Local stone chimney repair for Lake Hart homes

Mortar for manufactured stone repairs

Setting mortar has its own standards. The instructions we follow list mortars meeting ASTM C270 Type N or Type S, or ASTM C1714 Type N or Type S, for setting manufactured stone, with admixtures, bonding agents and pigments meeting their own ASTM standards.

We choose within those types to suit the job and follow the mortar maker's mixing and open-time directions, since over- or under-mixing can weaken the bond. The estimate names the mortar, so you know what goes on your chimney.

How deep to rake out stone joints

The National Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 sets the raking depth at 2 to 2 and a half times the joint width as a minimum, so new mortar bonds and stays put. For stone masonry with wide joints, that can mean several inches.

Loose or crumbling mortar beyond that depth also comes out. The brief shows new mortar falling out of a joint that was not prepared deeply enough. We rake to a sound depth and show you the prepared joints before filling.

• At least 2 to 2 and a half times the joint width
• Deeper where mortar is loose
• Square back so new mortar locks in

What cannot be seen from the surface

A surface inspection shows the stone, the joints and the details at the edges. It cannot show the condition of the barrier, lath and scratch coat behind intact veneer, or the core of a solid stone chimney.

We say so in writing. When a finding suggests a hidden problem, we explain what a small opening would involve and what it would cost, and nothing is opened without your approval.

Association reviews and exterior changes

Some homeowner associations review changes to how a home looks from outside. A repair that matches the existing stone usually changes nothing, while re-cladding a chase in a new stone or color may need approval first.

If your home belongs to an association like that, we can provide the product names, colors and a description of the work for its review. Sorting that out before the job avoids delays once work has started.

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.