Spalling brick repair for chimneys in Lutz

Why a coating can make spalling worse

Film-forming coatings sit on the surface of the brick and keep water out, but they also slow the evaporation of water already inside. The Brick Industry Association warns that this can lead to clouding and spalling when the moisture source has not been dealt with.

BIA also notes that salts carried toward a coated surface can be deposited just behind the coating, where their crystals may push the face off. That is why a coating is never our answer to flaking brick.

If your chimney has been coated, tell us what was used if you know. It helps explain the damage and shapes the repair.

Why chimneys wear faster than walls

A chimney stands above the roof, exposed on every side, with its top facing the sky. The Brick Industry Association notes that chimneys and other elements with more severe exposure may need repairs at shorter intervals than ordinary walls.

That is why a chimney can show spalling while the brick walls of the same house look fine. The chimney is not necessarily built worse, it simply takes more weather.

Regular checks of the chimney catch damaged bricks while the repair is still small.

When we inspect, we give particular attention to the courses near the top and at the roofline, where the weather hits hardest.

Repairing brick on a painted or coated chimney

A painted or coated chimney hides the brick, so damage can progress behind the finish before it shows. Peeling in sheets, bubbles and flaking brick visible through gaps are the usual signs.

The Brick Industry Association links film-forming coatings to spalling when moisture is trapped behind them. When we repair a coated chimney, we assess how the finish affects drying and explain what that means for the new bricks and for any refinishing.

Tell us what the chimney was painted with if you know. It helps us plan the repair and the finish.

Scheduling brick work around heat and sun

Fresh mortar needs time to cure, and drying too fast weakens it. According to the National Park Service, keeping the wall between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit guards against freezing and against water leaving too quickly, and repointing is best done in shade, out of strong sunlight, particularly in hot weather.

We plan brick and joint work with that in mind, working in shade where we can and protecting fresh work from direct sun and rain. That can mean scheduling one face of the chimney for a particular time of day.