How To Repair A Masonry Chimney

If you've noticed your chimney bricks accept started to bit and crumble, then I have some bad news for you. Your once-lovely chimney is now suffering from a condition known as spalling brick.

Spalling brick is an issue that plenty of chimney owners in colder climates have to bargain with, but this commodity should give yous all the data you need to know about spalling brick and how you can starting time tackling the problem before it gets out of hand.

What is Spalling Brick?

Spalling brick occurs when moisture seeps into a brick and and then goes through the freeze/thaw cycle. Over time this water damage causes the spalling bricks to crumble, flake, and fifty-fifty pop completely out of the chimney.

What Causes Chimney Brick Spalling?

The cadre reason that a masonry chimney tin offset suffering from brick spalling is brick and mortar quality. Poorly compressed mortar won't let bricks to aggrandize safely during the freeze/thaw process, and bricks that are as well porous will easily allow rainwater and wet from fog or ice to seep in.

The brick and mortar quality are the gateways to brick spalling, just in that location are several other factors that need to exist watched that will hasten brick spalling. With some of these factors, it'south almost guaranteed that you'll have to deal with this issue sooner or later.

Some factors that will either cause brick spalling or speed it along are:

• Weather
• Pressure washing or sandblasting
• Poor structure

Atmospheric condition plays a large function in brick spalling. If yous alive in a region that gets plenty of rain, fog, or freezing temperatures, so y'all'll want to consistently check your bricks.

Pressure washing or sandblasting can make your chimney look squeaky clean, only the microdamage can atomic number 82 to spalling in the future.

Poor construction or salvaged bricks volition first spalling a lot faster than loftier-quality bricks and craftsmanship.

The Dangers of Spalling Chimney Bricks

Spalling bricks may simply seem like a corrective problem, merely information technology'south an issue that can actually affect people's rubber in your home.

Some of the damages or risks damaged bricks can cause are:

• Wellness risks caused by mold
• Chimney collapse
• Structural damage to other parts of your habitation

Water and mold go manus-in-hand, and spalling bricks tin easily cause mold to spread to the surrounding area. This is a huge health risk and also looks terrible.

Not only is spalling, a health and safe hazard, if left lone too long, your pockets are in danger too. It's way cheaper to tackle the problem early than wait until your chimney is barely standing anymore.

Brickwork is designed so that each brick supports the ones nearby. If a couple of bricks brainstorm to neglect, the whole chimney can become weak and fifty-fifty cave in. Spalling bricks tin can damage the surrounding structure of your home. The framework, drywall, and boards are all at risk if your chimney starts to go.

How to Repair Spalling Brick Chimneys

Is repairing your chimney bricks something that you lot can do yourself? Absolutely. Is it something that you should call a certified chimney sweep for? That would exist the better selection of the 2.

It's not a question of whether yous tin can exercise information technology, just whether or not yous should.

Working on chimneys is not easy or fun, not to mention the expensive equipment and hazard of injury in a DIY project like this are rarely worth it. A professional can also spot problems that homeowners may overlook which could come back to bite yous afterward.

Nonetheless, if you're truly serious about tackling this kind of fix on your own, and then here's all of the info you may need to get the task washed.

Tools and Equipment

At the blank minimum, you lot should take the following tools to supercede damaged bricks:

• Common cold chisel
• Social club hammer
• Sharp trowel
• Water
• Mortar
• Replacement bricks
• Drill
• 6-8mm masonry bit

Investigate the Cause of the Impairment

The first society of concern is to thoroughly examine your whole chimney to discover where and what the issues are. Check the mortar joints, chimney cap, chimney crown, and any visible bricks to find the problem.

Leaks are a mutual problem that can exist quickly solved with a waterproofing sealant like caulk.

If the amount of bricks you need to fix exceeds 3 or 4 per wall, all the same, then information technology may be fourth dimension to telephone call in professionals, or you risk injuring yourself or dissentious your home. Having numerous leaks or damaged bricks may indicate more structural damage than meets the center.

Be Sure to Choose the Right Bricks to Replace

Matching bricks and style are going to be important if you desire your chimney to look halfway decent in one case you lot're washed with repairs. Practice your best to fix the mortar in a similar way and endeavour to find bricks that look like your current ones.

Cut Out the Spalled Bricks

This is where the society hammer and cold chisel come into play. Scrape the mortar around the brick out first earlier crumbling the brick so that you can pull all of it out. Apply the drill and drill scrap if you're struggling to go the mortar out.

Replace the Old Mortar

A dwelling house improvement shop tin can give you a solid mortar to work with, but using a cement-based mortar or a mix of sand and lime will get the job done.

Replace the Old Bricks

Get the expanse prissy and damp before applying a layer of new mortar to the sides and base of the hole with your trowel. Slowly slide the replacement brick into the hole until it lines up with your older bricks. Use the trowel to make your mortar work uniform with the balance of the chimney.

How to Prevent Spalling from Happening

Constant maintenance and upkeep is your best friend. You'll have much less repair to exercise if y'all just requite your chimney a one time over every so often to grab spalling problems earlier they become too bad.

A professional chimney sweep tin can cheque for damaged bricks along with many other common chimney bug while performing an annual chimney cleaning or inspection.

Contact Priddy Chimney Sweeps for Your Brick Chimney Repair Needs

Weather is a major factor that tin can cause brick spalling, only pressure washing and poor construction can besides make it worse. Brick spalling isn't a joke and can finish upwardly causing astringent wellness bug or harm if left unchecked.

Fixing your chimney on your own is doable but tin be dangerous and expensive to do. Priddy Chimney Sweeps can handle tuckpointing, chimney repair, and rebuilds, besides equally chimney inspections. Our professional chimney sweeps will go the job done right and proceed you and your family safe.

Source: https://www.priddyclean.com/spalling-chimney-brick/

Posted by: morsegratch.blogspot.com

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