Chimney masonry repaired with matched mortar in Valrico
Stepped cracks, bulges or crumbling joints looked at by specialists who tell you when an engineer is needed first.
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
- No hidden fees
- Workmanship warranty
Contents
Our Services
How a Chimney Masonry Repair Gets Planned in Valrico
Mortar chosen and joints cut the way masonry guidance recommends, with our workmanship warranty on the repair.
What the path of a crack says about the chimney
Cracks are read by where they run. BIA's maintenance guidance treats cracks wider than about 0.075 inch, cracks through several bricks, and stepped or diagonal cracking as possible signs of a structural problem.
A single hairline crack in one joint is a different matter from a stepped crack running down a corner. The first is usually a joint repair; the second can point to movement.
Our specialists record the pattern and width of each crack before recommending work, and say so when a structural opinion should come first.
Repair mortar for older chimney brickwork
Before the early 1900s, BIA notes, mortar was mostly lime, with little or no portland cement. Those mortars are much softer than modern mixes.
Repairing older brick with a modern high-strength mortar can concentrate stress in the brick and cause spalling, BIA warns. Type O is often used on older brickwork, while Type N may suit newer brick. That is why the age of the brick matters as much as its color when a repair mix is chosen.
Our crew looks at the age and behavior of your chimney's mortar before choosing the repair mix, and explains the choice.
Trying the repair on a small area first
Before a whole chimney is repointed, a small trial area shows how the mortar color, the tooling and the cleaning will look. The National Park Service recommends test panels, and BIA recommends mock-ups or sample panels for matching appearance.
A trial also shows whether a tool is damaging the brick before it is used across the whole face. Adjusting a mix after a trial area is far easier than after a whole chimney face.
Where appearance matters to you, we can agree the trial area on your chimney before the full repair goes ahead.
Chimney masonry and firebox masonry are different
The brick inside a fireplace firebox is firebrick set in heat-resistant mortar. The brick on the outside of the chimney is ordinary face brick set in building mortar.
The two are repaired with different materials, and mixing them up can cause failures. Firebox cracks are a fireplace repair, not a chimney masonry repair. Refractory mortar and firebrick behave differently from face brick and building mortar, which is why they are never swapped.
We keep the two separate on your estimate and explain which specialist work each part needs.
On any service we offer
Matched mortar and sound brick, 10% off if booked within 72 hours of the visit.
Free Inspection
What We Check on Your Chimney Masonry in Valrico
- Mortar type chosen for the brick and exposure
- Top courses and corbels reset where loose
- Weep holes and flashing on veneered chimneys
- Chimney ties and separation from the wall
Our Services
More Help for Your Valrico Fireplace
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More about chimney masonry repairEverything we do in Valrico
Specialized Services
Individual chimney masonry repair Jobs
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Cracked or Loose Brick? Ask Our Crew
Masonry prices agreed in writing before work, after a free inspection of your Valrico chimney.
Your request is confirmed
Our team will contact you to arrange the appointment.