Natural and cultured stone chimney repair in Waterford Lakes

Hand tools, grinders and stone edges

The same brief notes that hand chisels and mash hammers, though slow, pose the least threat of damage to masonry units, and that power saws and grinders in unskilled hands can break edges and overcut joints. It advises that power tools never be used on vertical joints.

Stone edges broken by a grinder make joints look wider and weaker. We remove mortar by hand wherever the joint allows and use power tools only on suitable horizontal joints, with care.

Brushing joints after tooling

After tooling, excess mortar at the edge of a joint can be brushed away with a natural bristle or nylon brush, according to the brief, which also says metal bristle brushes should never be used on historic masonry.

Metal bristles scratch stone and leave steel fragments that rust into stains. Our crew carries soft brushes for every stone job and brushes at the right point in the set, so the stone faces stay clean.

River rock and rounded stone chimneys

Rounded river rock has little flat surface to rest on, so the mortar does much of the holding. As joints erode, rocks lose their grip and can drop out.

Repairs on rock chimneys mean deep, careful repointing that packs mortar well around each rock and resetting loose ones in fresh mortar. Joint profiles on rock chimneys vary, from recessed to full, and we match the style of your chimney.

Stone faces that flake or spall

Spalling is when the outer face of a stone flakes or pops off. Moisture moving through the stone is usually involved, especially where hard mortar or a non-breathable coating keeps it from leaving through the joints.

Lightly spalled stones can stay if the cause is fixed. Badly damaged ones are replaced. Either way, the joints around them are repointed with a compatible mortar, and any coating that is trapping moisture is discussed before anything else is done.

What a stone chimney estimate lists

A clear stone estimate separates the work so you can see and approve each part. Ours list the stones to reset or replace, the joints to repoint and how deep, the mortar type and how it will be matched, and any access equipment.

Cap, crown, flashing, drainage and flue items sit on their own lines beside the stone work. Each has its own price, and the total does not change later without your approval.

• Stones to reset or replace
• Joints to repoint and depth
• Mortar type and color match
• Access and site protection
• Related items on their own lines