Tuckpointing: When Chimney Mortar Needs Repair
The mortar that holds the bricks together in a chimney might last for 25 years. But at some point, it’s going to weaken and crumble, and then all kinds of problems may start.
American Chimney & Fireplace of Louisville, KY, does many chimney repair projects, and tuckpointing of chimney mortar is one of the most important. Here’s why.
The Result of Deteriorated Mortar Joints
Mortar that’s crumbling between a chimney’s bricks can open the way for serious issues. Here are three of the main concerns.
- Water Leaks
Open spaces in the masonry will allow rain and melting snow to move inside. Once there, the moisture begins to eat away at the bricks and further deplete the mortar.
Depending on how severe the leak is, water can enter the interior of the chimney, damaging chimney components and parts of the home. If the leak is near the base of the chimney where it abuts the roof, you could be looking at roof damage around the chimney.
- Structural Compromise
When water leaks into bricks, the chimney’s structure can be compromised. Widespread water damage can cause chimney bricks to fall away, causing the entire chimney to lean to one side.
In the worst-case scenario, the chimney can fall, damage the roof, and injure anyone in the yard near it at the time.
- Mold Growth
The interior space of a chimney is the ideal environment for the growth of potentially dangerous mold. Mold thrives in dark, damp, and poorly ventilated areas and can grow to the point that it spreads to other parts of the home.
Medical reports abound on the dangers of mold, particularly black mold and certain other varieties. People with existing respiratory conditions and mold allergies are especially susceptible to mold’s effects.
How Mortar Becomes Damaged
Mortar can crumble for several reasons, including:
- Old age
- Inferior mortar mixture when creating the compound
- Shoddy chimney building practices
- Lightning strikes
- Hail storms
- Chimney fires
- Season after season of extreme weather conditions
Tuckpointing Service
Professional masons and chimney technicians offer tuckpointing service to address crumbling mortar. It involves scraping away the weak and loose areas within the damaged mortar joints and filling the gaps with a strong new mortar compound.
During the job, the technician will inspect the chimney’s bricks to see if they’ve been affected by whatever has affected the mortar. They can replace the damaged bricks if necessary.
A good tuckpointing specialist will use new mortar that’s as close of a match as possible to the original mortar to give the chimney a uniform look. The specialist will also carefully shape and smooth out the new mortar to give it a neat, professional appearance.
In other words, after the job is done, your chimney will have renewed strength and look as if nothing has been done to it – except getting rid of the ugly, crumbling sections of mortar.
Call for Chimney Service
If you live in the Louisville, KY, area and are experiencing problems with your chimney’s mortar joints, American Chimney & Fireplace is ready to help. We offer tuckpointing, brick replacement, chimney repairs, and licensed chimney inspections by our crew of certified chimney experts.
Reach us by phone or through our contact form to get your chimney problems solved.
