Brick structures are beautiful and often last longer if maintained properly. However, there are main hazards that can make them deteriorate quickly, such as weather and poor maintenance. Thus, knowing the signs your old chimney needs repair is crucial. However, their location on your roof makes it difficult to determine when they need repairs.
Another reason to consider brick repair on old chimneys is that its primary function is redirecting smoke out of the house. It’s one part of your home that you shouldn’t miss. Broken bricks on old chimneys can trigger or lead to problems such as interior wall damage, rust, or chimney fires.
Brick repair on old chimneys is essential, especially if you’ve yet to repair or maintain your chimneys. However, contacting a local expert is advisable to help you with repairs and replacements. Doing it independently without the proper safety measures or equipment may put you at risk.
Fortunately, you can learn more about chimney and brick repair before hiring a repair company. If you’re still unsure as to whether you need brick repair on your chimneys, below are some common signs you can watch out for:
Cracks On The Bricks
Cracks are normal for bricks, especially as they age. Small cracks may be difficult to detect, and when you catch them, they may already be significantly damaged. But if your chimney is visible from the ground, it’s necessary to check on its walls for any visible cracks routinely. If the cracks are left unattended, water will tend to seep in, causing more damage by freezing thus, possibly affecting the structural integrity of your chimney.
In this case, it’s time to contact a local professional as soon as possible so it does not spread to other parts of the chimney and home. Additionally, professionals can add the proper sealants to your brick chimneys, giving them extra protection from the weather.
Bulging Bricks
Most chimney issues are interior and challenging to locate, but for this one, it’s one of the common signs that can be seen from afar. Bulging bricks and cracked bricks tend to go together, as this is usually a sign of moisture damage, thus causing bricks to bulge.
Once your chimney bricks have started moving out of place, contacting a local expert is best to remove any bulging bricks. They may also have to conduct inspections to ensure your chimney’s structure is safe. While repairing bricks on your chimneys is something you can do on your own, it’s advisable to let a professional find a suitable solution to prevent hazards to you or your home.
Interior Damage
If there’s extensive damage to your chimneys, this may spread to your home’s interior. This may show up as moisture buildup in your walls, deformed windows, or plaster cracks. You may also notice your wallpaper or paint start to bubble.
This is an alarming sign that you shouldn’t ignore. Moisture buildup in your walls can lead to the growth of mold, which is detrimental to your health. Additionally, this may mean more extensive repairs for your chimney. Thus, once you suspect that your chimney is causing interior damage to your home, you must contact an expert. They can examine it for you and see if your chimney can still be repaired or needs to be replaced entirely.
Damaged Mortar
Repointing your masonry walls every 15 to 20 years is good practice. However, some may need to be done earlier depending on several factors. These include plant growth, repetitive freeze-and-thaw cycles during winter, and incorrect or inadequate repair.
Mortar acts as an adhesive; if they’re no longer working correctly, they’ll rub against each other and begin to warp. Ignoring these issues early on can affect your chimney’s entire structure, costing you more in repairs.
Cracked Crown
Cracked crowns are another visible sign that can be located easily. The crown is a component that rests on top of a chimney, so it’s not difficult to spot from the grown. As we’ve mentioned above, when water or snow seeps into your chimney, it’ll cause more issues in your masonry.
If your crown is cracked, it invites moisture inside the chimney. If the damage is minor, you can still reseal it on your own. However, it’s best to seek a local expert for inspection and repair to prevent it from worsening.
Conclusion
With the above signs, it’s best to schedule a routine inspection as soon as possible to help prevent the hazards that come from using an old or broken chimney. Fortunately, when you address masonry damages immediately, you can save on costs in the long run. Only work with professionals to ensure that repairs are quickly and adequately resolved.
