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Repairing your Chimney Masonry

After a cold winter filled with time around your fireplace, does your chimney masonry and fireplace look worn out? Spring is the perfect time to get your chimney’s masonry repaired. Chimney masonry repairs should not be neglected, and you should definitely not trust just anyone with this job. Masonry damage to your chimney exterior are not only ugly in appearance, but they also pose a danger to your chimney and home. The most common types of masonry repair are the following. Let’s learn why it’s a good idea to hire professionals for this job.

Tuckpointing

A chimney’s exterior masonry can last for a long time, but the mortar joints that hold the bricks together break down more rapidly because of the moisture from the freeze-thaw cycle. Crumbling mortar joints not only make your chimney look terrible, but they pose danger for your home. It allows water to invade your chimney which can cause further damage, and if they continue to deteriorate, this weakened mortar joints could jeopardize the entire chimney structure, causing it to lean or even collapse. Tuckpointing is a simple and fast way to pinpoint and fix specific broken mortar joints right away.

Chimney crown repair

Chimney crowns seal the top layers of your chimney to prevent water from entering your chimney. Cracks in the crown can allow water to leak down your chimney, creating a leak that is really hard to detect and cause major damages. Chimney crown repair involve sealing cracks.  You can also reconstruct your entire crown so it’s perfectly built to keep water out of your chimney flue.

Firebox repair

The extreme heat from all the fires can cause cracks in your firebox over time. When these cracks worsen, they can cause your firebox to be ineffective. The heat of your fireplace will gain access to the surrounding building materials, potentially causing a fire. A firebox repair or rebuild will restore the integrity of it by either sealing off any cracks or replacing damaged firebricks.

Chimney relining

Due to moisture intrusion and heat from your fireplace, the clay tiles in your liner can crack or crumble over time. Once this happens, your chimney will no longer be able to withstand the extreme heat and constant smoke. Chimney liners are repaired with a specialized poured-in cement or with a metal chimney liner.

Who to trust with masonry chimney repairs

Deteriorating chimney masonry can put your home at risk for water damage or even a fire. Improper repairs can make matters worse or cause the problem to happen again. That’s why you need to find a professional chimney mason you can trust. Your Chimney Sweep has years of experiences, and we also have the proper equipment to repair your chimney. We could love to repair and help meet any of your chimney needs. Schedule an appointment with us at 317-243-9687 and get your chimney masonry repaired today!
By Joe Sauter on April 26th, 2018 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment

Don’t Put off Your Chimney Repairs

Each fall, when temperatures start to drop, homeowners rush to have their chimneys repaired before the weather becomes cold, wet and snowy.

The urgency to schedule chimney repairs makes sense: The masonry materials used for many chimney repairs can’t be applied in wet or cold weather. That means if you don’t have your chimney repaired before winter weather sets in, your chimney repairs could be delayed until the weather breaks in the spring. And delayed repairs can leave your chimney susceptible to further damage this winter.

Water’s effects on an unrepaired chimneydont-put-off-your-chimney-repairs-img-indianapolis-in-your-chimney-sweep

One of the biggest concerns with a damaged chimney is that it can allow water to leak in through your chimney. On your chimney’s exterior, water that is absorbed can freeze within the masonry when temperatures drop, causing bricks and mortar to crack and crumble. Water that makes its way into your chimney can damage the tile flue liner and can rust your chimney’s damper, the firebox and fireplace doors. If the chimney leak reaches your home’s structure, it can cause joists to rot, warp and mold, and it can cause ceilings and wallboards to discolor and sag. While the repair you are delaying this fall might seem like a minor repair, as your chimney endures wet and freezing temperatures this winter, that unchecked minor repair can lead to major chimney or home damage.

Addressing chimney repairs

The first step in addressing chimney damage is to have your chimney inspected. During your chimney inspection, your chimney technician will evaluate the damage and advise the best course of action for repairing your chimney and preparing it for winter. Some of the most common chimney repairs include:
  • Chimney cap replacement. Your chimney cap prevents water from running down your chimney’s flue. Chimney caps can rust or become dislodged. It is crucial to have a secure chimney cap in place before winter, as your chimney cap is your chimney’s primary defense against water.
  • Chimney crown repair. Your chimney crown seals the top of your chimney to the flue and helps direct water away from the flue opening. Because chimney crowns are masonry structures, they can develop cracks or crumbles due to the freeze-thaw cycle. A damaged chimney crown should be repaired before winter, as damage can worsen and let water leak down your chimney’s interior.
  • Tuckpointing. While your chimney’s bricks can last for generations, the mortar that holds them together isn’t so durable. Eventually, mortar will become fragile and begin to crumble away. Tuckpointing removes crumbling mortar joints and reseals them with fresh mortar. Crumbling mortar can lead to chimney leaks and can weaken your chimney’s structure. Over winter, mortar deterioration can worsen due to the freeze-thaw cycle.
  • Flashing replacement. Flashing seals the base of your chimney at the roofline, preventing roof leaks around the chimney. Flashing can pull away from the chimney or develop holes or cracks over time, causing leaking. Ignoring compromised flashing could leave you with a major roof leak when winter’s wet weather strikes.

If your chimney is in need of repair, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule an appointment today! We can assess your chimney and schedule repairs to save your chimney from further damage this winter.

By Joe Sauter on October 12th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment