Spalled brick replacement on chimneys in Southwest Ranches
We show you the proposed brick next to the old before any unit is cut out.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that point to spalled brick
- Brick cores showing where faces fell
- Earlier replacement bricks failing again
- Spalled brick just above the roofline
- Mortar gone around a loose brick
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Choosing replacement brick for a chimney
Buttering the new brick and the opening
Brick industry guidance describes buttering the appropriate surfaces of both the surrounding brickwork and the replacement brick completely with mortar. Mortar on both sides fills the joints as the unit goes in.
Half-filled joints leave voids behind the face, and water can collect in voids. We butter generously and press the brick into place, so mortar squeezes out along every joint. Excess is struck off with a trowel. The goal is a unit bedded fully, not one held by a thin rim of mortar at the face.
Flashing water and the bricks below it
Flashing that has pulled away from the chimney or was never sealed properly can direct roof water into the brick. The damage then shows as spalling at and just above the roofline.
We check the flashing when damage sits in that zone. Resetting or re-forming it is flashing work with its own line on the estimate. The brick replacement and the flashing repair are planned together, because the flashing is often set into the same courses being repaired. Getting the order right avoids cutting into fresh brick to reset flashing a second time.
Cleaning mortar off new and old brick faces
Some mortar lands on the faces around a replaced brick during setting. For that cleanup, federal preservation guidance favors natural bristle or nylon brushes over metal ones, which can scratch brick.
We brush the faces while the mortar is still soft, and ease off any hardened spots gently rather than scraping them. The aim is a clean face around crisp new joints, with no harsh cleaning that would damage the surrounding brick. Excess mortar struck off at the joint edge also keeps cleanup light.
Keeping a few spare matching bricks
Once a good match has been found, it is worth keeping a few spare units. If another brick fails in the future, the replacement is ready and the match is already known.
Ask us to leave any suitable spares from the job. Store them somewhere dry. The written record notes which brick was used, so even without spares the same product can be looked for again. This small step can save time on a later repair. Spares are most useful for a chimney whose brick has proved hard to match.
Inside a chimney brick replacement proposal
- Replacement brick matched in size
- Break-out of each damaged unit
- Debris removal and haul-away
- Written record of units replaced
Questions to ask before replacing bricks
Can you replace only the damaged bricks on my chimney?
Yes, where the masonry around them is sound. We cut out the spalled or cracked units, clean the openings and set matching brick in mortar that suits the wall. If damage is widespread or the chimney is moving, we explain a wider repair instead.
Is spalled brick near the ground treated differently?
Brick near the ground can stay wet from the soil or from water splashing back. Brick industry guidance lists rising damp among possible causes of masonry distress. We look at drainage and plantings at the base as well as the brick itself.
How long does a chimney brick replacement job take?
It depends on how many units are involved, how easy the chimney is to reach and how long a matching brick takes to find. We give you a realistic schedule with the estimate and tell you if anything changes it.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo