Chimney crack and brick repair in Alameda
Same-day visits are available when the schedule allows, with masonry work booked once you approve it.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Brick and mortar problems on a chimney
- A crack running through several bricks
- Brick chips or sand on the roof
- White deposits spreading across the brick
- Hard gray patches over the old mortar
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Our approach to chimney brick and joints
Bricks, joints and the stack they form
Chimney masonry works as three things at once. The bricks carry the load and face the weather. The mortar joints bind them and give movement and moisture a place to go. Together they form a stack that must stay plumb, tight to the house and sound at the top.
A repair that looks only at one of the three can miss the problem. Replacing a broken brick does little if the joints around it are failing, and new joints do little if the stack is moving. We look at all three before we suggest which one needs the work.
Mortar is chosen, not simply mixed
Masonry mortar comes in standard types defined by ASTM C270, from stronger to weaker mixes. Each suits different brick and different exposure. The brick industry's guidance on mortar selection explains how to match the type to the job.
On the estimate, we describe the mortar in plain terms rather than by a type letter alone. It is suited to your brick, no harder than it, and matched in color and finish. Ask us the reasons behind the choice and we will explain them.
Harsh acids and high pressure on brick
Strong acids and high-pressure water can etch brick faces, burn light-colored units, erode joints and drive water deep into the wall. The brick industry's cleaning guidance warns against unbuffered acids on many types of brick and against excessive water pressure.
If your chimney has been cleaned aggressively in the past, the damage may show as rough faces, streaks or deep joints. We note those signs and use mild methods on any cleaning we carry out. The estimate says how the brick will be cleaned.
Cutting out a damaged brick
Replacing a single brick starts with breaking it out and cutting away the mortar around it. The brick industry's guidance stresses doing this without damaging the adjacent units, then cleaning the opening of dust and debris.
The care taken at this step decides whether the repair stays small. Rough removal can crack the bricks next door and turn one unit into several. We work from the damaged brick outward and stop at sound material. Any extra damage found during removal is shown to you before the scope changes.
What the masonry visit can include
- Color sample for new mortar
- Removal of failed sealant from joints
- Curing care for fresh mortar
- Structural check flagged where cracks suggest it
Chimney brickwork questions
Will you look at the crown and flashing during masonry work?
Yes. Water from a cracked top or a failed roof junction often causes the masonry damage in the first place. We note what we find there and list any repair to those parts as its own item.
Do you test for water entry before repairing brickwork?
When the job calls for it, a hose water test on one area at a time can confirm where water gets in. Most masonry visits do not need one, and we explain when it would help.
Do you repair brick on a chimney built over a framed chase?
Yes. Brick facing on a framed chase needs its drainage details to work. We check the flashing and weep openings as well as the brick and mortar before pricing the repair.
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.
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Prefab and Zero-Clearance Fireplace RepairIdentify and repair manufactured fireplace components using the appropriate model information.
- Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert InstallationFit a wood-burning insert after assessing its host fireplace and full connection requirements.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo