Winter weather can be brutal on your home, especially on the masonry materials. At the end of a long winter season, it is a good idea to take a look at the exterior of your chimney to check for damaged bricks and mortar joints. It is important to check out the condition of your outer chimney structure in the early spring because this type of damage deteriorates quickly. If left unrepaired, the structure of the chimney could be in jeopardy. For over a decade, All American Chimney Service has provided professional masonry chimney repair services to residents in the Louisville area. We would like to tell you more about what causes chimney masonry damage and what we can do to help you take care of any damaged bricks and mortar joints.
What causes winter weather damage?
According to theChimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water penetration is the greatest enemy of masonry chimneys because of the amount of damage it does. This damage is even greater during the winter because of freeze/thaw cycles. When the temperature drops below freezing, any water inside the masonry materials will freeze and expand. As the weather warms back up, the force of the water thawing out can be strong enough to cause the bricks and mortar joints to crack, crumble, and even become loose and fall from the chimney structure. Over the course of a long, cold winter season, this type of damage can quickly worsen into extensive deterioration that can be quite costly. This is precisely why identifying masonry damage is so important for homeowners. If you can spot damaged bricks and mortar joints early, you have the chance to have them repaired before the damage gets worse.
How can All American Chimney Service help me with damaged chimney masonry?
Our chimney technicians are trained and experienced in removing damaged bricks and mortar joints and in using masonry techniques like tuckpointing to replace the materials to restore the structural integrity of the chimney. After we have repaired the damaged masonry, we can help you prevent this type of deterioration from occurring in the future with our water penetration preventive services, including professional chimney cap installation and customized flashing construction. We strongly recommend having your chimney professionally waterproofed to create a barrier against water entering the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney.
Have you noticed damaged bricks and mortar joints on your chimney? Don’t hesitate tocontact ustoday at All American Chimney Service to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney masonry repair and water penetration preventive services.