Winter weather can be brutal on the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney. You may have noticed damage such as cracked, loose, or missing bricks and mortar joints on the exterior of your chimney. Not only does this masonry deterioration jeopardize the structure of your chimney, it can also lead to serious water leaks. If you have spotted any damage to the outside of your chimney, Blue Ridge Chimney Services can help. We provide professional chimney masonry repair services to the residents of the Shenandoah Valley. We would like to tell you more about masonry damage and why you should take care of repairs now.
Why is winter weather so rough on masonry chimneys?
Bricks and mortar joints are porous, meaning they absorb water from rain, melted ice, and snow all year round. The reason why so much masonry deterioration occurs during the winter season, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), has to do with the freeze/thaw process. The moisture that has been absorbed by the bricks and mortar joints will freeze and expand within these masonry materials. As this water thaws when the weather warms up, it can cause cracking and crumbling of the masonry work. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can quicken the deterioration of the masonry materials and lead to bricks and mortar joints becoming loose and falling from the chimney structure. Neglecting the damage could also lead to the entire chimney structure collapsing.
Why is now the best time to have Blue Ridge Chimney Services repair my damaged chimney masonry?
Certain weather conditions are needed to best repair damaged masonry. The spring season offers the perfect temperatures and humidity levels for us to successfully make these repairs. Our CSIA-certified chimney technicians have the skills and training to use masonry techniques like tuckpointing. We remove the damaged bricks and mortar joints and replace them with durable masonry materials that will match your existing chimney. Once we have completed these repairs, we can help you prevent future winter weather damage with a variety of water penetration preventive services. We strongly recommend waterproofing, as it creates a barrier against water from entering the bricks and mortar joints. We use a water repellent formula that comes with a warranty to protect your chimney for up to 15 years!
Now is the best time to take care of your chimney masonry repairs. If you have noticed damaged bricks and mortar joints on your chimney exterior, contact us today at Blue Ridge Chimney Services to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney masonry repair services.