Spalling brick repair for chimneys in Westchase

Mortar that is harder than the brick

Mortar is meant to be the weaker, more permeable part of a brick wall. The National Park Service explains that repointing mortar should be softer and more vapor permeable than the bricks, and that mortar stronger than the units can cause damage such as cracking and spalling.

When hard mortar surrounds softer brick, moisture and movement stresses end up in the brick instead of the joint. Replacing bricks in that situation without addressing the mortar can repeat the damage.

We compare the existing mortar and the bricks before choosing the repair mortar, and explain the choice on the estimate.

After the new bricks are in

Once the bricks are replaced and the water entry has been dealt with, give the chimney time. The Brick Industry Association advises waiting several months after repairs before deciding whether a water repellent is needed, because the repairs often solve the moisture problem on their own.

Keep the estimate and the completion summary, including the brick and mortar used, for future reference. Watch for new changes rather than assuming every mark on older brick is the same defect.

If loose material or dampness returns, call for another look before anyone adds a patch.

Questions worth asking before approving brick work

A clear brick repair estimate answers practical questions. How many bricks, or what area, will be replaced? What brick and mortar are proposed, and how close will the match look? What caused the damage, and is that cause part of the repair?

It should also say how loose material and debris will be handled and what protection will be in place below the chimney. Our estimates answer these in writing before you approve anything.

Hairline cracks and open cracks

Not every crack means a brick must come out. A fine hairline crack at the surface behaves differently from an open crack that runs through the face of the brick. The Brick Industry Association notes that a water repellent cannot keep water out of cracks wider than 0.02 inch.

Cracks extending through the face shell are one of the conditions BIA says call for removing and replacing the brick. We measure and describe the cracks we find, so the recommendation rests on what is actually there.