Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
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
Chimney mortar damage worth a closer look
- Plants rooting in the mortar joints
- Damp brick inside the attic by the chimney
- Caulk pushed into open joints
- Dark wet patches that linger on the brick
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What good tuckpointing looks like
Protecting fresh joints from heavy rain
Freshly tooled mortar is soft at the surface. Heavy rain can wash out fine material, streak the brick below and leave joints rough. Covering the work is part of the job when showers are likely.
If rain threatens, we protect the day's joints before we leave and may shift the schedule. We would rather lose a few hours than redo a face of joints. Tell us if you notice covers moved by wind, so we can reset them promptly. A face of joints protected for a day is worth the small delay.
Stepped cracks that follow the joints
A crack that zigzags up through the mortar joints can mean the chimney has moved. Brick industry maintenance guidance treats structural cracks as needing their own investigation rather than routine repointing. Filling them without knowing why they formed can hide ongoing movement.
We look at where the crack starts, how wide it is and whether bricks on either side have shifted. The same guidance lists stepped cracks among the signs of a structural issue, so we explain that the cause needs investigating first. Repointing is planned after that answer, not instead of it.
Damaged bricks uncovered during raking
Raking out mortar sometimes shows that a brick is cracked through or has lost its face. Mortar packed around it does not restore the brick. That unit needs replacing, which is a different repair.
When that happens, we stop and show you the brick. We explain whether it can wait or needs replacing now, and price it as a separate item. The repointing continues on the agreed joints. Nothing is added to the job without your approval, however small the extra work looks.
Firebox joints are a separate job
The joints inside a firebox face direct fire and use refractory mortar made for heat. They are not repaired with the mortar used on the outside of the chimney. That work belongs to firebox repair.
If you mention cracked joints inside the fireplace, we look at them during the inspection and explain what they need. Exterior tuckpointing and firebox work each have their own line on the estimate. You can approve one without the other, and each uses the material its location requires.
Your chimney mortar repair scope in writing
- Water source notes before joint work
- Plant growth cut back from the joints
- Workmanship warranty on the agreed joints
- Mortar strength kept below the brick
Chimney mortar questions we hear
Can you repoint only the worst joints on the chimney?
Sometimes. Where damage is confined, spot repointing can be sensible. Brick industry guidance also suggests repointing every joint in an affected area, because it is hard to tell which joints admit water. We explain the boundary we recommend.
Should the chimney be waterproofed after repointing in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea?
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.
Why do some joint shapes hold up better on a chimney?
Concave and V-shaped joints are pressed tight against the brick when tooled, which helps them resist water. Recessed or ledged joints can hold water on the face. We discuss matching the existing look against weather resistance.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
We received your request
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