CHIMNEYS

Proper care and maintenance is necessary to ensure that your masonry chimney is secure from water infiltration and remains standing for the life of your home.

The key components of your chimney include: bricks, mortar, clay flue liners, flue cap and base flashings. Timely repairs must be made to these items to ensure that deterioration of the chimney does not occur.

When chimney repairs are postponed or otherwise neglected, the consequences can be stained wall covering or plaster, rotted wood, rusted damper assemblies, deteriorated firebox assemblies, cracked flue liners and partial or total collapse of the chimney walls.

Over time, rainwater washing over mortar joints of the chimney will erode mortar between the bricks. Left unattended, the loss of mortar will result in the loosening of the bricks and will allow water to penetrate into the walls of the chimney. Over time, this can cause mortar to be pushed out from between bricks and may even cause the bricks themselves to flake and fall away, further deteriorating the chimney.

If bricks and mortar deteriorate significantly, the integrity of the chimney is compromised. Walls that are missing bricks and mortar are prone to collapse either partially or completely. If the chimney falls, it will cause further leakage into the building and possible structural damage.

A periodic inspection of your chimney is one of the best preventative measures you can take to avoid water damage to your home. Often, potential roof leaks can be discovered before they materialize. Regular maintenance of the chimney may prevent leakage and damage to the building’s interior and more costly repairs. For a professional assessment of your chimney, consult the experts at the Chimney Division of Garlock-French Corporation.