The Importance of Masonry Repairs

Although masonry chimneys are durable enough to last for a lifetime, poor construction and constant exposure to the elements of weather can lead to damaged bricks and mortar joints. Masonry materials are naturally porous, which means they absorb water from rain and melted ice and snow. Even well-built masonry chimneys can suffer from water damage, which is why the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) states that water is the greatest enemy of masonry chimneys. One neglected water leak can end up causing the collapse of the entire chimney structure. When you have masonry chimney damage, you need an experienced mason to make the repairs as these types of repairs require expertise and education to do properly. Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists is proud to offer masonry chimney repair services from our expertly trained technicians. We would like to tell you more about the types of masonry repairs we provide.

TUCKPOINTING

One of the reasons why masonry repairs are so complex has to do with mortar. If you live in an older home, lime mortar was likely used in its construction, and this older mortar is incompatible with the Portland cement-based mortar that is used today. This means it is crucial to use the right materials when repairing masonry damage in older homes. Our masons at Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists use tuckpointing techniques to replace damaged and missing bricks and mortar joints, and you can trust us to match the new mortar with the color and strength of the existing mortar to keep the repair work from looking obvious. After removing the damaged mortar, we use special pointed tools to tuck new mortar in between the bricks to reinforce and restore the structural soundness of your chimney.

CHIMNEY CROWN REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION

Made from mortar, the chimney crown can suffer from erosion damage since it sits at the top of a chimney and is directly exposed to rain water. You need your chimney crown to be in good condition to keep water from getting inside your chimney, and when your crown is cracked, water can easily leak into the flue to cause damage to the metal components of your chimney, including the damper and the liner. Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists can inspect the condition of your chimney crown and make masonry repairs to any cracked spots. If we find that the crown is beyond repair, we can build a new crown to install on the top of your chimney. We will apply a waterproofing formula to the crown to protect it from water erosion.

CHIMNEY REBUILDS

As mentioned earlier, one neglected water leak can lead to the collapse of the entire chimney structure. If the damage is so severe that Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists recommend a tear down and rebuild of the chimney, we can help you by safely removing the old chimney so that we can build a durable new chimney that will serve your home for many years. If you are thinking about adding a new fireplace to your home, we can also construct a new chimney for that purpose.

Keep your chimney strong with proper masonry repairs. Contact us at Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection today.