Whatever the style or age, chimney’s will probably at some point encounter degeneration which can result in the necessity for repair work and maintenance. Minute situations, for example, a bird nest in a chimney can result in extensive damage which can end up being really expensive. Dayco General provides every kind of chimney repair.

Prior to delving into chimney repairs, it is important to examine the structural form of the chimney as this is the foundation of the preliminary procedures. The brick and mortar should not allow rain or other elements to permeate the chimney’s composite structure.

Harm to chimneys can possibly be brought on by a number of issues. Nonetheless, the scope and size of repairs is most often a factor of the age of the structure but can also be brought on by harsh weather (falling tree limbs or lightning strikes) or a chimney fire. Problems due to deteriorating mortar, excess moisture within the chimney, or a chimney fire will weaken clay tile liners and the brick, it is vital that chimneys are inspected from time to time. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends yearly chimney inspection. In the Twin Cities Metro area our harsh freeze/thaw cycle, adds even more weight to the demand for routine inspections.

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Qualified repairs are needed when you feel that the scope of the deterioration is above and beyond what you can easily handle. Inspection by our CSIA certified experts will supply you with a report which offers appropriate maintenance procedures.

Swollen bricks or swollen mortar joints can cause the chimney to lean and lose its stability. Masonry swelling results from age and water leaks in the structure. Both brick and mortar are relatively water resistant when they are brand-new, but without the routine service treatment of a waterproofing sealant, this quality is gradually lost in time and toward the end of their life span the moisture absorbency of masonry raises substantially. This often leads to rapid expansion damage during the freeze/thaw.

Older brick and mortar that has been through many freeze/thaw cycles, notably on chimneys that have a leaking cap that has allowed water to both the interior and exterior of a wall, can swell drastically causing a detectable (sometimes unsafe) lean as time goes by. Remarkably, a chimney that leans due to this process will usually tip away from the sun. In the Northern hemisphere this means an older chimney with severe freeze/thaw expansion damage will lean toward the North because the sunny side will have a broader depth of temperature variation and even more frequent fluctuations in the freeze/thaw phenomena. We have seen tall chimneys that were leaning so precariously that we strongly recommended non-occupancy of areas below the hinge point of the chimney until repairs could be made.

Spalled brick is a very common damage found in chimneys.
Missing mortar joints should be thoroughly repointed with
new mortar to stop further damage to the chimney structure.

We have seen chimneys totally fall to the ground, which necessitates removal and replacement. All these maintenance tasks will require expertise. Regrettably, in these cases, there is no convenient alternative for chimney repair except to replace the broken bricks. Brick replacement and tuckpointing should only be done by an experienced tradesman. We see damaged home facades constantly where an inexperienced person attempted tuckpointing only to do permanent harm to the brick appearance by smearing mortar outside the joints. Tuckpointing is among the trades that has a very high learning curve and a lot of expertise is required to turn out a nice-looking project that will last a very long time.

Regardless of many essential preventative measures, if you find any cracks, signs of degeneration, crumbling mortar in the chimney, it is time to get call our professionals here at Dayco General for a chimney inspection to confirm the safety and security of your home. Ignoring masonry chimney issues may possibly be downright costly and dangerous for your family.