The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has called water the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. However, there is one thing making it even more destructive: cold weather! While your chimney was built to last a lifetime, it can suffer damage during the winter. In addition, damage that can get worse if you do not have it repaired in a timely manner. Blue Ridge Chimney Services has seen chimneys in danger of collapsing because of cold weather damage not being repaired.
How does cold weather damage masonry?
Masonry materials are naturally porous. This means they absorb water every time it rains or snows. Whenever the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, any moisture that is inside the bricks and mortar joints freezes and expands. When the weather warms back up, the water thaws. The force of the water thawing out can be so strong that it causes the bricks and mortar joints to crack and break apart. Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing over the winter can lead to serious structural damage. Consequently, even to the collapse of the chimney, if the damage isn’t repaired. This is because the cracks in the bricks and mortar can also lead to leaks. This type of damage is called spalling.
How can Blue Ridge Chimney Services repair cold weather masonry damage?
We have several experienced chimney masonry technicians. These technicians can perform a variety of repair and restoration services. We can handle all sorts of chimney masonry jobs – from big to small. If you need a new chimney or fireplace, we are experts at masonry construction. This means we can also do chimney and fireplace rebuilds. Even though your firebox is constructed with bricks and mortar that is especially made to withstand high temperatures, over time these masonry materials wear down from erosion and need to be replaced. We also do firebox repairs and construction services. These are very important for your safety.
Do you have cracks in your firebox? If so, heat can transfer through those cracks to the combustible parts of your home. So, now going back to cold weather masonry damage. We are experienced in replacing damaged bricks and mortar joints to restore the structure of your chimney. We are trained in masonry techniques like tuckpointing. This is where we use specialized pointed tools to tuck in mortar to replace damaged masonry materials. Blue Ridge can also repair and construct chimney crowns. These also get damaged from cold weather. Even better, we can protect your masonry chimney from spalling damage. By using our waterproofing services, we create a barrier against water from being absorbed by the bricks and mortar joints.
If your chimney has suffered from cold weather masonry damage, we can help! Contact us at Blue Ridge Chimney Services to schedule an appointment for our masonry repair services today. We can also tell you more about our water penetration services. These include flashing and waterproofing – and will protect you from cold weather water damage.