Tuckpointing the chimney on your home in San Marco Island
New joints are tooled to shed water and kept damp while the mortar cures.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs the chimney joints need repointing
- Hairline cracks running along the joints
- Plants rooting in the mortar joints
- Thin mortar smeared over old joints
- Caulk pushed into open joints
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Chimney mortar repair, explained plainly
Repointing out of direct sun on hot days
Mortar needs time to cure with water in it. Federal preservation guidance recommends doing repointing work in the shade where possible, because strong sunlight on a hot wall pulls water out of fresh joints before they bond.
We plan the work so the face being repointed is in shade where possible, and we cover it when it is not. That can mean starting on a different face in the morning and another in the afternoon. We explain the plan so the sequence makes sense to you.
A free inspection before any raking
Joint work starts with a free inspection. We look at each face of the chimney, scrape-test suspect joints and check the brick. We also look at the crown, cap and flashing that could be feeding water in. The findings are explained on site.
You then receive a free written estimate with each area and item listed. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to go ahead. If the joints are sound, we say so and tell you what signs would mean it is time to call again.
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.
Damp brick where the chimney passes the attic
If you can see the chimney inside the attic, the brick there can offer clues. Damp patches, stains or loose grit on the attic side can mean water is working through the outer joints or coming from the top.
Mention what you have seen when you book. We look at the exterior joints and the chimney top with that in mind. The attic view helps us narrow the source. It also lets us explain whether repointing, a crown repair or flashing work is most likely to stop the water.
Inside a chimney repointing proposal
- Scrape test of suspect joints
- Raking to an even, sound depth
- Dust cleared from the raked joints
- Pre-hydrated mortar placed in thin layers
What people ask about chimney mortar
Is a stronger mortar better for my chimney?
No. Repointing mortar should be softer and more vapor-permeable than the brick, and no stronger than the original mortar. A mix that is too hard pushes stress into the brick and can damage its face.
What happens if you find damaged bricks while raking?
We stop and show you. A brick with a broken or flaking face cannot be fixed by the mortar around it. Replacing it is a separate item with its own price, and it is added only with your approval.
Do you match the new mortar to the brick or the old mortar?
Both matter. The mortar should suit the brick, which means softer and more permeable than the units and no harder than the original mix. Its color and texture are matched to the existing joints so the repair blends in.
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