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Chimney mortar repair done joint by joint in Kendale Lakes

Dust, grit and old mortar are cleaned up and hauled away when the job is done.

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

Mortar wear to mention when you call

  • Gaps opening between brick and mortar
  • Earlier repointing popping out in strips
  • Joint profile worn flat or recessed
  • Water inside after rain on one side
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Chimney mortar repair, explained plainly

Why repointing mortar is mixed drier

Mortar for laying brick is wetter than mortar for repointing. Federal preservation guidance explains that a drier mix is cleaner to work, packs tightly into the joint and cures with fewer shrinkage cracks. Brick industry guidance describes a similar consistency.

A wet mix smears across the brick faces and slumps in the joint. We aim for mortar stiff enough to press firmly into place. If you watch the work, it looks slower than bricklaying, and that is intended. Packing a stiff mix well is what makes the joint dense.

Film coatings over repointed brick

Some coatings form a film on the brick surface. Brick industry guidance on clear coatings explains that film formers can stop water getting in but also slow drying through the face. Moisture held behind the film can lead to clouding and spalling.

We do not recommend a film-forming coat over newly repointed brick. If your chimney already has one that is peeling, we explain how it affects the joint work and whether it should come off. Any coating decision is kept separate from the repointing itself.

Joint work as a craft apart from bricklaying

A point from the brick industry's maintenance guidance is worth knowing. A good bricklayer is not automatically a good repointer. Raking without damaging edges, matching mortar and tooling at the right moment are skills of their own.

That is worth asking about when you compare proposals. Ask who does the joint work, how head joints are cleared and how the mortar is matched. We answer those questions directly, and the written estimate describes the method so you can hold us to it.

Why raking chimney joints yourself is risky

Raking joints looks simple and is easy to get wrong. A grinder in inexperienced hands can cut brick edges and head joints, and the damage is permanent. Working on a roof or ladder adds real risk of a fall.

If you want to understand the job first, the free inspection is a safe way to do it. We explain what the joints need and how we would approach them. You can then decide how to proceed, with an accurate picture of the work and its risks.

Inside a chimney repointing proposal

  • Joint dampening before new mortar
  • Sample area where the finish matters
  • Tooling at thumbprint hardness
  • Protection for windows, roof and plantings

Answers about chimney repointing

Should the chimney be waterproofed after repointing in Kendale Lakes?

Not straight away. The brick industry's advice on clear coatings is to wait several months after repairs, because the repairs often stop the water on their own. A repellent after that is a separate item.

Does tuckpointing stop water getting into the chimney?

It can, when open joints are the path water takes. Water also enters through the crown, cap, flashing or cracked brick. We explain what the joints contribute, and when this job calls for a hose water test we tell you why.

Can repointing be done safely on a hot day?

Yes, with care. Mortar that dries too fast bonds poorly, so we keep joints damp and shaded and may start earlier in the day. We plan around the conditions rather than rushing mortar onto a hot wall.

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Family owned and operated in Miami, Florida.

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