| 1) Most masonry chimneys consist
of a ceramic liner called the flue quite
simply, the flue is the vertical passageway that allows smoke and debris to
escape from your house. Usually, there is one flue for each heating appliance
in your home, which includes fireplaces, furnaces and wood stoves. However,
each brick chimney can contain more than one flue. The flue is open and exposed
at the top to allow for ventilation. This will also allow moisture to drain
done the center of it. This is really the simplest “leak” issue to fix. The way
to repair your leak is to install a chimney cap. Most chimney caps are a
stainless steel cover that attaches to the top of the chimney. A chimney cap
consists of a spark arrester to prevent fires and a mesh of expanded metal
section to prevent animals from entering the chimney.
2) It may be that the Masonry it
self is damaged. . The first step is
gain access to the chimney. If your chimney is 30 feet tall and inaccessible it
may be wise to hire a chimney repair specialist. Most reputable masonry
contractors will provide you with a free estimate. Once you have gained access
to your chimney you can examine the extent of the damage. If the concrete of
the top of the chimney is damaged or the mortar between the bricks is cracked
and deteriorated it may be time to bring in a professional to replace the
chimney crown and or tuck point the mortar joints.
3) It may be that the flashing
around the chimney is inadequate, worn, corroded, or that it was improperly
installed in the first place. This is simple enough to access all that is
necessary is to take your typical garden hose and run water over the flashing
where it meets the masonry
The above information has been
provided for the benefit of homeowners by Mark Allen Maupin of Brick
Repair LLC He is a local
Michigan
masonry contractor with the last 12 years specialized in masonry restoration
and Chimney repair. He is an expert at matching brick and mortar color. He will
offer free estimates or answer question
for any of the following services: Chimney rebuilds, Tuck pointing, Natural stone, Limestone
replacement, Cultured stone, brick porch repair, Brick porch construction,
Brick wall construction, pointing and
work, grout replacement, and historic restoration.
Mr. Maupin looks
forward to the opportunity to help you with and brick, block or stone project.
Brick Repair LLC is building an extensive library of DIY devoted to the masonry Trade For more information about chimneys click here
Brick Repair LLC is happy to serve the following
communities: Oakland County Keego
Harbor, Lake Orion, Romulus, Roseville, Auburn Hills, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Lathrup Village, Sterling Heights, Sylvan
Lake, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake Oakland
Count, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Madison
Heights, Milford, New Hudson, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Orchard Lake, Orion,
Orchard Lake, Ortonville, Pontiac, Redford, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Brighton, Canton, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce, Dearborn,
Dearborn Heights, Ferndale, Drayton Plains, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington
Hills, Grosse pointe, Highland, Highland Park,
Bloomfield township,Howell, Hunington woods, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield,, Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston County | |