Chimney Rebuilding 101
Like any masonry structure, chimneys can deteriorate over time due to the natural wear and tear of constant exposure to the elements. Here’s your guide to understanding when it’s time to rebuild your chimney and a breakdown of the “how”.
Why Chimneys Fail
Chimneys are constantly exposed to the elements. Rain, snow, freezing temperatures, and even small animals can all play a role in the deterioration of your chimney structure. Along with the elements, chimneys are also exposed to hazardous gasses, creosote buildup, and the heat from your fireplace.
Common Chimney Damage
Moisture Intrusion
When it rains or snows your chimney is vulnerable to water intrusion which can cause bricks to erode and mortar to fail over time.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
In cold climates, winter snow brings the freeze-thaw cycle into play. During the freeze thaw cycle, your chimney’s porous bricks expand causing cracks and leading to potentially severe damage.
Crown Damage
When your chimney crown becomes damaged, your chimney is vulnerable to further water damage and debris build up in the chimney’s interior.
Creosote Buildup
When your fireplace burns, the smoke produces a byproduct called creosote. As creosote builds, it begins to harden. This tar-like substance is highly flammable and as time passes, it becomes more and more difficult to remove. If creosote is not removed, your structure may be at serious risk of a chimney fire.
Leaning Chimney
Chimneys can lean for different reasons. Unstable foundations, shifting soil, poor construction and several other factors could all be the culprit. Regardless of the cause, a shifting or leaning chimney can be very dangerous.
What Can I Do to Stop Damage Early?
If damage is caught early enough, it can often be resolved with simpler repairs.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing is one repair option that can help when your mortar joints are suffering the effects of the elements. Tuckpointing involves replacing failing mortar and replacing it with fresh mortar.
Crown Repairs
If your crown is cracked or damaged in any way, a crown repair might be the solution to your chimney troubles.
Partial Rebuilding
Sometimes, damage is caught early enough to avoid a total chimney rebuild. When your chimney is severely damaged, but not yet in need of a complete rebuild, we might be able to save your chimney with a partial rebuild.
What Happens During a Chimney Rebuild?
If your chimney is beyond simple repair, our experts will suggest a complete chimney rebuild in order to restore safety and efficiency to your home and chimney. So, what exactly goes into a chimney rebuild? Let’s talk through each step of the process!
Inspection
Before any serious repair projects, we’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your chimney in order to assess the level of damage and structural integrity of your chimney.
Preparation
After the inspection in complete, our team will prepare the areas surrounding your chimney to ensure proper safety measures are in place.
Demolition
The first step before any repairs can begin is, of course, removing the damaged structure. Our team will go section by section, removing the damaged components from your chimney.
Foundation Repairs
If your foundation is found to be unstable, our team will make any necessary repairs to ensure stability of your new structure.
Rebuilding
Now comes the main event: rebuilding brick by brick! Our team will use quality materials and expertise to rebuild your chimney.
Installing new components
Once the structure has been rebuilt, we’ll add on all the other protective and functional equipment your chimney needs including a crown, cap, and flue liner.
Final Inspection
After all repairs and rebuilding are complete, we’ll conduct a final inspection to ensure everything has been done according to code and standards.
Call the Chimney Pros Today!
If you’re dealing with a damaged chimney, don’t wait. Felgemacher Masonry & Chimney is here to help you. Contact us online or give us a call to schedule your inspection, cleaning, and repairs today!
