Chimney masonry contractor for repairs in Mariners Village

Signs that point past routine masonry repair

Brick Industry Association Technical Note 46 lists conditions that are structural rather than routine maintenance, and says they generally warrant investigation by a professional engineer.

When we see any of them, we tell you before quoting a repair, because patching a crack that is caused by movement tends to crack again.

• Cracks wider than about 0.075 inch, or 2 mm
• Cracks that pass through several bricks
• Cracks that follow a stepped or diagonal pattern
• Widespread spalled brick
• Masonry that has moved out of plane

Why head joints need hand work

The short vertical joints between bricks are called head joints. Brick industry guidance warns that a grinder cannot remove the full depth of mortar from them without damaging the adjacent brick, so the remaining mortar has to come out with a chisel.

It is slower, and it is the difference between a clean repair and chipped brick corners along every joint. We budget the time for it in the estimate instead of rushing the step that shows the most.

No single mortar suits every chimney

No single mortar is best for all purposes, as Brick Industry Association Technical Note 8B puts it. The note advises selecting the type with the lowest compressive strength that meets the project's requirements, and adds that stronger is not necessarily better.

Mortar has to bond well, stay workable and suit the brick it sits beside. We explain why the type we propose fits your chimney, and we do not substitute a different one on the day without telling you. The mortar type we choose appears on the estimate with a line explaining why it suits your brick.

Old anchor holes and fasteners

Chimneys collect fasteners over the years, from old antenna straps to cable clips and light fixtures. Each hole drilled into brick or mortar can let water in and start a crack.

We remove attachments that no longer serve a purpose, fill the holes with material suited to the masonry and repair any joints the fasteners damaged. Anything still in use is left in place and noted in the estimate. Filled holes are finished to blend with the surrounding masonry as closely as practical, so the chimney does not end up dotted with patches.