Why do chimneys deteriorate faster than the rest of the masonry?
Your chimney sits at the highest point of your house, fully exposed on every side, with no eaves or trees protecting it from rain, snow, ice, or sun. While the rest of your masonry might only see one or two faces of weather, the chimney takes it from all directions. That's why it's almost always the first masonry feature on the home to start showing wear — and why it usually needs attention before anything else does.
What happens if you don't fix a damaged chimney?
The reason chimney problems matter is that what's failing on the outside is letting water into the inside. A cracked crown drips water down through the chimney structure. Failed flashing routes water onto the framing where the chimney meets the roof. Crumbling mortar opens a path straight through the wall. By the time you see ceiling stains, smell smoke in places it shouldn't be, or notice plaster bubbling next to the chimney, what was minor tuckpointing has often turned into a full rebuild.
What does chimney repair actually involve?
Most chimney work falls into a few buckets — repointing the mortar between bricks, replacing the concrete crown at the top, redoing the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, installing or replacing a cap to keep rain and animals out, and full rebuilds from the roofline up when the masonry is too far gone to save. We use mortar and crown materials rated for chimney exposure and slope crowns properly so water sheds away from the brick instead of pooling on top.
How do I know if my chimney needs repair?
You can usually tell a chimney needs work from the ground with a good pair of binoculars. Look for white efflorescence staining the brick, mortar joints that look chewed out or sandy, a cracked or missing crown at the very top, missing or rusted flashing where the chimney meets the roof, and any water staining on the ceiling or wall around the chimney inside the house. Any of those is reason to schedule an inspection.
Call Adam Baker Masonry at (616) 612-1284 for a free chimney inspection. We'll get a real look at what's going on up there and give you an honest read on what needs to happen — and what can wait.
