Stone veneer chimney repair by local pros in Palomar

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

Preparing joints before filling

Preservation guidance wants the old mortar cut out cleanly to a flat, squared back, and the joint washed free of dust and loose grit. At the time of filling, joints should be damp with no standing water.

Dust and a rounded back are what let new mortar pop out later. Our crew cleans each joint to a square, sound back and dampens it just before filling, section by section.

Looking at the chimney from the attic

Where a chimney passes through an attic that can be entered safely, the inside of the chase or the chimney face there can show stains, damp framing or light where there should be none.

We look there when access allows, since it often explains what the outside only hints at. Nothing is disturbed, and anything we find is written into the findings with the part of the chimney it points to.

A yearly look at a stone chimney

NFPA 211 expects every chimney, fireplace and vent to be inspected yearly at the least. For a stone chimney, that yearly visit covers the flue and the stonework together.

We tap the stones, check the joints and look at the cap, flashing and base each time. Most years the answer is a routine note. The written record helps spot small changes early, before a loose stone becomes a missing one.

Upfront pricing on stone chimney repair

Stone repair can sound open-ended, since you cannot always see how deep the damage goes. Our pricing is upfront. After the free inspection, every part of the job has its own price on the written estimate before any work starts.

No hidden fees are added later. If opening an area reveals something new, we stop, show you and give you the choice. The price you approve is the price of the work described.