If you want to extend the life of your chimney, waterproofing is one of the best ways to do so. This is because water is the #1 enemy of mortar and masonry and it makes sense that if you can keep water away from the chimney, these materials will naturally last longer.
If left alone, time and the elements will get to your masonry chimney and you may end up having to do a partial or complete chimney rebuild at some point. If you can catch the damage before it gets bad, you may be able to do some less expensive repairs followed by waterproofing to help the life of the masonry structure.
What is Spalling & How can you prevent it?
Spalling takes place in bricks because they are porous and absorb water. When this water freezes, it expands like a frozen ice-cube. That helps break the brick apart from the inside out. Over time, as the freeze/thaw cycles continue, the brick actually crumbles from the inside.
If you’ve lived in the Louisville area for more than a year, you’re aware that we potentially experience rain and freezing temperatures in the same day for at least 4 months out of the year. As this 9% expansion and release continues, you can then understand why the chimney actually is deteriorating at a rate that is approximately 4 time that of your home.
However, this damage is preventable with an appropriate application of masonry water repellant. If you get the wrong material, you will not get the desired effects because masonry sealant and water repellant are not the same things! Knowing the difference can make or break the life of your chimney. Just putting coats of sealers on the chimney will clog masonry pores and cause the surface to darken or appear glossy. When this happens, water has actually been trapped in the brick, which accelerates the deterioration.
Water repellants are vapor-permeable, which means water vapors go through the bricks without the brick absorbing water.
Call or contact American Chimney & Fireplace, LLC about the specific water repellant that has been proven effective and tested to ATSM E514 standards and provides 10 times the water protection of typical brands. You will be glad you got the right treatment the first time. Call American Chimney & Fireplace at 502-435-2364 or request an appointment online.
Chimney leaks are just one of the things that point to the possible need for chimney repairs or rebuilding, so don’t delay in getting immediate attention to this serious problem.
