Rebuilding & Repointing Your Chimney

Old age and weather take their toll on your chimney, causing it to deteriorate, which is unsightly, decreases the value of your home, and is dangerous.

Fortunately, Above and Beyond Chimney Service offers repointing and rebuilding options to restore the look and safety of your chimney.

What Causes Chimney Damage?

Whether it’s a fallen tree, earthquake, heavy snow, or highwinds, Mother Nature can wreak havoc on your chimney, damaging mortar and knocking off brickwork.

Water

As your chimney gets older, cracks develop in the brick and mortar. And even tiny cracks let in moisture, which accumulates over time. Once moisture is in, the seasonal freeze/thaw cycle damages your chimney.

Lack of Maintenance

Even if you live in an area with little rainfall and haven’t experienced any natural disasters, using your chimney causes wear and tear. Ignoring annual chimney sweeping, inspection, and maintenance allows minor problems to escalate over time, leading to structural damage and poor chimney performance.

Chimney damage is practically unavoidable, but as mentioned, there are ways to restore your chimney’s structural integrity and keep it running efficiently.

 Repointing and Rebuilding, What’s The difference?

If, after professional chimney inspection, you find that your chimney needs repairs, you have two options: Repointing and Rebuilding, and the method depends on what state your chimney is in.

Let’s look at each technique.

Chimney Repointing

Your chimney is constructed of brick and mortar joints to keep the structure secure. Over time, the mortar joints decay, creating gaps between the bricks ––gaps that are prone to absorbing moisture, leading to water damage.

Repointing, or tuckpointing as it’s sometimes called, involves grounding out the old mortar to a uniform depth and adding new mortar to shore up the chimney. The result is improved stability, better protection, and a like-new appearance. Repointing is the best option if the chimney’s bricks are still in good condition; however, if the deterioration is too advanced, the other option is to rebuild your chimney.

Chimney Rebuilding

As mentioned, there are circumstances where the bricks are too severely damaged for repointing to be effective. Years of neglect or natural disasters are the primary causes leading to rebuilding your chimney, which is why it’s crucial you call a professional chimney service company for yearly inspection and maintenance.

When your chimney is in an advanced state of decay, it’s unsafe to use until it’s fixed. There are three types of chimney rebuilding, and your chimney contractor determines which method to employ based on the damage.

• Partial chimney rebuilding is used when damage is localized to a small section of a large chimney and may include crown rebuilding as well.
• Roofline rebuilding is when the contractor builds a new chimney up from the roof flashing.
• A complete chimney rebuild is the last resort if the entire chimney is damaged and unsafe.

Signs You Need Chimney Repair

The best way to determine what state your chimney is in is by scheduling a chimney inspection with a certified chimney specialist. However, there are signs to watch for that indicate chimney damage.

Here’s what to look for.

White Stains

As mentioned, water damage is a leading cause of chimney deterioration, and it sometimes manifests as white stains on the chimney’s exterior from water evaporation. If these stains are prevalent, call a chimney professional for an inspection as soon as possible.

Rust Forming on Your Damper or Firebox

Another sign that moisture is damaging your chimney is if you notice rust forming on the damper or firebox. Once moisture sets in, it not only wears down the mortar and brickwork over time, but it causes your chimney to run less efficiently.

Visible Damage

Most people don’t take time to look at their chimney’s exterior, but you should. You don’t have to get up on the roof, but if you can see visible signs of damage like cracked brickwork or gaps in the mortar, you can be sure your chimney is compromised, and the problem will only get worse if you don’t take immediate steps to repair it.

How Often Should I Have a Chimney Inspection?

Experts recommend yearly chimney inspection and maintenance to ensure your chimney runs efficiently and to catch minor problems before they escalate into major damage down the road. Rebuilding a chimney is expensive and labor-intensive, and the best way to avoid it is by hiring a professional chimney service for yearly inspection.

Above & Beyond Chimney Service is your complete chimney service company offering chimney cleaning, inspection, repair, and
rebuilding. We’re located on Doane Street, Cohasset, MA, and we serve residents throughout southern Massachusetts.

Contact us today to book an appointment at (781) 383-0415 or online.