Your local chimney mason for repairs in Wadeview Park

Removing vines without damaging the brick

Ivy shoots work their way into gaps in the mortar and bring moisture in with them. Technical Note 46 says to cut vines away from the wall rather than pull them, which can damage the brickwork, and to let the remaining shoots dry out before brushing them off.

Chemicals and acids are not recommended for the job. Once the growth is gone, any joints it opened are repointed as part of the repair area, since those are the openings water will use next. Where roots have pushed deep into the joints, the repair area extends to sound mortar behind them.

What the repair looks like in the first weeks

New mortar and new brick rarely look identical to weathered masonry on the day the work is finished. Joint color changes as mortar cures and dries, and brick faces settle into their surroundings over time.

We tell you before the work what the repaired area should look like after it has cured, not only on day one. If the difference after curing is larger than we said it would be, that is a conversation we want to have. A note of how the chimney looked before the work helps you compare fairly once the new mortar has cured.

Materials for a rebuilt section

When a section of chimney is taken down and relaid, the new masonry is laid in full mortar beds and joints, with brick matched to the existing units and mortar chosen for compatibility.

Sound brick from the section can often be cleaned and reused, which helps the match. The rebuilt section keeps the chimney's original wall thickness and shape, and the estimate lists the materials we plan to use. Before the old section comes down, we record its dimensions and details so the rebuilt masonry goes back to the same shape.

Questions worth asking before you approve masonry work

A sound masonry proposal should answer each of these clearly. If one gets a vague answer, ask again, since each affects how the repair performs and what it includes.

• What is causing the damage, and is it fixed by this repair?
• Where exactly does the repair area start and stop?
• Which mortar type is proposed, and why?
• How close will the brick and mortar match be?
• What happens if more damage turns up?
• Which separate repairs, if any, are recommended?