Chimneys play an essential role in channeling the smoke out. However, they can also become victim of outside or inside wall cracks and may need the attention of chimney repair services. Let’s dive into the details of how you can repair such cracks.
Identify Issues In Your Chimney Flashing
To launch a fixing assault on your chimney cracks, you must look for loose, missing, and damaged flashings. Deteriorating flashing can be repaired by using a high-quality elastomeric flashing sealant.
Conduct Close Inspection Of Your Brick And Mortar Joints
Prevention is better than cure; the statement also fits well when repairing chimney cracks. You should make minor repairs as soon as possible because loosened and cracked chimneys also signal major water damage issues.
To fix this issue, you need to contact a brick mason or a chimney repair company. Moreover, small cracks in bricks that do not pose serious loosening can be filled by using a crack filler.
Another means to solve this problem is to consult a professional to check whether your chimney needs replacement of mortar joints — chimney tuckpointing. All other small cracks can be fixed by using a brush applied crack filler.
Inspect Your Chimney For Water Problems
To ensure that chimney bricks are not cracked, you can pour a few ounces of water into the chimney. In case the surface quickly darkens and the water is absorbed into the masonry within a few seconds, it means that your chimney is vulnerable to prolonged water damage.
The solution lies in a high-quality 100% breathable water repellent specifically designed for masonry chimneys. The aspect of breathability is imperative because typical water sealers are prone to trap water vapors inside the chimney, thus, leading to more damage.
However, you need to make sure that before applying water repellent, you must remove any visible white or brown stains. You can also utilize masonry cleaners that are safe to use in comparison to the strong acids. Furthermore, you should also keep in mind to follow mentioned label precautions before the usage of any chemical.
Inspect Your Chimney Crown
The crown is the mortar or concrete present on the top area of your chimney. Any loose or missing pieces that might be present here need immediate attention. Your chimney crown can also be fixed with the brush-applied crown repair that successfully prevents any water leaks and damages.
Fix Cracks In Your Chimney Interior
Use a bright light to look inside your chimney and check for any obstructions that are present in the form of soot or creosote deposits. To further secure your chimney interior, you can also install a chimney cap. This will help you to cover the opening of your chimney and block the entrance of debris, water, and animals. Furthermore, the best chimney caps are made up of stainless steel that are not vulnerable to rust.
Fixing Up The Bricks
To fix your chimney brick you need to be equipped with the proper tools and gadgets such as rubber gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. Next, you should break the cracked mortar with the assistance of a hammer and a chisel. The chisel should be cold with a wide and thin blade. However, you must keep in mind not to chip the adjoining bricks.
On the other hand, you can also use a high-heat mortar and a caulk gun to repair cracks in chimney bricks. Cracks can be further cleaned out with the edge of a putty knife or a screwdriver. The next step is to sweep the crack with the help of a wire brush. Moreover, you should also squeeze the high-heat mortar into the crack.
Although it is more likely that the mortar will not extend deep into the chimney, with the help of a gloved finger, you can wipe the mortar clean from the crack. If you find your brick cracks to be very thin hairline cracks, you can seal them off by brushing them with a masonry sealer. The cracked and loosened bricks can also be replaced. You can use a masonry chisel and a flat-head screwdriver to remove a single without affecting the adjacent bricks.
Final Word
Chimneys are prone to several cracks and vulnerabilities, but precautionary measures and extra care can minimize their impact for good. Hire chimney contractors Columbia MD to fix the cracks and avoid many chimney problems.