Family-owned chimney masonry repair in Lake Hart

Cracks that run through the bricks themselves

In a brick wall, the mortar is designed to give way before the brick does, so cracks normally follow the joints. A crack that runs straight through several bricks tells you the masonry has been stressed harder than the joints could relieve.

Brick industry guidance lists cracks through multiple units among the structural indicators. We look for the cause, from movement to hard old patches or attachments loading the chimney, and explain whether the bricks can be replaced in place or the section needs rebuilding.

Only breathable products on exterior brick

Exterior brickwork should only receive water repellents that let water vapor pass, such as silanes and siloxanes. Brick industry guidance adds that film-forming coatings should not be applied to exterior brick at all.

A film traps moisture inside the masonry, where it can do more damage than rain on the surface. If your chimney already carries a film coating, we explain what it means for the repair and how we deal with it. Removing an old film coating is sometimes part of the repair, and when it is, the estimate describes the method and the area.

Protecting roofing and landscaping

Masonry repair means heavy materials, mortar, dust and debris around the chimney. Shingles, tiles, gutters and plants below can all be damaged if the work is not planned.

We protect the roof around the work area, cover plantings and walkways where debris might land and carry materials rather than dragging them across the roof. Tell us about anything delicate before the day, and we will plan around it. If a section of roofing is already damaged near the chimney, we point it out before work starts, so it is not confused with anything our crew did.

Questions worth asking before you approve masonry work

A sound masonry proposal should answer each of these clearly. If one gets a vague answer, ask again, since each affects how the repair performs and what it includes.

• What is causing the damage, and is it fixed by this repair?
• Where exactly does the repair area start and stop?
• Which mortar type is proposed, and why?
• How close will the brick and mortar match be?
• What happens if more damage turns up?
• Which separate repairs, if any, are recommended?