Stone veneer chimney repair by local pros in Colonial Town Center

Cleaning manufactured stone the gentle way

Dirt on cast stone needs a light touch. The instructions we follow say it can be removed with granulated soap or detergent in water and a bristle brush, rinsed right away with fresh water. They rule out wire brushes, acid or acid-containing products, power washing and sandblasting.

Those methods can strip the colored surface of cast stone and leave marks that do not come out. We clean with the gentle method first and never reach for pressure or acid on manufactured stone.

• Detergent, water and a bristle brush
• Rinse right away with fresh water
• No wire brush, acid, pressure or blasting

Hard stone, soft stone and mortar strength

The brief notes that a mortar strong in compressive strength might suit hard stone such as granite, and that a strong mortar is still more permeable than hard, dense stone. Softer units call for softer, more permeable mixes.

So there is no single stone mortar. We identify the stone on your chimney, look at the existing mortar and choose a mix that suits both. The mix type is written into the estimate so you know what was used.

Stone chimney checks for rental homes

For a landlord, a loose stone is a safety concern for tenants and a repair that only grows if left alone. A yearly check between tenants catches loose units, failing joints and water problems early.

We coordinate access with you or a manager and schedule around move-in dates. The written findings and estimate give you one document for your records, with each repair on its own line.

Veneer set on old brick or block

Stone veneer can be applied directly to clean, untreated, unpainted masonry or concrete. The maker's instructions we follow note that painted, sealed, dirty or smooth surfaces need extra preparation, and recommend a site evaluation for existing unit masonry and engineering review for existing stucco.

When veneer on a masonry chimney lets go, the surface behind it is often the reason. We look at it closely before resetting anything and explain the preparation it needs.

Family-owned stone repair, start to finish

Our business is family owned and locally owned. Whoever inspects your chimney works for the same family that does the repair, with no call center or distant head office in between.

That shows up in small ways, such as tarps down before the first chisel, mortar samples shown before the full batch and a phone call answered when you have a question weeks later.