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West Bend Chimney Repairs Needed? It’s Not Difficult to Find the Symptoms

Evidence that a West Bend home’s chimney requires repairs isn’t hard to identify.

 

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 West Bend chimney’s exterior.

 

Inside a house, discoloration or efflorescence inside the fireplace is a warning, too.

 

Each indicator might have a different source. Waiting to act isn’t wise, though. Issues can quickly worsen. The first step is a chimney and fireplace inspection by Butler Chimneys, the top chimney sweep company in West Bend.

 

The common factor in nearly every chimney issue is water. Sometimes the cause is cracked or damaged flue tiles inside the chimney, which allow moisture to seep into the chimney cavity. If a water heater vents into the chimney, the situation can be far worse. Either way, problems start once moisture has direct contact with masonry.

 

Gaps in a chimney – from missing bricks, or compromised mortar joints – are major warnings. West Bend rains can directly penetrate inside the chimney cavity, making a bad situation far worse.

 

The first step is to address root causes. If flue tiles have lost their structural integrity, putting in a stainless steel chimney liner typically stops internal moisture problems. The damage 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’ normal 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” 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 West Bend 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 beneath. Your new chimney is as attractive as it is functional!

 

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

 

 

Chimney Inspections by Butler Chimneys near West Bend, WI