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Franklin Chimney Repairs Required? It’s Not Difficult to Spot the Symptoms

Evidence that a Franklin home’s chimney needs repairs isn’t hard to spot.

 

Bricks, or chips from bricks, on the ground next to the chimney. Discoloration of remaining bricks in the structure. Noticeable gaps between bricks. Efflorescence – a white, chalky powder – coating your Franklin chimney’s exterior.

 

Inside a home, discoloration or efflorescence inside the fireplace is a red flag, too.

 

Each symptom might have a different cause. Waiting to act isn’t smart, though. Complications can rapidly worsen. The first step is a chimney and fireplace inspection by Butler Chimneys, the top chimney sweep company in Franklin.

 

The underlying source in almost every chimney issue is water. Sometimes the culprit is cracked or damaged flue tiles inside the chimney, which permit moisture to seep into the chimney cavity. If a water heater vents into the chimney, the issue can be far worse. Either way, problems ensue when moisture has direct contact with masonry.

 

Gaps in a chimney – from absent bricks, or compromised mortar joints – are major red flags. Franklin rains can directly penetrate inside the chimney cavity, making a bad situation far worse.

 

The initial step is to address root causes. If flue tiles have lost their structural integrity, installing a stainless steel chimney liner typically stops internal moisture issues. The harm to the chimney remains, though.

 

Tuckpointing - grinding out and replacing deteriorated mortar – is sometimes all that’s needed. Adding optional ChimneySaver water repellent tacks five years onto Butler Chimneys’ standard five-year warranty, promising a decade of protection from the elements.

 

If the source of water leakage is a damaged chimney crown, two options are available. A stainless steel chimney cap can be mounted atop the crown, forming an “umbrella” over the chimney. Or, if the crown is too deteriorated, a new one is poured.

 

If a chimney is beyond recovery, a full or partial rebuild is in order. A masonry project takes three to five days; for appliance chimneys, usually one day. You and your Franklin neighbors can expect scaffolding to be put up, or a temporary rooftop construction station built.

 

The chimney is rebuilt with fresh bricks and new mortar to building code height. Butler Chimneys works to match colors of new bricks to originals; bricks can be stained, if needed.

 

A new 5-inch-thick concrete crown is poured on top. The crown uses a 2-inch overhang to keep water off the new chimney below. Your new chimney is as beautiful as it is functional!

 

If you identify symptoms of a deteriorating chimney, what’s the issue … and the fix? Only inspection by a qualified chimney company can find the answers. Time, though, is of the essence – contact Butler Chimneys before additional (or worse) symptoms appear!

 

 

Chimney Inspections by Butler Chimneys near Franklin, WI