Waterproofing that protects chimney brick in Little Havana

Only the outside faces are treated

Chimney waterproofing treats the exterior masonry. It does not go inside the flue, onto the smoke chamber or into the firebox. Those surfaces face heat and combustion gases and need products made for that, which is a different job.

Inside the house, brick on the chimney breast is also left alone. Interior masonry is not exposed to rain, and treatments for exterior brick are not chosen for indoor use. The estimate names the faces included, so there is no doubt about where the product goes.

When a coating has already been sold to you

If a company has proposed coating your chimney in Little Havana and you are unsure, a second look is sensible. Ask what the product is, whether it penetrates or forms a film and what repairs come first. If those answers are missing, the proposal is incomplete.

Bring the proposal to our visit. We check the chimney independently and explain whether treatment fits, and if so, what should happen before it. Sometimes the coating is reasonable. Sometimes repairs matter more. Either way, you get the reasoning in writing.

Being there for the assessment

You do not need to climb anything during the waterproofing assessment. What helps is telling us why you are asking. Dark brick after rain, flaking faces, a past treatment or a leak all point the visit in different directions.

If you cannot be home, someone who knows the history can stand in, or you can tell us by phone beforehand. We explain the findings in person or by phone afterward. The written estimate follows either way, with the repairs and the treatment on separate lines.

What a repellent will not do

It helps to be clear about the limits of a treatment before paying for one. A penetrating repellent is not a repair, and the list below covers what it leaves untouched.

Each of those needs its own repair. Our estimate lists them separately, so nobody expects the treatment to do a job it was not made for.

• Close cracks, open joints or gaps at the top
• Strengthen crumbling brick or soft mortar
• Stop rain falling down an open flue
• Fix water getting in at the roof junction