When the temperature drops below freezing here in the Shenandoah Valley, it can cause damage to your masonry chimney, and repeated cycles of freezing and thawing can accelerate the deterioration of the bricks and mortar joints, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). By the end of a long, cold winter, the structure and soundness of your chimney could be in serious jeopardy. Fortunately, Blue Ridge Chimney Services is experienced with both repairing and preventing freeze/thaw cycle damage to masonry chimneys. We would like to tell you more about how this damage occurs and how we can help keep your chimney.
What exactly is freeze/thaw damage?
Masonry materials are naturally porous, which means they absorb water from rain and melted ice and snow. The bricks and mortar joints potentially trap the moisture inside and cause damage. Whenever the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, that moisture will freeze and expand. The damage occurs when the weather warms back up and the water thaws. Its force can cause the masonry to crack and break apart. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can lead to bricks and mortar joints becoming loose and falling from the chimney. If this type of damage is neglected, your chimney is at risk of a possible collapse.
How can Blue Ridge Chimney Services help me with freeze/thaw chimney damage?
Have you noticed any chipped, cracked, crumbled, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints on the exterior of your chimney? Our CSIA-certified chimney technicians can remove the damaged masonry materials. We can also replace them to restore the safety and structural integrity of your chimney. After we have repaired the damaged chimney masonry, we can take a look at your chimney to see how we can help you prevent future freeze/thaw damage. We provide a wide range of professional chimney water penetration preventive services, including chimney cap installation, customized flashing repair and construction, and waterproofing.
Keeping your chimney dry is the most important way to prevent winter weather damage and deterioration. You can trust us to help you avoid freeze/thaw problems.
Protect your chimney from freeze/thaw damage. Contact us at Blue Ridge Chimney Services to schedule an appointment for a professional chimney inspection.