Chimney bricks replaced and matched in Edgewater
Our family team explains the cause, the match and the method in plain words.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that point to spalled brick
- Cracks running through single bricks
- Damage worst near the chimney top
- Damp patches that stay on damaged bricks
- Vines rooted over damaged brick
Jump to
Replacing chimney bricks the careful way
Breaking out a damaged brick
A damaged unit comes out in pieces, not whole. Brick industry maintenance guidance describes breaking it to help removal, which puts less strain on the surrounding bricks than trying to pry it free.
We break the damaged unit carefully and lift out the pieces. The bricks above, below and beside the opening stay supported by their own mortar throughout. If a neighboring brick turns out to be loose once the damaged one is out, we stop and show you before going further.
Tooling new joints to match the wall
The joints around a replaced brick are tooled once the mortar is thumbprint hard. Brick industry guidance explains that a joint tooled at that point is pressed dense and tight to the brick edges, and it asks for the original profile to be matched.
Tooled too soon, the joint smears and dries lighter. Tooled too late, it stays loose at the surface and dries darker. We time the tooling so the new joints blend with the old in shape and shade, which is what makes a replaced unit hard to spot.
Fragments on the roof or on the ground
Flakes of brick collecting in a gutter, on the roof or at the foot of the chimney suggest the damage is still active. Thin flakes usually come from the surface of a unit. Chunks with square edges may be corners or whole faces.
Keep a few if you find them and tell us where they landed. They help us judge the kind of damage before we reach the roof. Keep people away from the area below while pieces are still falling.
Brick replacement from a family-owned team
Miami Chimney Repair is a family-owned, locally owned company. We explain the damaged units, the proposed brick and the method ourselves, and your questions come straight back to us.
Brick replacement asks for judgment at each step, from which units truly need replacing to which brick matches best. We explain those decisions in plain words. Upfront pricing and no hidden fees mean the estimate you approve covers the agreed units, and any change is discussed with you first. You have someone to call who knows the job.
The brick replacement items you approve
- Survey of damaged units on each face
- Sample of the proposed brick match
- Break-out of each damaged unit
- Careful cutting of surrounding mortar
Questions to ask before replacing bricks
What happens to the mortar around a replaced brick?
The joints around each new unit are filled completely and tooled to match the existing profile. The mortar is chosen to behave like the existing mortar, because a mix that is too hard can damage the bricks next to it.
Can a crumbling brick just be patched with mortar?
A skim of mortar over a lost face is not a brick. It tends to crack away and can hold water against the damaged unit. We cut out and replace units that have lost their face or cracked through.
Will you check the crown while replacing bricks near the top?
Yes. Bricks near the top often suffer because water comes from above. We check the crown, cap and flue seal, and if one of them is failing, we explain it and price it separately.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Ventless Gas Fireplace ServiceService the identified vent-free appliance without bypassing its required safety components.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo