How to repair brick Chimneys

Brick or masonry chimney has long life if they are constructed properly. But because of their nature, they get corroded and damaged with time and weather.Therefore, they need to get repaired, once you learn about their damage and decay. 

The water damaged or crumbled brick within a chimney causes  the structure to lose some or full of its structural integrity. As such, the structure should be examined and assessed to find the scope of the work to be done. For the solution, either you can get the damaged brick cut individually or repair and rebuild the structure, depending upon your evaluation.

Expert masonry results in long-term, high quality chimney repair. Therefore, you should hire a professional like masonry contractors Lincoln Park, who with their experience and knowledge, fulfill your purpose.

Chimney Rebuilding Procedure: 

·      Assessment: Determining the extent of the mortar damage and removing the damaged one without causing further damage is the main challenge of chimney rebuilding. For assessment, you will need to consult a professional, definitely. An expert starts the examination with visual inspection followed by the inspection using specialized tools such as  metal scrape. After the determination is made, damaged or deteriorated mortar joints should be removed.

·      Removal of damaged mortar joints: While removing the deteriorated mortar joint, an important thing is to remove the joint to an appropriate depth without  causing extra brick damage. The new mortar should be prepared once the old mortar is removed. Make sure that the new mortar composition is as same as the existing mortar or else there will be more chances of premature mortar corrosion.

·      Applying new mortar: The new Mortar is then placed between the brick using finishing tools made of steel with a convex tip. The tool is then run over the newly applied mortar to match the shape of the mortar used on the older joints.

·      Applying sealant:At the end, apply a water resistant sealant layer on the mortar to prevent it from water penetrating in your chimney. It will help in extending the life of your mortar joints.