Participants in Block of the Month during 2012 bring in finished items, www.quiltguildindy.net. Harvest Market at Fairgrounds 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb.

2 Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds, 620 N. Apple Greenfield. (765) 763-0246, or www.hancock harvestcouncil.com. MICHELLE PEMBERTON THE STAR Chimney sweep Jake Smith vacuums creosote that falls down the chimney during sweeping by his co-worker, Joseph Sauter. It's always a comfort to have the home fires burning, especially in the frigid weather that's held Indiana in a deep freeze this week.

But if your home fires are fueled by wood, you need to have your chimney cleaned regularly, or the creosote created by the burning wood can build up and spark a chimney fire. Even more important than regular cleaning, local chimney sweeps say, is an annual inspection. And that's a necessity whether you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace. "The inspection is more important than the cleaning, if you ask me," said Michael Baun of Baun's Chimney Sweeping in Franklin. "Winter weather can be pretty cruel; that's why an inspection is actually more important, especially here in Indiana.

I hear a lot of people who have gas fireplaces tell me they don't need their chimney (inspected). That's not quite right. You still have the same winter weather out there where the chimney is as you do with a wood stove, so it's still very important to keep an eye on that as well." Masonry fireplaces can develop loose bricks and mortar in the firebox, and cracks in the smoke chamber and flue. An annual inspection can reveal potential safety hazards. "In those three different areas, you want to make sure that the fire and the smoke is contained and always is going up and out," said Kourtney Zahn of Masonry Outfitters in Indianapolis.

"If there are voids in any of those three places, loose mortar or a broken brick, you could leave room for smoke or hot embers to get past those areas, get in the walls of your home and cause smoke damage, or, in a worst-case scenario, start a fire." A homeowner who hires a chimney sweep should make sure that person does a visual inspection of the chimney from the roof. "You not only want to make sure the chimney is safe for the use of having a fire, but it's also a struc- only and about $165 for a cleaning and inspection. Chimney sweeps don't need to be licensed in Indiana, so it's important homeowners do research and find a company that is qualified. Look for a chimney sweep that is insured and is a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America. If a chimney inspection reveals you have damage, ask for proof through photographic or video evidence before agreeing to have the repair work done.

When in doubt, seek out a second opinion. "I'll show them the pictures on my iPad right in front of them, but if the weather permits, I'll also take them outside and point out what I'm looking at as well," Zahn said. "They can't see it up close, but they can get the (general) idea. Customers should be aware of the color of their brick and the color of their mortar and make sure they're lining up (with what's in the picture). If the contractor says you have problems and has no proof to attach to it, I wouldn't think that was a trustworthy contractor." Zahn said plenty of technology exists to enable a homeowner to see an image of the area in question.

Angie Hicks is a Fishers resident and founder of Angie's List, a national provider of ratings in more than 550 categories of service. ture that's protruding out of the top of your house, so you want to make sure there's no room for water to enter the structure if there's any kind of damage to it," Zahn said. "Make sure the chimney sweep is going on top of the roof, is looking at the masonry work and is giving you a thorough investigation of not only the internal portions of the chimney, but also from a structural standpoint, the exterior of the chimney. Both of those things are vital, because they really work together. If something goes wrong outside, it will bring problems inside." Using well-seasoned, dry wood can help homeowners reduce the frequency of needing a chimney cleaning.

Baun also cautions homeowners against using wood from the backyard or any wood that is still wet. The best wood to use has seasoned for more than a year, he said. "Also, use a little wood at a time instead of a making big pile," Baun said. "The bigger pile, the bigger the chance you have to kill the flame. When you kill the flame, the gases from the wood sit in the chimney and create the creosote, which is flammable and causes chimney fires." A typical cleaning can range from $100 to $200, depending on the size of the fireplace, its location and how difficult the cleaning is.

Baun said he charges $35 for an inspection Herb Society of Central Indiana 7 p.m. Feb. 4 John Hensel (Clay Township) Government Center, 10701 N. College Carmel. Native American medicine traditions.

(317) 418-0627, or www.herbsociety ofcentralindiana.org. Fort Benjamin's Blossoms Garden Club 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 7 Benjamin Harrison YMCA, 5736 Lee Road. Program: Gerry St.

Peters will talk about the World Flower Show in Boston. Guests welcome. (317) 547-9622. Wildlife Out Your Windows 6:30 p.m. Feb.

7 Zion Nature Center, 690 Beech Zionsville. Ages 15 through adult learn how to create an eco-friendly habitat. Registration required. Free. (317) 873-8950, or www.zionnaturecenterfriends.org.

The Quilt Connection Guild 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 7 Greenwood United Methodist Church, 525 N. Madison Greenwood. First two meetings for free.

Supplies normally provided. Annual membership $15. (317) 440-8558. UP TO ONE MONTH FREE RENT! PLUS A $25 TARGET GIFT CARD WHEN YOU SIGN A LEASE! I JEWLY REHABBED 1-2 BED APARTMENTS 2 BEDTOWNHOMES NOW STARTING at $430 At Select Complexes 'Pangea Hills 5500 Pleasant Hill Cir 'Pangea Vineyards -1 01 01 Montery Rd 'Pangea Cedars 341 7 Rybolt Ave 'Pangea Parkwest 581 6 W3Sth St 'Pangea Vistas -1 368 Arlington Ave Pangea Courts -441 7 Linwood Ct Pangea Riverside -2638 Cold Spring Manor Dr Call 317-759-0057 PlumbingDrain Cleaning Special i i i IjQnlyW0 imquikhomeserfflPjr JWJ HEATING COOUNgJ PLUMBING (J ELECTRICAL I Present at time of service. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

Some restrictions apply. Plumbing License PC1 0902078. Expires 21 513. T0MA1 301 DOUG McSCHOOLER FOR THE STAR "It's a constant, ever-changing inventory in this kind of business," said Tina Rogers. "When you are buying in bulk at a storage unit, you can buy so much stuff you can keep your prices low." Treasure lilt freetrSelshows INDIANAPOWo Tnoc.

Jan. 29 ing in bulk at a storage unit, you can buy so much stuff you can keep your prices low." DooDadz is one of several new businesses that line the redone World War I-era Main Street in Speedway. New parking, a walking biking trail and the new Dallara factory and Indy Racing Experience are highlights. And the work continues. "I am really excited about being on Main Street, how it looks now and what it's going to look like," Rogers said.

DooDadz is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although Rogers said she may take a vacation in the dead of winter. "I don't expect to have time this spring." "I'm so looking forward to May." Sally Falk Nancrede is an Indianapolis-based home-decor writer. Email her at hoosierhabitatyahoo.com.

for 50 percent off $40. A full-price bar table with a wine rack base and two swivel bar chairs, all in great condition, was priced at $300. A blue swirl hand-blown vase was $5, a big plastic storage container full of Christmas houses was $40. An antique needlepoint scroll footrest was $40, a tall decorative Indian Kachina figure was half off an equally affordable figure. "I had been a manager for Goodwill and learned about quality, pricing and what people want," she said.

Rogers runs the shop, but she and Wilson both go to auctions. She praises Wilson for his eye. "Tim can see something and see what it could be," she said, pointing out a vintage metal stand he repur-posed into a great floor lamp. Wilson is the handyman of the duo; she's the marketer. "It's a constant, ever-changing inventory in this kind of business," Rogers added.

"When you are buy Inn South Garden i Hilton 5255 Noogle Way FROM THE COVER "I pulled a tote out of the way and found a brand new lawnmower." The two have a barn in Avon where they sort and inventory their finds. They attend auctions in the Indianapolis area, sometimes going to more than one in a day. "Sometimes you go to one and it will be someone's kitchen. We went to one and it was someone's house. It's amazing what you find.

"You find a lot of unmentionables," she adds, "because people's dirty little secrets are hidden away." The 800-square-foot shop includes one room where merchandise is half-priced. Earlier this month, the half-off room had a just-cleaned mink jacket Sept. 17-25 with Retired Meteorologist BOB GREGORY INDIANAPOLIS RECEIVE A Jan. 10 AM, Comfort Suites Airfare14 meals Kitzbuhel Innsbruck Oberammergau Salzburg '100 HOLIDAY rnilPON Nortneasi 9760 Crosspoint Lake Cruise ATSHOWS T0UR DEPARTS Blva INDIANAPOLIS.

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