The chimney is quite a problematic area. Many structural problems can occur at the chimney, and if they do, you should definitely call a masonry repair service, since climbing up to the chimney to apply repair is a very risky thing to do. The following are 4 of the most common kinds of repair that are most often applied to chimneys.
The chimney does more than just to vent off the smoke of your fireplace. It is an indispensable decorative piece for any stone house or brick house. Without it, the building would not look as quaint and cozy as one would imagine it to be.
Repair the chimney crown
Your chimney crown is often considered to be the most important part of the chimney itself. It covers the tip of the chimney and most crowns will extend about two inches over the edge of the chimney. It is designed to keep animals and water away from the flute, keeping your chimney clean of obstructions. Repairing the chimney crown is often the most difficult part of the process, but it is also extremely important as it keeps the chimney from being further damaged.
Fireplace reconstruction
Your fireplace is inherently tied to your chimney, so it’s important to keep water away from both the fireplace and the chimney at the same time, or the entire system will collapse. Water is known to cause spalling in stone walls, so if the fireplace is not well-maintained, especially from water damage, then your masonry repair expert will have to reconstruct the entire fireplace.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing is an obscure term, and you probably have not even heard of it unless you work in the industry. It refers to the process of removing the old mortar layer of your chimney, and replacing it with new mortar of the same kind. Mortar is vulnerable to water, and too much water erosion will put your chimney under risk of collapsing. Tuckpointing will extend your chimney longevity by replacing the entire mortar.
Firebox inspection
The firebox of your fireplace is where the fire is contained. Since fire burns continually in the firebox, you will need a special kind of refractory brick for the construction of this part of the fireplace. It is also easily subjected to damage since fire is constantly burnt there. If the bricklayer has become damaged, do not ignite the fire for any reason, or you risk incinerate the adjacent furniture. What you could do now is to immediately call experts so that they can initiate an inspection to determine whether you will need a total replacement for your firebox or not.
Hire masonry repair experts
Chimneys are a vulnerable part of your house, so it’s a good idea to keep an extra eye on it. Even when it looks perfectly healthy, you should consider contact masonry repair experts to conduct regular maintenance so that any potential problem is addressed before any harm can be done to the building’s structural integrity.
