Repairs first, then chimney waterproofing in Riverview

Why our pros lean on siloxane-based repellents

For exterior brick, the Brick Industry Association recommends siloxanes. They bond with the silica in brick and mortar, repel liquid water well and still let vapor through. Silanes are close relatives and are used in some blends.

Film-forming products such as acrylics can look glossy and shed water, but BIA discourages them on exterior brick because they hold moisture in. On chimneys in Riverview, our specialists stay with breathable penetrants and show you the product and its data sheet before we begin.

Where the chimney meets the roof

The joint between the chimney and the roof is sealed with layered metal flashing. When that metal fails, water runs down inside the roof and never touches the brick face. Treating the chimney face cannot fix that path.

Brick Industry Association guidance lists repairing damaged or missing flashing among the jobs that should come before any water repellent. Our specialists check the roof line on the same free visit and tell you if it is part of the problem at your Riverview home.

Tracing the water before treating the brick

Finding the source of water penetration and completing repairs come before any repellent in Brick Industry Association guidance. The note lists caps, flashing, sealant joints, mortar joints and brick units among the places to inspect.

Our specialists follow that order on every chimney in Riverview. We start at the top, work down to the roof line and finish at the fireplace wall inside. By the end of the free visit you know where the water is coming from and which repair stops it.

• The chimney top, crown and cap
• Every face of brick and every mortar joint
• The roof connection on all sides
• Stains, soft paint or damp spots indoors

Spalled brick is replaced, then the rest is protected

Flaking faces and cracks running through a brick mean it has lost its hard outer skin. BIA guidance lists removal and replacement of spalled brick among the repairs to finish before any water repellent is considered.

Our pros replace the damaged units with brick that matches as closely as possible, let the new mortar cure and then treat the chimney as a whole. You get one plan, one written price per step and one team from start to finish.