Why Does Mortar Fail?
After being put into operation, exterior brickwork runs the risk of becoming damaged as a result of the circumstances it is exposed to or owing to shoddy initial craftsmanship. Masonry of all sorts, not only chimneys, need to have their joints repaired as part of an ongoing maintenance program. Because the joints are more fragile than the bricks that surround them, they typically require maintenance much more quickly than the rest of the construction.
When the damage to the wall or chimney is considerable, the rebuilding of the chimney is sometimes the only solution available to fix the problem. Repairs that are long-lasting can be accomplished, however, if problems with crumbling or cracked masonry are treated as soon as they appear. Repointing and tuckpointing are two techniques that can be used to reinforce the chimney at this time.
Freeze and Unfreeze
There’s more to chimneys than meets the eye when it comes to their solidity, durability, and invulnerability to change. Bricks and the connections between them contain tiny air spaces, which, when exposed to circumstances that are humid, will fill with water. A brick construction will absorb water from rain and melting snow, which will then fill any voids with moisture.
Damp masonry by itself is not always extremely detrimental; nevertheless, when the temperature drops below freezing, these water-filled chambers are harmed because the water freezes and expands, causing damage. This is because water at freezing temperatures actually expands by +%10, which results in the brickwork becoming fractured. This damage first appears to be virtually imperceptible; nevertheless, the little fracture also collects water, and consecutive freezes transform minor cracks into massive ones. When it comes to mortar joints, this freeze-thaw damage will typically begin on the interior of the joint first. The damage will not become obvious until many years later, when it has traveled to the exterior of the joint.
Damage Caused by Corrosion
Even masonry of the highest possible quality that has been expertly erected is susceptible, over time, to the harmful effects of powerful chemicals. When chimneys were used for the purpose of venting equipment that burned oil or coal, the sulfides that were present in the exhaust might cause damage to the chimneys after a period of a few years.
The exposure to these circumstances will cause the joints to weaken and the bricks to spall, both of which are undesirable outcomes. Clay flue liners are also susceptible to deterioration, which frequently leads to the hazardous scenario in which the chimney becomes choked. This results in a backlog of exhaust and carbon monoxide within the residence.
Even gas-powered equipment, such as water heaters and furnaces, produce combustion byproducts and water vapor that can damage the chimney on the inside of the flue as well as the outside brickwork. Damage caused by exhaust has been far less common as a direct result of the widespread installation of chimney liners made of stainless steel. Customers who have gas chimneys are typically given the recommendation that, in order to prevent damage to their chimneys, they should consider installing a chimney liner kit made of stainless steel.
Concerns Regarding the Initially Constructed Structure
In many cases, a chimney would require repointing or rebuilding owing to damaged and missing joints that ultimately broke due to difficulties when the chimney was initially built. These issues might have been avoided if the chimney had been built properly from the beginning. A premature failure may occur, for instance, if the brickwork was allowed to freeze while the mortar was still forming up. This would cause the mortar to fail prematurely. It is possible that the durability of the job will be reduced if pollutants are present in the cement, the sand, or the water. Last but not least, cracks may appear as early as the next day in the mortar if it was improperly mixed and had an incorrect quantity of water.
Because of this, we believe that it is in your best interest to request that experts do masonry repairs on your chimney rather than attempting them yourself. After all, the repair that needs to be done twice is the one that ends up costing the most.
In support of knowing these essential information, it is for the best that you also have a company you can count on to help you with Chimney Cleaning Maxwell and repairing like Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning.