Natural and cultured stone chimney repair in Colonialtown South

Three ways a chimney ends up stone

A stone chimney can be built of solid stone masonry, with thick units that make up the wall itself. It can be natural stone veneer, thinner stone set against a masonry or framed backing. Or it can be manufactured stone veneer, a lightweight cast product adhered over a layered backing.

From the street, all three can look alike. Their repairs do not. We identify the construction first, because the right mortar, the right method and the right questions about water all depend on it.

• Solid stone masonry
• Natural stone veneer on a backing
• Manufactured stone over lath and barrier

Metal lath and how it is fastened

Lath gives the scratch coat something to grip. The instructions we follow call for lath installed to ASTM C1063, typically with corrosion-resistant fasteners every 6 inches vertically and 16 inches horizontally into framing, and self-furred so mortar can wrap behind it.

When we open failed veneer, lath tells a story. Rusted, loose or poorly fastened lath explains stones that pull away in sheets. We replace damaged lath before building the backing back up, and we note the fastening in the findings.

Caring for stonework after the repair

Once the mortar has cured, the repaired chimney needs little. Keep gutters clear and downspouts pointed away from the stone, keep mulch and soil back from a veneer base and skip pressure washing.

Walk around the chimney after big storms and look for missing stones, new stains or a shifted cap. Anything that looks different is worth a call, and a follow-up look is part of how we stand behind the work.

A yearly look at a stone chimney

NFPA 211 expects every chimney, fireplace and vent to be inspected yearly at the least. For a stone chimney, that yearly visit covers the flue and the stonework together.

We tap the stones, check the joints and look at the cap, flashing and base each time. Most years the answer is a routine note. The written record helps spot small changes early, before a loose stone becomes a missing one.

Same-day visits for loose stone

A fallen stone or a piece hanging loose can make you want an answer quickly. Same-day service is available when the schedule allows.

On a same-day visit, we make the area safe first, then inspect the chimney, explain what we see and give you the written estimate as soon as possible. The full repair is scheduled around the weather and your plans.