Spalling chimney brick repair that deals with the cause in Palm River-Clair Mel

What spalling looks like on a chimney

Spalling shows as a brick face that has flaked, popped off in a layer or crumbled away, leaving a rough, recessed surface. Fragments may collect on the roof, in the gutter or on the ground below.

Broken or badly spalled brick lets moisture in, the Brick Industry Association notes, and the damaged units may have to be replaced. A spalled brick is not just a cosmetic blemish, because it lets more water into the masonry around it.

Our inspection records which units have lost their face and how deep the loss goes, so the repair area is based on the actual damage.

What white deposits on the chimney tell you

Efflorescence is the white bloom that salts leave on brick. The Brick Industry Association says it takes three things together, namely salts that can dissolve, water that stays on them long enough to dissolve them, and a route through the masonry that carries the solution out to the face.

Efflorescence can usually be removed by dry brushing, and BIA advises against washing it off except in warm, dry weather, since the extra water can bring more salts out. More important than removing it is asking why it keeps coming back, because persistent efflorescence points to water still getting in.

We note where the deposits sit and trace them back toward the source during the inspection.

Dealing with earlier patch repairs

Patching compound or mortar smeared over a damaged brick face may look tidy for a while, but it can leave weakened material behind and trap water against it. When a patch comes loose, the brick behind it has often kept deteriorating.

We remove failed patches, assess what is underneath and replace the units that cannot stay. Patches that are still sound are noted, and we explain whether they are worth leaving.

The aim is a repair that is part of the chimney, not a layer on top of a problem.

Where a patch has held and the brick behind it is sound, removing it can do more harm than good, and we will tell you so.

When a partial rebuild makes more sense

Selected brick replacement suits a chimney with isolated failed units. When failed bricks are widespread, or the section above the roof has loosened as a whole, replacing units one at a time can cost more and last less than rebuilding the affected section.

The Brick Industry Association lists widespread spalled brick among the conditions that can indicate a structural problem. If your chimney is at that point, we say so and explain the rebuild option alongside the repair, so you can compare them honestly.