Local stone chimney repair for Lake Underhill homes

The layers behind manufactured stone

On a wood-framed chase, one maker's instructions list the assembly in order, sheathing, two layers of water-resistive barrier, galvanized metal lath, a scratch coat, a mortar setting bed, the stone and the mortar joint. Each layer has a job, and a failure in one shows up in the stone.

When a section of veneer comes loose, we look at every layer behind it before resetting anything. Rebuilding the missing layer along with the stone is what makes the repair last.

• Sheathing on the framing
• Two layers of water-resistive barrier
• Metal lath and scratch coat
• Setting bed, stone and joint

Tinting mortar to suit the stone

Mortar color shapes how stonework looks from a distance. One maker suggests tinting regular mortar with iron oxide pigments, for example tan mortar with earth-tone stone, to complement the stone.

For repairs, the goal is to match the existing joints as they are. We mix small test batches, let them dry, since mortar lightens as it cures, and compare them with your joints before the real batch is made.

Flashing where the stone starts and stops

The maker's instructions call for corrosion-resistant flashing or weep screed and a means of drainage at all penetrations and terminations of the stone cladding, with flashing type and locations following the applicable building code.

On a chimney, those edges include the roof line, the top under the cap and any trim transitions. Missing or failed flashing at an edge can explain water behind stone, so we check every edge on the chimney.

When moisture is forced through the stone

The brief explains that masonry deterioration from deposits left by evaporating water happens when the mortar is less permeable than the masonry unit. Moisture that cannot leave through the joints leaves through the stone, and the minerals it carries can damage the stone face as they are left behind.

Flaking stone next to hard, gray patching is a pattern we look for. The repair is to remove the hard mortar, repoint with a compatible mix and replace any units too damaged to keep.

Save 10% on stone chimney repair booked within 72 hours

Any service booked within 72 hours after your free inspection is 10% off, and stone chimney repair counts. Mention the offer when you book, and it appears on your written estimate before you approve anything.

The discount applies to the service you book, including resetting, repointing and stone replacement when they are part of that job. It is a simple offer from a local business, honored the same way every time.