A
masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal
materials, including brick, mortar, concrete, concrete block, stone,
flue tile, steel and cast iron. All masonry chimneys contain combinations
of, or possibly all of, these materials, most of which are adversely
affected by direct contact with water or water penetration.
We can repair damage to any part of your fireplace or chimney, whether
you need repointing, repairs to broken or loose bricks, repair of
a leaking crown, broken flue liner or other problems. Since
water damage caused many of these problems we will discuss some
of those issues below:
Water Penetration
All masonry chimney construction materials, except stone,
will suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact
with water. Masonry materials deteriorate quickly when exposed to
the freeze/thaw process, in which moisture that has penetrated the
materials periodically freezes and expands causing undue stress.
Water in the chimney also causes rust in steel and cast iron, weakening
or destroying the metal parts.
Note: While most stone is not affected by water penetration, large
amounts of mortar are required to bond the stone together properly.
Therefore, a stone chimney � just like a brick chimney � should
be protected from the effects of water penetration.
Preventing Water Damage
Chimney caps, also called rain covers, are probably the
most inexpensive preventive measure that a homeowner can employ
to prevent water penetration and damage to the chimney. Chimney
caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety and
damage prevention component.
Learn more
about Chimney Caps by clicking here.
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CHIMNEY REPAIR
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Waterproof Your Chimney
Most masonry materials are porous and will absorb large
amounts of water. Common brick is like a sponge, absorbing water
and wicking moisture to the chimney interior. Defective mortar joints
or the use of improper mortar or brick can greatly increase the
tendency to absorb and convey water to the interior of the masonry
chimney.
Click
Here to Learn More about waterproofing your chimney
