As a sweep and masonry chimney relining contractor in eastern North Carolina, I'm constantly amazed at the misconceptions people have about older chimneys. Many people imagine that they're impervious masonry structures that don't require any maintenance and never wear out, while others are convinced that the only way to "restore" an aging chimney is to tear it down and build a new one.

Both are wrong. Chimneys definitely wear over time, but even a badly deteriorated chimney can often be completely restored by adding a poured liner. In most cases, the result will be better than new -- combining the original appearance with modern standards of safety, efficiency, and structural strength.

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