Crumbling Chimney Bricks and Mortar
Every chimney, given enough time and especially if it is ignored, will eventually fall into ruin. There is a possibility that there will be issues with some components, such as the chimney cap or the chimney liner; nevertheless, these issues are often not difficult to fix. It’s possible that repairing damage to the bricks and mortar of your chimney won’t be an easy task. Because of this, it is necessary to plan yearly chimney inspections so that you can keep track of the state of the brickwork in your chimney from year to year. When an issue is identified in its early stages, modest fixes are frequently sufficient to resolve it.
Why does the brickwork of the chimney start to crumble?
Bricks and mortar in a chimney can suffer damage from a variety of different sources. They are as follows:
-Lightning strikes
-Earthquakes
-Shifting of the chimney as a result of an incorrectly designed footing
-The home is settling in normally.
-Heavy and persistent hail storms
-Violent winds
-materials of poor grade utilized in the construction of the chimney
-Leaks in the chimney of every sort
-Creosote’s acidity causes internal stonework to deteriorate
Bricks and water are not a good combination.
The intrusion of water is one of the most significant contributors to brittle and damaged chimney brickwork. When the temperature lowers, any water that has made its way into your chimney through even the tiniest of openings will immediately begin to freeze and grow. This will result in more damage and kick off a cycle that has the potential to eventually result in significant structural and safety hazards.
Additionally, water can seep in via fractures in the cement chimney crown, destroying portions of or the entire structure, and subsequently causing damage to the bricks that are protected by the crown. Another way that water can cause damage is if the roof flashing is dislodged or missing entirely. In this scenario, the damage that water can do is to the concealed portions of the chimney within the home as well as to the house itself.
Symptoms of a chimney leak and/or damage to the bricks
Keep an eye out for the following indicators:
-Fragments falling from the roof in the area around the chimney
-Loose or fractured bricks
-A chimney that has started to tilt to the side of one of its corners
-Discoloration in white on the brickwork of the outside (efflorescence)
-Near the chimney or the fireplace, there are wet spots on the walls or the ceiling.
-Strong smells are emanating from the fireplace.
-The firebox contains water
What can be done to repair a chimney that is falling apart?
The first thing you should do is get your chimney checked out. After that, you will be able to determine the nature, degree, and location of the damage. It is common practice for chimney repair procedures to involve the application of a water-resistant sealer to the brickwork and the chimney crown. If the damage is quite small and all that needs to be done is to stop more water from coming in, this is a reasonable alternative to consider.
Tuckpointing is a technique in which fresh, new mortar is put to areas of a structure where there is a lack of mortar. Tuckpointing is also known as repointing. Bricks may often be changed individually if they are broken, loose, or otherwise compromised in any way. When a chimney has sustained significant damage, either a partial or total rebuilding of the chimney is required. Rebuilding a chimney is a job that should never be given to an amateur or a “handyman” and should only be done by a skilled and registered chimney specialist.
Masonry that is crumbling is one of the early warning indications that your chimney may be on its way to suffering major damage and operating in a dangerous manner. Give us a call right away if you are aware of any of the problems that we have discussed in this article with your chimney, or if you believe that it may have any of these problems, and we will assist you in resolving them.
All these reminders are best practiced when you are also assured of having a reliable company at your side. Contact Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today for Chimney Cleaning Concord and repairing.