There can be many potential causes for crumbling chimney masonry – and even different ways the chimney can deteriorate.
The masonry for your chimney is the backbone of your fireplace, but sometimes that backbone becomes weakened and even crumbles. There can be many potential causes for a chimney that crumbles – and even different ways the chimney can deteriorate. Let’s explore some potential damage your chimney masonry can suffer over time.
Why Chimney Masonry Crumbles
There is a specific word used to describe chimney masonry that starts crumbling, and it is spalling: when concrete stone or rock is broken down into smaller pieces or breaks off in fragments. When it happens to your chimney masonry, it is unintentional and bad. There can be many reasons the masonry is spalling, but they all come back to the damaging effects of water. Most chimneys are made of brick, which is pretty porous and prone to water seepage. If you complement that with a broken crown, faulty chimney flashing, or deteriorating mortar, you have a recipe for more water and more water damage. You’ll know that you’ve got spalling happening if the face of the bricks is peeling or flaking off, or if you see masonry debris falling from your chimney. Without repairs, this will only get worse.
What To Do About It
The best defense is a good offense, as they say, so if you haven’t noticed the signs of spalling yet, perhaps you can get ahead of it. The most important thing you can do is ensure your yearly chimney maintenance is happening. This means that you have to be on top of scheduling your yearly inspection, having that chimney sweep appointment, and fixing any issue they notice. If you’ve already got spalling, you need to act fast and get it looked at as soon as possible. One solution is tuckpointing, which is a preventative measure in that you have to catch the problem early enough, and what it prevents is the cost and hassle of a complete chimney rebuild. Tuckpointing is replacing the mortar (which typically lasts about 25 years), resulting in a fully restored chimney that is as good as new. If you aren’t fast enough for tuckpointing to be the solution, you may need to rebuild your chimney.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning from Champion Chimneys, Inc.
When you need a trusted company for your chimney inspection and chimney cleaning, you can trust our team. Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.