You have a wonderful chimney that has served its purpose well over the years. You can’t complain about the time you’ve spent gathered around the fireplace or wood stove with your loved ones, or the peace it has brought you as you watch the flames dance and crackle about.
But one day, whether it’s from common wear and tear or a recent severe weather event, you notice the brick of your chimney is looking a little less stable.
Suddenly, you’re thinking, “Great… that’s just what I need, to be searching the internet for brick chimney repair services near me.” But don’t worry – Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweep is here to help take some of that stress off. In fact, masonry repair services are one of the things we happen to specialize in!
So get ready to learn everything you need to know – and more – about chimney brick repair. Call 513-727-0994 or reach out online with questions.
How Do I Know if My Chimney Bricks Need Repair?
For as durable and structurally sound as brick seems to be, you might be surprised how many signs there are that indicate your chimney bricks need repair. This includes:
Visible Cracks or Gaps: One of the most obvious signs of brick repair is noticeable cracks or gaps between the bricks. Oftentimes, this occurs when water is absorbed and then repeatedly freezes and thaws during the winter. Over time, the cracks will continue to get bigger and create more damage. - Crumbling, Deteriorating, or Loose Bricks: Also referred to as brick spalling, if you neglect to repair cracks or gaps in a timely manner, it will eventually cause bricks to crumble or loosen from the rest of the chimney.
- Leaks or Moisture Inside the Chimney: The same cracks and gaps that led to brick deterioration can also cause leaks inside the chimney. You might notice water stains or dripping inside the chimney, all of which should be repaired quickly before it causes further damage to your home.
- Damaged or Missing Mortar Joints: If you notice the mortar joints between the bricks are deteriorating, eroded, or missing in certain areas, you need something called repointing done. This is the process of refilling the outer parts of the mortar joints.
- Leaning or Tilting Chimney: If you see something like this, you have a serious structural problem. The foundation of your chimney is unstable or has experienced settling issues, requiring immediate attention from a professional.
- Efflorescence: This is the white powdery substance that appears after evaporating water leaves behind salt deposits on the brick. This can form when your brick chimney lacks a proper moisture barrier. Removing efflorescence is easy, but you will want to find the underlying issue to prevent it from coming back time and time again.
- Damaged Chimney Crown: This is one of the more difficult issues to spot because it can only be inspected from the top, as the chimney crown is the top surface that covers the chimney. If the chimney crown is damaged, you will notice cracks, chips, or deterioration. Sometimes, chimney crowns are built with improper material, like mortar, instead of concrete, which causes them to deteriorate faster.
What Are Common Methods Used to Repair Chimney Bricks?
The repair methods used to address broken down brickwork are completely dependent upon the extent of damage you have incurred. But here are a few examples of what might take place to repair your chimney bricks.
Repointing: As previously mentioned, repointing is the process of removing the existing damaged mortar and filling the joints with new mortar. This not only improves the appearance of the brick chimney, but also strengthens it.- Brick Replacement: Bricks that are deteriorating or crumbling need to be replaced with new bricks that match the existing size, color, and texture of your current brick pieces.
- Chimney Crown Repair: Remember how we said the chimney crown is sometimes made using the wrong material? We want to make sure that your chimney crown is repaired by applying a new layer of concrete – or even a crown sealant to ensure no water can penetrate the brick or chimney.
- Waterproofing: Applying a waterproofing sealant to the exterior of the chimney helps repel water, reduce the amount of water the bricks are naturally absorbing, and extend the life of the bricks and mortar.
- Structural Reinforcement: Sometimes, in extreme cases where a chimney is unstable or leaning, corrective action is needed to stabilize and strengthen the chimney’s structure before eventual collapse.
As you can see, these types of repairs require quite a bit of knowledge and experience to do it right. That’s why we don’t recommend you risk the structural integrity of your chimney by trying to complete these repairs yourself. Count on our experts for all of your masonry repairs.
Are There Chimney Brick Repair Services Near Me?
The best form of preventing new or further damage from occurring is by making sure you schedule annual inspections and sweepings. Lucky for you, Mid-Valley Chimney can handle all of your brick chimney repair concerns, and we are certified and trained to inspect and service your entire chimney system.
So don’t delay that brick repair any longer. Call us today at 513-727-0994 or schedule an appointment online today.