Chimney masonry contractor for repairs in Apopka

Signs that point past routine masonry repair

Brick Industry Association Technical Note 46 lists conditions that are structural rather than routine maintenance, and says they generally warrant investigation by a professional engineer.

When we see any of them, we tell you before quoting a repair, because patching a crack that is caused by movement tends to crack again.

• Cracks wider than about 0.075 inch, or 2 mm
• Cracks that pass through several bricks
• Cracks that follow a stepped or diagonal pattern
• Widespread spalled brick
• Masonry that has moved out of plane

Stepped cracks along the mortar joints

A crack that climbs the chimney in steps, following the bed and head joints, is one of the patterns brick industry guidance lists as possibly structural. It often means one part of the masonry has moved relative to another.

We check whether the faces on either side of the crack are still flush or have shifted, and whether the crack continues into the house wall or the chimney base. Repointing a stepped crack can be part of the answer, but only after the movement behind it is understood.

What paint and patches can hide

A painted chimney or one covered in patches can look uniform while the joints and brick behind the surface fail. The finish itself may be trapping moisture.

We look closely for hollow sounds, bulges, cracking in the paint and damp staining at the edges. Where the surface does not reveal the condition beneath, the estimate says what limited removal would show, so you are not paying for a cosmetic patch over an unknown. Painted brick that is sound can stay painted. The decision depends on what the paint is and what it covers, and we explain it either way.

Cracks near the flue opening

Masonry close to the flue sees heat from the fire below, and cracks can develop around the top of the flue and the crown. Some of those cracks are in the crown, some in the brick and some in the flue liner itself.

We sort out which part has cracked before recommending anything, because each has a different repair. Masonry repair covers the brick and joints, while crown and flue work are written up separately. Cracks near the flue that are left open let water into the top of the chimney, where it can reach masonry and liner alike.