The chimney pictured at left needs a great deal of help! The bricks have come loose and the gaps were previously poorly patched. This chimney requires a good tuckpointing job - refilling the loose gaps - then waterproofing it to prevent further deterioration. This chimney also needs a chimney cap to help keep birds, animals and leaves from entering the chimney.

Water causes far more damage to chimneys than fires do. Water is absorbed into the bricks and mortar, allowing expansion and contraction during freeze/thaw cycles which causes deterioration that compromises your chimney's structural integrity. 

The flue tile liner should project above the mortar crown, which is a sloped bed of mortar at the top of the chimney. The job of the mortar crown is to shed rain away from your chimney to help prevent rain from being absorbed into the bricks.

Once the mortar crown has deteriorated, rain damage extends to the mortar holding the bricks together, and the chimney becomes weaker and weaker until bricks - or even whole rows of bricks, start to fall onto the roof or to what's on the ground below. Once this degree of damage has occurred, partial rebuilding of the chimney becomes necessary - an expensive repair that can be avoided by maintaining a good mortar crown!

Over a course of years the mortar crown can deteriorate and allow water leaks into your home, resulting in costly damages. While on your roof, we will inspect the mortar crown and advise you if repairs to it will be needed. Repair commonly involves removal of existing damaged mortar then application of a new mortar crown installed with a proper slope and thickness to provide optimum protection for your chimney.

We perform repairs with CROWN COAT, a product designed for use by professional chimney sweeps. This is masonry repair coating that's specially designed for this use and provides a 10 year manufacturer's warranty.

While the mortar crown helps protect the exterior of your chimney by shedding rain water, a chimney cap helps prevent water from entering the inside of the chimney. Chimney caps also protect your chimney from entry by birds and animals that can bring foul odors, diseases, lice and other pest infestations. We install chimney caps made of copper or stainless steel and offer single flue and multi-flue sizes as well as custom made caps when needed. See our complete selection.

Please give us a call to find out more about our services to repair water-damaged chimneys, and special treatments to prevent this problem!

Whether you need annual maintenance for a newer home or complete renovation for your older home, we're here to help! And Remember...