Chimney Masonry Repair in Stuart, FL

What Chimney Masonry Is Up Against

A chimney stands above the roof with no eaves to protect it. Sun, wind and rain hit every side, and water that soaks into brick and mortar carries salts and dissolves the mortar slowly. In Florida's humid climate a chimney masonry problem can go from cosmetic to structural over a few rainy seasons.

Repointing and Mortar Repair

When mortar joints have worn back from the face of the brick, we grind out the old mortar to a consistent depth and pack new mortar in layers, tooled to match the original joints. The mix matters: mortar should be a little softer than the brick so that movement and moisture leave through the joints, not through the brick faces.

Repointing is routine chimney masonry work, and done early it prevents many of the other repairs.

Chimney Brick Repair and Replacement

Bricks that have cracked through or lost their faces cannot be patched well. We cut them out, set replacement bricks matched as closely as we can in size and color, and repoint around them. Chimney brick repair on the top courses often goes together with crown work, because the crown sits on those bricks.

Cracked Chimney Repair

Hairline cracks in a joint are a mortar job. A crack that runs through bricks in a stair-step pattern or opens wider at the top can mean movement, a failed crown or water damage inside the stack. Chimney crack repair starts with finding out why the crack formed, so the fix addresses the cause and not only the line on the surface.

When the masonry has moved too far, a partial rebuild of the top section is the honest recommendation, and we explain it on the roof.

Choosing a Chimney Mason

Masonry chimney repair is careful, slow work. A good chimney mason matches materials, protects the roof while working and cleans mortar off brick faces before it sets. As a family chimney masonry contractor, we treat the stack the way we would treat one on our own home.