Mortar joint repair for brick chimneys in Key Biscayne
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Joint trouble you can spot from the yard
- Mortar pieces on the roof around the stack
- Thin mortar smeared over old joints
- Caulk pushed into open joints
- Joint profile worn flat or recessed
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Choosing mortar for a chimney repoint
Waiting before cleaning new mortar
Newly repointed brick should not be scrubbed or treated with cleaners straight away. Federal preservation guidance explains that new joints need time to harden fully and that acids should never go on dry masonry. Harsh cleaning can etch fresh mortar and stain the brick.
If the chimney also needs cleaning, we explain the right order and timing. Usually any heavier cleaning waits until the mortar has hardened, and it starts with plain water and soft brushes. We tell you what to avoid while the new mortar hardens.
Face grouting for fine joint cracks
Brick industry maintenance guidance describes face grouting as a way to fill small hairline cracks in otherwise sound joints. A thin grout is worked into the cracks with a brush. It is a lighter treatment than repointing.
It has limits. The joints end up looking slightly wider and smoother, because the sand texture is covered. The same guidance says repointing is generally recommended because it handles more kinds of joint damage. We explain whether your joints suit grouting or need raking out.
Cracks between the brick and the mortar
Sometimes the mortar is sound but has pulled away from the brick along a joint. Brick industry guidance lists cracks between brick and mortar among the conditions that call for repointing. They can let water into the wall.
Federal preservation guidance notes that a crack along the bond line is easier to repair than one through the brick itself. We rake out those joints and repoint them. We also look for the cause, since repeated bond cracks can point to movement or to mortar that was too hard.
Maintenance visits that recheck the joints
Periodic inspection of masonry is part of brick industry maintenance advice, with closer attention to chimneys because of their exposure. Joints tend to fail area by area, and small areas are easier to repoint than large ones.
A maintenance visit includes a look at the joints on the stack above the roof, the crown and the flashing line. We note changes since the last visit and tell you whether anything needs attention yet. Catching a small area early keeps the repair small. Ask about maintenance visits when you book your inspection.
Separate lines for joints and bricks
- Raking to an even, sound depth
- Head joints cleared by hand
- Mortar chosen to suit the brick
- Separate line for damaged brick units
Mortar joint repair answers
Do you use power tools to remove old chimney mortar?
Hand tools are the least likely to damage brick edges. Power tools can help on some horizontal joints in skilled hands, but head joints are cleared by hand. We explain the method before work starts.
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.
What does sandy grit at the chimney base tell you?
Grit collecting at the base or on the roof can come from mortar washing out of the joints. It is a useful clue rather than a diagnosis. We check the joints above it and look for the water that is eroding them.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo