Fixing cracked flue tiles in Melrose Park
Approve the flue work within 72 hours of the free inspection to save 10% on the tiles and joints.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that the flue needs repair
- A cracked top tile above the crown
- Flue tiles sitting out of line
- Smoke odor near the chimney wall
- A planned change of appliance or fuel
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Clay flue tile repair, step by step
Rain entering the flue from the top
An uncapped or poorly capped flue lets rain run down the inside of the tiles. Water carries combustion residue into the joints and helps break them down over time. The joints near the top usually see the most of it.
When we repair a flue, we also look at how water reaches it. A cap is often part of the answer, and it is quoted as chimney cap work on its own line. Repairing the joints while leaving the top open to rain leaves the cause in place.
The top tile and its projection above the crown
Technical guidance on residential chimneys has the flue tile stand a short way above the top of the chimney. That keeps water on the crown from running straight into the flue. A top tile cut flush or broken off low loses that protection.
When we assess the top of the flue, we look at how the tile meets the crown. If the top tile needs replacing, the new one is set to stand clear of the crown as the guidance describes. The crown itself, if damaged, is a separate item.
Questions to ask about any flue repair
Before approving any flue repair, ask which method will be used, which sections it covers and what preparation comes first. Ask how the repaired flue compares with the appliance's required size, and what curing is needed before use.
Also ask what the repair leaves untouched and what would happen if more damage appears. We answer each of these in writing. They are fair questions to put to any company, including us. A company that cannot answer them clearly is telling you something. Our written answers go into the estimate itself.
How a single top tile is replaced
Replacing a cracked top tile means removing the broken section, preparing the tile below and setting a new tile in refractory mortar. The new tile is aligned with the flue beneath it so the passage stays smooth and continuous.
Where the tile passes through the crown, the joint between them is restored with a bond break rather than a rigid bond. We check the tile below before closing up. If it is also damaged, we stop and explain the options. Debris from the old tile is lowered carefully rather than dropped down the flue.
What a flue repair estimate should spell out
- Damper removal and refit where required
- Repair debris cleaned up and hauled away
- Curing instructions for the product used
- Maintenance guidance for the repaired lining
What to know before flue repair in Melrose Park
What should I tell you when I call about the flue?
What the flue serves, when you first noticed fragments or a change, and whether anything unusual happened, such as an earlier chimney fire or a lightning strike. Earlier inspection notes and invoices help too.
Do you keep the chimney covered if the repair takes more than a day?
Yes. Before we come down each day, the flue opening is covered against rain and debris, and the fireplace area is protected and cleaned. Broken tile and cleaning residue are hauled away when the work is complete.
Is resurfacing the same as installing a liner?
No. Resurfacing restores the existing clay lining. One maker states that its sealant does not provide the thermal protection of a liner and is not meant to be used as one. A new liner is a separate job with its own estimate.
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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