Chimney Care Company's Blog
What is masory spalling and how can it affect your chimney and fireplace?
As your well-built masonry chimney ages, your exterior bricks and mortar are going to naturally suffer weather-related damage. Not only do older chimneys experience deterioration, newer masonry chimneys can also show signs of damage if they are not properly maintained. Unfortunately, the decaying of chimney masonry is a slow, gradual process and not always easy to spot. The biggest signs of masonry decay include cracks, holes, and crumbled bricks and mortar. All of these signs are symptoms of spalling, a term we at Chimney Care Company often have to explain to customers. We would like to take an opportunity to inform you about the causes, impact, and repair of chimney spalling damage.
What exactly is the definition of spalling?
As described by InspectAPedia, an online encyclopedia of building inspection and repair, spalling is the chipping off or loss of surface of any masonry material, including a brick chimney, a masonry block chimney, or even concrete sidewalks.
What causes spalling?
Water exposure and penetration are your masonry chimney’s biggest enemies. Most severe in colder climates, the freeze-thaw process causes major spalling damage. When water penetrates the bricks and mortar of your chimney, that water will freeze in cold temperatures and expand. As the temperatures rise and the ice thaws, parts of those bricks and mortar will break off completely due to the stress of the expansion. The more this cycle repeats in a season, the more spalling occurs, which can cause structural damage to your chimney. Other causes of spalling include masonry products that are soft, porous, improperly made, or poorly constructed.
Other than structural damage, are there other impacts of chimney spalling?
Yes, besides structural damage to your chimney, spalling can cause bricks to fall into your chimney and make it unsafe by blocking the flue. Your flue should always be inspected when your chimney suffers from spalling damage. Furthermore, holes left in your chimney structure from lost bricks and mortar increase the opportunity for water penetration, which leads to more costly damages.
How can spalling be repaired?
If the damage is not too serious, the expert masons at Chimney Care Company can fill in the holes, brick by brick. However, if your chimney has undergone severe spalling damage, it will need to be torn down to a sound level and rebuilt. When a flue has also suffered damage, rebuilding the chimney allows for new flue tiles to be installed.
What are ways to prevent spalling?
Keeping water out is crucial in preventing spalling damage. To stop water leaks, you should be sure you do not have a damaged or missing chimney crown or chimney cap. Damaged flashing also leads to water penetration of your masonry chimney. Our certified technicians at Chimney Care Company can inspect, repair, and install all three of these essential components of your chimney. We can also apply a 100% vapor-permeable waterproofing formula to further protect your masonry from water-caused spalling damage.
If you have noticed signs of spalling on your chimney, contact Chimney Care Company today. Our masons will take care of your chimney and give their full attention to every detail.
Water & Your Chimney
The Damage that H20 Can Cause
According to Chimney Safety Institute of America water can do a lot to ruin your chimney. The damage is often not apparent to the naked eye until it the moisture has caused a great deal of damage. Chimney Care Co. want you to know if the health and safety of your household is at risk when neglected for certain periods of time. The functionality and performance of your fireplace and chimney is also dependent on how well they are cared for.
Water as the enemy.
Installing a properly fitted chimney cap can prevent most of the water from entering your chimney. Call us today for an appointment.
Weather plays a big part of a chimney’s deterioration. Winter and rainy days result to hastened damage of what most chimneys are made of except stone. Many construction materials contract during the freezing and melting process causing the materials more exposure to brittleness. We know what happens to metal when exposed to water for long periods of time as well. It rusts and eventually breaks. Wooden parts of fireplaces also deteriorate faster when experiencing weather changes.
A water leak found anywhere around the household is never a good thing. Whatever the source, once water leakage is involved the amount of damage can range from mild to severe. According to Jeff Del Guercio, who is president of the local National Association of Home Inspectors, “Water is probably the single most destructive force to a house, and a leak can go on for a long time without being noticed.”
If leaks are left unattended, it can lead not only to damaging effects on your household members’ health but can also cause mold and termite infestations. In the long run such exposure to water can cause chimneys to wear out and fall apart which in the end will call for more costly repairs.
The question is, how do we avoid or address water damage?
It is important to note that proper chimney inspections be done on a regular basis. It is best to consult experts when dealing with waterproofing your fireplace. Of course this is a good preventive measure. It may cost you more if you don’t take such measures and wait until it’s totally damaged. Schedule an appointment and inquire now. People more knowledgeable will be more than thrilled to guide you through the process.