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Brick and mortar repairs on chimneys in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

A free inspection of the brickwork, then a written estimate that separates joints, units and larger sections.

  • Owned and run locally
  • Available for same-day service
  • Fully licensed and insured
  • Family owned and run

What failing chimney brickwork looks like

  • A crack running through several bricks
  • Top courses shifted out of line
  • Plants growing from chimney joints
  • Hard gray patches over the old mortar
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What masonry repair means for your chimney

Water is behind most masonry decay

The brick industry's maintenance guidance is clear that water drives most deterioration in brickwork. It softens mortar, carries salts to the surface and loosens the faces of bricks as it moves through them.

That is why the first question on a masonry visit is where the water comes from. It may enter at the top, through open joints, at the roof junction or from the ground. Finding the source before repairing the brick keeps the new work from facing the same soaking. We name the source on the estimate beside the masonry repair.

Caulk spread over cracked joints

Sealant is sometimes smeared over cracked mortar in the hope of stopping a leak. It may hold for a while, but it does not bond to masonry the way mortar does. Once it starts to peel, it traps water behind it.

Before repointing, that sealant usually has to come out so sound mortar can be placed. We point out where it sits on the visit and include its removal in the scope. That step is easy to overlook in a quote, and it matters for how long the new joints last.

Surface patches that pop off

Thin cement patches spread over broken brick faces or eroded joints are a common quick fix. They often crack or come away before long, because they are too thin to bond well and may be harder than the brick beneath.

Where these patches sit on your chimney, we look at what they cover. The lasting repair is usually to cut out the damaged brick or rake out the joint and rebuild it properly. We explain the difference in method, and in expected life, so the choice is clear.

Masonry at the roof line in Broward County

In Broward County, roofing work follows the Florida Building Code's HVHZ provisions, which the code applies to this county. Masonry repairs at the roof line often touch the flashing and the covering around the chimney.

If our masonry work means lifting or resetting any of that, ask what those provisions require on your job. The estimate splits the junction into our masonry and flashing steps and the roofer's covering steps, each with its own line. That keeps the whole junction accounted for, with no gap between trades.

What your chimney mason prices

  • Repointing of cracked and open joints
  • Plant growth removed and joints repaired
  • Salvaged or new brick sourced to match
  • Cover over open masonry each evening

Masonry repair, asked and answered

Why did an earlier masonry repair on my chimney crack again?

Common reasons are water still reaching the masonry, continued movement or a repair mortar harder than the brick. We look for the reason before repeating anything, so the new repair addresses it.

Can you repair chimney brickwork inside the attic or the room?

Yes, where it is accessible. The masonry below the roof line and the chimney breast indoors can crack too. We note those areas during the visit and price any interior masonry repair separately.

What if a crack in my chimney looks structural?

Cracks through several bricks, stepped cracking or a stack moving away from the house can point to a structural cause. We explain what we see and when an engineer should assess it before masonry repair.

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Family owned and operated in Miami, Florida.

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