Fix it, and Keep on Fixing It

Does your home have a brick chimney, and you have a reason to believe that there is water leaking inside it? If so, you'll need to call in a professional that deals with chimney masonry repair. Here are some things that are done to repair your chimney.

Selecting The Right Type Of Mortar

It's important that you pick a new type of mortar for your chimney. If you've ever seen noticeable repair jobs to chimney mortar, it is likely because they did a DIY repair and used white mortar. If the color looks different than your existing mortar, it is going to stand out in a bad way. That's why you want to match the color and texture of the mortar so that it blends in perfectly. This includes finding a mortar that is gritty and has a sandy texture if that's what is currently on your home. 

Chiseling Out The Old Mortar

Existing mortar that is crumbling will need to be removed to make room for the new mortar. This can be done by using a chisel in those select areas where the mortar needs to be replaced. The goal is to create a clean surface that the new mortar can adhere to, which shouldn't be too difficult if there is only evidence of water intrusion in a few select areas.

Look for cracks that form in stair-step patterns. If this is the kind of damage that you are noticing, it is likely due to the chimney settling over time. Follow the stair-steps down across the mortar until you are confident that all of the bad mortar has been removed. 

Applying The New Mortar

The easiest way to apply mortar in your chimney is to use mortar that can be applied with a caulking gun. This is because it can be injected into the spaces between the bricks that were just opened up, and avoids unnecessary overflow onto the brick. A good chimney masonry repair job will not result in excess mortar rubbing on the brick, since it should blend in seamlessly into the home. 

Fixing Cracked Bricks

If you have bricks that are cracking as well, those cracks will need to be filled with a caulking material that is the same color as the brick. This can also be applied with a caulking gun but requires more care to put in the minimum amount of caulk. This can be done by cutting the tip of the caulk tube as small as possible to give yourself more control and fit the caulk into small cracks.