Welcome to Family Roofing

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

Chimney Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your fireplace and chimney is crucial to keeping your home safe when using your fireplace.  Without proper attention and cleaning, you’re susceptible to fires and water damage. Plus, you can save money on your energy bills.

What Is Chimney Waterproofing?

Chimney waterproofing is the process of adding a waterproof barrier to your chimney to prevent water damage.  Water can cause many problems for chimneys, including cracking, eroding the mortar between bricks, and rusting metal parts.  Chimney waterproofing can help to prevent these problems and extend the life of your chimney.  There are several ways to waterproof a chimney, including using chimney sealants, coatings, or membranes.  No matter which option you choose, chimney waterproofing is an essential step in protecting your chimney from water damage.

Is Chimney Waterproofing Necessary?

There is every reason to waterproof your chimney, whether it is made of brick, stone, or mortar.  Waterproofing protects against the damaging effects of water seepage, which can lead to severe problems such as structural damage, mold and mildew growth, and deterioration of the chimney itself.

Here are the main benefits of chimney waterproofing:

Prevents Water Seepage And Damage

If left unchecked, water seepage can lead to cracks in the chimney structure, which can cause the chimney to collapse due to deterioration.  Waterproofing can also help prevent mold and mildew growth, which can not only cause damage to the chimney but also harm your health.

Improves The Longevity Of The Chimney

A well-maintained and waterproofed chimney can last for 50 or more years, while an unprotected chimney is likely to succumb to water damage and other problems much sooner.   Moisture and the elements can be major problems for your chimney.  They can weaken the structural integrity of your chimney, cause mold and even damage the walls and floor around your fireplace.  You’ll need to make sure your chimney waterproofing, chase cover, crown and flashing are all functioning properly.  Start by waterproofing your chimney.  Adding a water sealant to the outside of your chimney will prevent moisture from breaking down the bricks and mortar and sneaking into you home.  Obviously, there’s a large hole at the top of your chimney which allows smoke to escape.  You don’t want to seal that hole but you also don’t want rain and snow from getting into your home. What can you do?

Install a Chimney Cap

Towering trees may provide plenty of cooling shade for your house, but they can also contribute to chimney problems. Heavy tree branches can damage your chimney crown if they break off during a storm and fall onto the roof.  Branches also present a fire risk, as their leaves can fall into the chimney and interfere with the chimney’s drafting ability.  Play it safe by keeping all nearby trees trimmed to a height that’s at least two feet shorter than the chimney itself.

For prefabricated chimneys, chimney caps are a great addition.  It covers the top while still allowing smoke to escape through a small pipe.  Most prefabricated chimneys come with galvanized steel chase covers which have a tendency to rust.  Replace it with a stainless steel, copper or aluminum chase cover so you don’t have to worry about rust again.

For masonry chimneys, you’ll need to get a crown.  It’s a concrete cover that prevents anything from getting into your home.  Like chase covers, the smoke escapes through a pipe coming from the crown.  The flashing is where the chimney meets the roof.  Without a sealant going around the meeting point, moisture can seep into your home.  Make sure your flashing is in good condition.

Make Sure Your Mortar Joints and Bricks Aren’t Crumbling

Inspect the Brick and Mortar

The two materials that make up your chimney masonry structure are bricks and mortar.  These materials have been found to be the best materials to construct strong and safe chimneys.  However, neither bricks nor mortar last forever. We know that bricks can be replaced, but what is necessary when the mortar between the bricks begins crumbling and making the structure unsafe?

Cracked brick mortar can lead to leaks and water damage, so it will be more expensive and time-consuming to repair the longer you wait to do so.  The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney play a crucial role in avoiding water damage inside of your home.  However, they begin to crack and crumble over time and give moisture an entrance into your home.  Chimney tuckpointing is the act of repairing mortar.  If you notice that your mortar is crumbling and the bricks are starting to become loose, then you’re in need of chimney tuckpointing.  Make sure you get a waterproofing sealant for your chimney stack. This will help keep the mortar and bricks protected from moisture.

What Is Tuckpointing?

Tuckpointing is a process whereby our technicians remove crumbling, decayed mortar between the chimney’s bricks and replace it with a strong new mortar compound.  The work is fairly straightforward.  You should never attempt tuckpointing on your chimney or hire anyone to do it who isn’t licensed, insured, and trained.  Major damage at the time of the work or down the line could occur.

When Chimney Mortar Is Allowed to Deteriorate

If crumbling or missing sections of mortar in your chimney aren’t addressed, catastrophic problems could be on the way.  When sufficient mortar is missing in between brick sections, the chimney can begin to lean to one side. Leaning chimneys don’t right themselves; rather, they collapse eventually.  Every mortar issue is unique, just like every chimney repair project is unique.  In some cases, mortar joints can be compromised to the point that water from rain and melting snow can move into the system and cause internal chimney damage, which can result in expensive chimney repairs.

Incoming water will begin a rotting process – not only of otherwise good bricks and mortar but also of building materials of the home if the water reaches that far.  Once water is inside hidden areas of the chimney, damage normally won’t be noticed by the homeowner – at least at first.  There are certain leaky chimney signs you should know about and watch for:

• Water in the firebox

• Damp patches on walls and the ceiling near the fireplace/chimney

• Strong musty odors coming from the fireplace and/or the attic and crawlspaces

Mold Growth

Any time moisture is allowed to collect inside a chimney structure, serious mold growth is very possible.  Mold thrives in dark, unventilated areas, and the inside of the chimney is one of those areas.  Many types of mold are known to be harmful to humans, particularly black mold, which can cause major health problems including cancer.

Tuckpointing is the Way to Prevent these Issues

If you notice any level of deterioration in your chimney’s mortar, call us for a thorough chimney inspection. Tuckpointing can save the life of a chimney and prevent major internal system damage and damage to materials of the home.  Annual chimney inspections are the best way to stay on top of all possible issues in your chimney’s masonry structure.

Have Your Chimney Inspected Once Per Year

Just looking at your chimney isn’t enough to spot problems – some are underlying and need a professional to find them.  Having a chimney inspection  once per year is crucial to ensure your chimney’s safety.