Chimney bricks replaced and matched in Overtown
Approve brick work within 72 hours after your free inspection and save 10% on it.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When chimney brick faces start to break
- Corners broken off several bricks
- Cracks running through single bricks
- Stains inside beside the chimney
- Mortar gone around a loose brick
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Brick replacement that deals with the cause
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.
Spalled brick in the top courses
Damage can concentrate in the top courses of a chimney, just below the crown. Those bricks take water whenever the crown cracks, lacks an overhang or loses its seal at the flue.
Replacing top-course bricks without fixing the crown above them invites the same damage again. We check the crown, cap and flue seal whenever the upper courses are spalled. If the top needs work, we explain the sequence, with the crown usually repaired after any loose top courses are dealt with.
Loose top courses under a failing crown
Loose bricks at the very top of a chimney are often a sign that the crown and the courses under it have taken water for a long time. The mortar there may have washed out, and several units may lift together.
Replacing a few bricks may not be enough in that case. We explain whether the top courses need relaying before a new crown can sit on them. That work is priced separately, and the brick replacement lower down is planned around it.
Holding off on cleaners after the work
New mortar needs time to harden before any cleaner touches it. Federal preservation guidance warns against applying acids to dry masonry and notes that new joints are especially vulnerable to damage from cleaning.
If you plan to clean the chimney, wait until we confirm the joints have hardened, and start with plain water and a soft brush. You get a short list of products to avoid while the joints mature, so a well-matched repair is not stained or etched. Ask us before using any product you are unsure about.
Before you approve brick replacement in Overtown
- Careful cutting of surrounding mortar
- Tooling to match the existing profile
- Mortar suited to the existing joints
- Separate lines for crown or flashing work
Chimney brick questions we hear
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.
Will the new bricks look different from the old ones?
At first they may, because the old brick has weathered and the new mortar is fresh. A careful match of size, color and texture keeps the difference small, and it usually softens with time. We show you the proposed brick before approval.
What should I tell you when I call about damaged brick?
Mention which side of the chimney shows damage, whether pieces have fallen and whether water shows inside. Tell us about past repairs, coatings, paint or sealers. That history helps explain why the brick failed.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo