Answering The Call – Don’t Buy The Hype!

Your Selkirk Distributor outlines the real story behind claims made by another chimney manufacturer – and how Selkirk’s Sentinel Chimney stacks-up.

CLAIM: Superior Performance

Dare to Compare

See how Sentinel Chimney stacks up against claims made by another chimney manufacturer:

UL/ULC 2100° Certification – “The other chimney” is the only 1” wall chimney tested to the Canadian 30 minute 2100° chimney fire standard.

“The other chimney” is Tested by Warnock Hersey, not ULC.
The 2100° “chimney fire standard” is only reachable by “The other chimney” with use of extra shielding where the system passes through combustible materials. In many installations, the use of required extra shielding is neglected.

Wall Thickness – “The other chimney’s” revolutionary 1” wall design outperforms every competitor in North America. Canadian competitors require twice the insulation thickness and many of our US competitors can’t even meet the easier UL 10 minute chimney fire standard with a 1” wall design.

The 1” does not include the extra shielding surrounding the chimney.
Sentinel’s 2+” of premium insulation provides far superior insulating value and fire protection. Sentinel’s superior insulating value keeps stack temperatures high, enhancing “draw” and reducing condensation and creosote build-up (the most common cause of chimney fires). Sentinel has 2x to 2.5x the R Value (Insulating Factor) of their 1” product.

CLAIM: Easier Installations

Weight Per Foot – Ask an installer about the advantage of “The other chimney’s” light weight design as they carry and assemble chimney on a steep roof in the middle of winter. Once an installer switches, they will never want to use anything else.

Lighter Weight = Less Material and reduced insulating value and fire protection.

Framing Size – The secret to safer, easier installations is to build the smallest chimney system which fits between obstructing joists and rafters without costly re-framing or elbows. “The other chimney’s” components are designed to fit in much smaller rough openings.

Required shields are rarely installed in these applications, resulting in an unsafe installation.

Simplified Attic Insulation Shields – “The other chimney’s” ceiling supports double as attic insulation shields by simply adding a storm collar, eliminating an SKU and making them much easier to install in tight spaces.

Selkirk has designed parts to perform specific functions. The right part designed for the job is your assurance of quality and safety.

Smart Parts - “The other chimney” has developed the concept of making one part fit many sizes. Roof supports, roof braces, wall bands and wall supports all fit 6, 7 & 8 inch diameters. Not only do smart parts cut down on stock keeping units, installers are not stranded at the job with the wrong sized support.

Assembly of these parts in the field is time consuming and sometimes difficult. Almost all building products are going away from the “Mechano-set” concept.
Sentinel offers a more convenient and user friendly product by offering easy-to-use installation kits.

Adjustable Wall Supports & Bands – “The other chimney’s” wall supports and bands adjust in and out which allows the installer to compensate for irregular walls. “The other chimney” has the only wall support which can be attached above the tee, so you never need to fasten it to the concrete wall.

What “The other chimney” calls a “Wall Support”, Selkirk calls a “Wall Band”. Selkirk’s Wall Support is located below the Tee to properly hold the weight of the system for many years to come. “The other chimney’s” Wall Support does little to relieve stress on the Tee (which is supporting the weight of the chimney). Wall Supports are secured to “The other chimney’s” lengths with screws only which means you are relying on the Tee to support the entire system.

Adjustable Lengths – When you can’t find the offset you need in their offset chart, you will in “The other chimney’s” – adjustable lengths make offsets easy.

This piece requires the installer to trim insulation from within the chimney length.

CLAIM: Durability

Liner: Type/Constructions – 304 series stainless liners are much more resistant to corrosion and thermal breakdown than cheaper 430 liners. “The other chimney’s” continuous welded seam liners are more expensive to produce, but their performance is the best in the industry. Our lifetime warranty isn’t just marketing – premium materials and a unique design simply make “The other chimney” more durable.

Sentinel Chimney uses a 304 series stainless liner. Sentinel also features continuous welded seams and offers a lifetime warranty from the company that invented the product over 60 (not 6) years ago.

Silica Insulation – The corrosion problems associated with silica insulation are well documented.
Unfortunately, there are still two manufacturers who have not switched from silica.

Sentinel Chimney was the first system to use silica-free insulation.

Warranty: Length and Coverage – When comparing warranties investigate both length and coverage.
A long warranty is useless if it covers defects only. Defective workmanship and materials don’t cause substantial chimney damage; chimney fires and corrosion do.

“The other chimney’s” warranty covers “Lengths only”. Selkirk covers all insulated components, as well as most other parts of the system - even Tops!
Selkirk has been in business since 1933 and actually invented the prefabricated chimney. Often a lifetime warranty is only good for the life of the company - not the life of the product.

Learn more about Types of Chimneys

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