Spalling brick repair for chimney faces in Virginia Gardens
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- 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
- Spalled brick just above the roofline
- A clear sealer flaking off the brick
- Pitted brick from past harsh cleaning
- Vines rooted over damaged brick
Jump to
From damaged unit to matched new brick
Cracks that run through the brick face
A hairline line on the surface of a brick is different from a crack that runs through its face. Brick industry guidance treats cracks extending through the face shell as a reason to replace the unit.
We look at the crack's width, its path and whether the face on either side sits level. A crack through the face can let water into the brick and the wall behind. That unit goes on the replacement list, and we look at what cracked it before choosing the new one.
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.
Using the fireplace during brick work
Brick replacement is outside work, but the mortar around new units is still curing for a while. Heat from a fire warms the masonry and can dry fresh joints faster than they should.
Before the work starts, we say whether to pause fires and when normal use can return. It depends on where the new units are and how close they sit to the flue. If an appliance vents into the chimney, tell us beforehand so its flue stays clear.
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.
Separate lines for bricks, joints and water
- Loose or cracked units identified
- Tooling to match the existing profile
- Solid wall kept around the flue
- Overnight cover for an open chimney top
Questions to ask before replacing bricks
Why do the faces of chimney bricks come away?
Usually because water gets into the brick and something stops it drying out through the joints. Soluble salts can crystallize under the face, and hard mortar or a film coating can make it worse. We look for the source before replacing units.
Will a sealer stop my chimney bricks from getting worse?
A sealer does not replace a brick that has already lost its face, and brick industry guidance says a repellent is no substitute for replacement. Film-forming products can even trap moisture. We replace damaged units first and discuss repellents later.
Can one cracked brick wait, or should it be replaced now?
A single hairline crack in an otherwise firm brick may be watched. A crack through the face, a loose unit or a face that is coming away should be replaced, because water can keep entering there. We explain which applies.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo