Many times as a homeowner or
property investor you will find your chimney in need of some minor chimney
repair or chimney sweeping. 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 begin the repair process.
The second step is to assess the
level of chimney repair necessary. If your chimney crown is cracked this can
often times be a simple enough chimney repair to perform for an experienced
do-it-yourselfer. The chimney crown is the top concrete part of the
chimney. Any chimney crown repair begins
with the removal of the damaged crown. Most Chimney repair specialist will chip
away the concrete with a rotary hammer or pneumatic chisel. As a DIY homeowner
an older and more manual method may be necessary to remove the chimney crown.
For this I would recommend a chisel, 5 lb sledge hammer, & brick hammer. Of
coarse the tool necessary for chimney repair and chimney crown replacement are
dependent on the size and thickness of the crown.
Once you have removed the chimney crown inspect the flue on the chimney. The chimney flue liner is the ceramic
insert that runs up the center of the chimney. If the flue is cracked it may be
time to call in a chimney repair professional. Provided the chimney flu is in
sound condition you can begin replacing the chimney crown. The next step in the chimney repair process is
the clean and loose debris and dust of the top of the chimney. Use a stiff bristle
brush to clean of any particles.
The next step in the chimney repair
process is to mix up some concrete. In most cases I recommend that the DIY
homeowner use a redi-mix concrete. When I do a chimney repair I prefer using
fiber reinforced crack resistant concrete. I have found that the
thicker/stiffer the concrete is mixed the less likely it is to run down the
side of the chimney this will make for a cleaner chimney repair. When working
in a warmer climate and temperatures exceed 80 degrees on the day you do your
chimney repair you will want to mix your concrete more thin/loose.
Make sure to slope your concrete
away from the ceramic flue liner to allow for proper water drainage. I find
that when you make your chimney crown thicker it makes for a longer lasting
chimney repair. On Most chimney repairs on chimney crown pour the concrete 4-7
inches thick at the flue and slope it down to a 2 inch edge. Achieving a smooth
finish on your concrete can take years of practice to master but with some
patience most DIY homeowners can handle this repair
The above information has been
provided for the benefit of the DIY homeowner by Mark Allen Maupin of
Brick Repair LLC (248) 895-7752. Brick Repair LLC Is a
local Michigan chimney cleaning and chimney sweeping masonry repair contractor with the last 12 years specialized in
masonry restoration and repair. We are experts at matching brick and
mortar color We offer free estimates for any of the following services:
Chimney repair, Chimney construction, Chimney crown repair, chimney cap
replacement, Chimney rebuilds, Chimineas Tuckpointing, Natural stone,
Limestone replacement, Cultured stone, brick porch repair, Brick porch
construction, Brick wall construction, toothing work, pointing and
repointing work, grout replacement, and historic restoration. We look
forward to the opportunity to help you with and brick, block or stone
project.
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