Ozaukee County Chimney Repairs Needed? It’s Not Hard to Identify the Warnings
Proof that a Ozaukee County home’s chimney requires repairs isn’t hard to spot.
Bricks, or chips from bricks, on the ground next to the chimney. Staining of remaining bricks in the structure. Visible gaps between bricks. Efflorescence – a white, chalky powder – lining your Ozaukee County chimney’s exterior.
Inside the home, staining or efflorescence inside the fireplace is a warning, too.
Each indicator might have a different cause. Waiting to act isn’t smart, though. Problems can quickly worsen. The first step is a chimney and fireplace inspection by Butler Chimneys, the top chimney sweep company in Ozaukee County.
The commonality in nearly every chimney issue is water. Often the cause is cracked or damaged flue tiles inside the chimney, which allow moisture to escape into the chimney cavity. If a water heater vents into the chimney, the problem can be far worse. Either way, problems start once moisture has direct contact with masonry.
Gaps in a chimney – from absent bricks, or failed mortar joints – are major warnings. Ozaukee County rains can directly penetrate inside the chimney cavity, making a bad scenario far worse.
The first step is to address root causes. If flue tiles have lost their structural integrity, installing a stainless steel chimney liner generally stops internal moisture problems. 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, guaranteeing a decade of protection from the elements.
If the source of water leakage is a cracked chimney crown, two options are available. A stainless steel chimney cap can be mounted atop the crown, forming an “umbrella” above the chimney. Or, if the crown is too damaged, a new one is poured.
If a chimney is beyond restoration, a full or partial rebuild is in order. A masonry project runs three to five days; for appliance chimneys, usually one day. You and your Ozaukee County neighbors can expect scaffolding to be put up, or a temporary rooftop construction station built.
The chimney is reconstructed 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 employs a 2-inch overhang to keep water off the new chimney below. Your new chimney is as beautiful as it is functional!
If you detect symptoms of a deteriorating chimney, what’s the problem … and the remedy? 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 show up!