There's nothing cozier than a roaring fire when the weather is bad. Many homeowners are installing fines in their homes. Wood-burning fires, electric fires, there are many different types. However, there is one thing all fires have in common is that they need a chimney so that any gases that are produced can be removed safely from the house.
Chimneys are under constant exposure to the weather so it's not surprising that at times they need repairing; harsh weather can cause damage to the mortar joints In your chimney's brickwork. Luckily enough, chimneys are usually built from bricks, and brick maintenance and brick repair are quite straightforward.
Water from heavy rain or snow does the most damage. Rain can cause erosion of the mortar, which weakens the joints. Then low temperatures cause a cycle where the water freezes and expands. Eventually, cracks in the mortar form, or the mortar begins to crumble. If more water then penetrates into the brickwork, the structural integrity of the chimney will be affected.
The solution to this damage is brick tuckpointing, not only will tuckpointing repair the damage but it will also prevent future damage from occurring. Brick tuckpointing is a specialized skill carried out by mason contractors on masonry, for brick wall repair and repair of stone walls and other masonry structures. It is also used in masonry restoration.
The process of tuckpointing involves removing damaged and weakened masonry from brickwork and replacing it with fresh mortar. This results in a new strong joint that strengthens the brickwork in the chimney and seals the joints at the same time to protect them against water damage.
By tuckpointing the damaged bricks of the chimney and layer some additional bricks you can accomplish many things.
-The structural integrity of the chimney is restored
-Further corrosion of the mortar joints is prevented
-Water is prevented from getting into the chimney and causing more damage.
-The chimney is restored to its original state
Tuckpointing is a cost-effective method, which if performed by professional masonry contractors can restore bricks to its original glory.
