Every homeowner with a chimney knows how important it is to keep your chimney crack free. Funneling smoke through your house is an important job that only a chimney can do, but each year you use the chimney it becomes more susceptible to cracks and damage. Eventually, the mortar that keeps the bricks or stone together will begin to crack and flake, leaving gaps in your chimney that could lead to serious problems. This particularly happens with age and especially with the freezing and thawing of ice throughout the chimney that occurs during snowy and cold weather. Occurrences such as earthquakes or other natural disasters can also be an easy way for your chimney to become cracked and damaged.

When your chimney is cracked, it greatly increases the risk of a fire to occur in your chimney. There is a reason why all state and federal building regulations require all chimneys present on the premises to be in working order. This highlights the importance of learning all about repairing chimney cracks.

Cleaning Your Cracked Chimney To Prepare For Repair

The first step in repairing a cracked chimney is to clear away things like dust, tar, and debris. In order for this to go smoothly, you will need a chimney brush that is specifically made for the job. In order to properly clean the chimney with the chimney brush, you need to find a good footing on your roof by the entrance to the chimney, then you simply move the brush up and down until it is visibly clean.

Cleaning your chimney before repairing it can be crucial in making sure there are no foreign materials sitting in your chimney when you get ready to apply more mortar. Do not skip this step, for it is extremely crucial to the safe repair of your chimney.

Tuckpointing And How It Can Fix Your Chimney

If you have experienced repairing chimney cracks before, you are probably familiar with the process of Tuckpointing. Tuckpointing is what we specialize in, a process which replaces the cracked mortar in the mortar joints with fresh mortar that will last a long time.

When repairing your chimney, you want to first clear the crack of any small fractures, stones, or debris that are sitting on the cracked surface. This will help you create the perfect environment to place the mortar. When ready for the mortar, you want to mix the mortar properly and keep it moist the first half week. This is to make sure it retains its caulking properties. Then you will spread the mixture evenly into the crack, sealing it from damage and leaks.

If done properly, this will replace the damaged mortar and your chimney should be fixed. Unfortunately, this can be a hard and time-consuming process, and hiring a professional will help you get it done efficiently and without fault, as well as lessen the danger to yourself with the risks of climbing on an unstable roof.

When repairing chimney cracks, it is always important to note your own safety and the safety of yours around you. So please remember to never light your fireplace when your chimney is cracked, and call a professional if you are not completely confident in your own chimney repairing abilities.