Meeker Chimney Repairs Needed? It’s Not Difficult to Find the Warnings
Proof that a Meeker home’s chimney requires repairs isn’t difficult to find.
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 Meeker chimney’s exterior.
Inside a home, staining or efflorescence inside the fireplace is a warning, too.
Each sign 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 Meeker.
The underlying reason in nearly every chimney problem is water. Sometimes the culprit is cracked or damaged flue tiles inside the chimney, which permit moisture to escape into the chimney cavity. If a water heater vents into the chimney, the situation can be far worse. Either way, problems begin once moisture has direct contact with masonry.
Gaps in a chimney – from absent bricks, or failed mortar joints – are serious red flags. Meeker rains can directly get inside the chimney cavity, making a bad scenario far worse.
The initial step is to confront root causes. If flue tiles have lost their structural integrity, installing a stainless steel chimney liner usually stops internal moisture issues. The harm to the chimney remains, though.
Tuckpointing - grinding out and replacing deteriorated mortar – is sometimes all that’s required. Adding optional ChimneySaver water repellent tacks five years onto Butler Chimneys’ regular five-year warranty, promising a decade of protection from the elements.
If the source of water leakage is a damaged chimney crown, two options exist. 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 takes three to five days; for appliance chimneys, usually one day. You and your Meeker 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 features a 2-inch overhang to keep water off the new chimney below. Your new chimney is as beautiful as it is functional!
If you notice indicators of a failing chimney, what’s the problem … and the remedy? Only inspection by a qualified chimney company can tell. Time, though, is of the essence – contact Butler Chimneys before more (or worse) symptoms show up!