Breathable chimney waterproofing across Windhover
Stop guessing about that damp chimney. Our Windhover pros inspect for free and put the fix, and its limits, in writing.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What your chimney waterproofing estimate in Windhover covers
These items keep a waterproofing job in Windhover from sealing in a problem that needed a repair.
- Product name, chemistry and maker's data sheet
- Test patch location and what we check on it
- Roof access and ladder setup for your home
- Product and application details kept for your records
Getting chimney sealing right on Windhover homes
How the job runs in Windhover, and where your choices come in.
Siloxane repellents and brick
Siloxanes react with the silica and alumina in brick and mortar and leave a water-repellent zone just under the surface. Masonry guidance recommends them when a repellent is used on exterior brick walls, and many chimney products are built on modified siloxane chemistry.
The ChimneySaver water-base repellent, for example, is described by its maker as a modified siloxane that penetrates masonry up to a quarter inch or more depending on porosity. We choose a product for your chimney by its listed substrates and data, then write its name and chemistry into your estimate so nothing is left vague.
The masonry above the roofline
The part of a chimney above the roof stands in the open, catches rain from every direction and has no eaves to shelter it. Masonry guidance points out that chimneys take a lot of wind-driven rain, plus water running down off the crown.
That exposed section is usually where the inspection starts and where the treatment matters most. We look at the joints, the brick faces, the crown and the flashing together, repair what needs it and then treat the masonry that is taking on water. The rest of the chimney is judged on its own condition.
Sealant where masonry meets other materials
Where masonry meets metal, wood or siding, a flexible sealant usually fills the joint. When that sealant cracks or pulls away, water runs straight into the gap. Masonry guidance lists replacing failed sealant among the repairs a repellent should not replace.
On a chimney, those joints can be around a cricket, at the counterflashing or where a chase meets brick. We check them during the inspection and replace failed sealant as a separate item. The masonry repellent then handles what it is made for, which is the water the brick and mortar absorb.
When a chimney does not need waterproofing
The Brick Industry Association states that a water repellent is not necessary for water resistance in brickwork under normal exposures when the materials, detailing, construction and maintenance are right. Many sound chimneys fit that description.
If yours does, we say so. You may still choose a treatment on a very exposed chimney, and we will explain the tradeoffs, but we will not push one. Honest advice is part of being a local, family-owned company. We would rather earn your call next time than sell a coat you did not need this time.
Other work in Windhover
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Before your waterproofing job in Windhover
Questions we hear on waterproofing visits in Windhover, answered plainly.
Do I need to be home during the treatment?
Not always. We need access to the roof and to the area around the base of the chimney. If you can be home at the start and for the walkthrough at the end, that is a good time to ask questions and see the result.
Why not use a glossy sealer on the chimney?
Film-forming products such as acrylics, waxes, stearates and urethanes can stop rain at the face but slow drying from inside. Water that gets behind them can leave a white haze, trapped salts and flaking brick, and masonry guidance discourages them on exterior brick. We use breathable penetrating repellents instead.
Request your free estimate
Share the job details and arrange a free inspection with our local team.
- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
Need an answer now? Call (352) 675-6376
Your request is received
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