Masonry and factory-built chimney repair in Oakland

Rust streaks running down the chimney

Orange or brown streaks down a chimney come from steel above them. They start under a rusting cap, a spark screen, a metal chase top or another steel part at the top, and they grow each time rain runs over the metal.

Rust on a part at the top of a chimney means that part is not standing up to the water it sees. BIA guidance says a metal rain cap should be corrosion resistant, and flashing is expected to be corrosion-resistant sheet metal for the same reason. A part that rusts through lets water in as well as staining the brick.

The fix starts at the source. Each streak is traced up to the part that made it, that part is replaced with corrosion-resistant metal and the stain is treated as a cleaning item for after the repair. On homes in Oakland, the estimate names the rusting part first and the stain second.

Vines and plants growing on the chimney

Ivy on a chimney can look settled and harmless, but its small shoots work into voids in the mortar and may carry moisture into them. BIA maintenance guidance lists plant growth among the things that can contribute to water getting into brickwork.

Removing it the wrong way does its own damage. The guidance says to cut vines away from the wall rather than pulling them off, which could damage the brick. The shoots left behind are allowed to dry and darken before they are brushed off with a stiff fiber brush and detergent, and chemicals or acids are not used on them.

Once the growth is gone, the joints underneath get a proper look, since BIA notes repointing may be necessary if the mortar cracks or deteriorates as the ivy comes off. Removal and any joint repair are priced as separate lines.

The shape of a mortar joint sheds water

The finished shape of a mortar joint affects how well it keeps water out. BIA guidance on water penetration says concave, V and grapevine joints best resist water in exterior brickwork, because tooling presses the mortar against the brick into a dense, weather-tight surface.

Other profiles are meant for interior work. Flush, raked, struck and similar joints are not recommended outside, since they either leave the outer mortar unconsolidated or form small ledges where water can pond. The same guidance calls full bed joints an inherent requirement for water-resistant brickwork and says to tool joints when the mortar is thumbprint hard.

Repointed or replaced brick is tooled to a profile that sheds water. BIA maintenance guidance asks for the last layer of repointing mortar to be tooled to match the original profile, so where the existing joints are raked or flush, the estimate explains the choice between matching them and switching to a profile that keeps water out.

Same-day visits when the schedule allows

Same-day service is available when the schedule allows. A sudden leak around the chimney, a damper stuck open or a piece of masonry that has come loose are the problems where an early look helps most, because each one can get worse while it waits.

The first visit is for finding the cause and writing the estimate. No repair work goes ahead until you have approved that estimate, even when the fix turns out to be small, and homeowners in Oakland see what the repair involves before anything starts.

When you get in touch, a clear description helps us plan the visit. These details cover most of it.

• What you see, where it is and when it started
• Whether it shows up only when it rains
• Whether the fireplace has been used since
• Roof access, gates and pets