Spalling brick repair for chimney faces in Midtown
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
Brick trouble you can spot from the yard
- Brick faces flaking or popping off
- Brick fragments on the roof or ground
- Earlier replacement bricks failing again
- Spalled brick just above the roofline
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How we approach spalling brick repair in Midtown
Finding loose bricks by touch and sound
Some damaged bricks look intact. A light tap can reveal a hollow face that has separated from the body of the unit. Gentle pressure can show a brick that has lost its grip on the mortar.
We check suspect areas this way during the inspection. Loose units are added to the list even if they look sound. Please leave this check to us, because pressing on a chimney from a ladder or roof is not safe and can bring down loose pieces.
Pointing the joints around a new brick
After the brick is set, the joints around it are pointed. Brick industry guidance notes that pointing around the replacement helps ensure full head and bed joints, closing any gaps left during setting.
We pack mortar into each joint around the unit until it is full. Those joints are where water would otherwise find a path around the new brick. They are then tooled at the right moment, so the finished joints are dense and match the rest of the wall.
Judging the brick match with a sample
Brick industry guidance recommends a mock-up or sample panel to judge how replacement brick compares with the existing wall. Seeing new and old side by side, in daylight, tells you more than a catalog picture.
For visible faces, we set out the proposed brick against the chimney before the work is approved. You can look at it wet and dry if that helps. If the match is not good enough, we look further before anything is cut out, rather than after.
Planning roof access for high brick repairs
Damaged brick high on a chimney is reached from the roof, and sometimes from staging set against the house. Roof pitch, the roof covering and the chimney height all shape how we get there safely.
We explain the access plan in the estimate, including where ladders or staging stand and what needs moving. If access is difficult and more units are close to failing, we may suggest replacing them together, while leaving sound brick out of the scope. Access is set up once and used for every item you approve at that visit.
What the free brick inspection covers
- Break-out of each damaged unit
- Opening cleaned of dust and fragments
- Tooling to match the existing profile
- Overnight cover for an open chimney top
Chimney brick work, questions and answers
Should I pull off loose pieces of brick myself?
No. Pulling on loose pieces can bring down more than you expect, and working on a roof carries real risk. Keep people clear of the area below and tell us what you have seen.
Does the workmanship warranty cover replaced bricks in Midtown?
Yes, the agreed brick replacement carries our workmanship warranty. The written record lists which units were replaced and where, so any question later can be checked against the work that was done.
What if the damage turns out worse once bricks come out?
We stop and show you. If more units are loose or the damage runs deeper, we explain the options and price the added work before continuing. Nothing is added to the scope without your approval.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
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