Solving Brick Spalling Problems in Your Chimney
Oliver Twist Chimney & Fireplace of Huntington Beach, CA, has provided masonry repair and chimney tuckpointing services throughout Los Angeles County and Orange County since 1987. Here’s some helpful information on solving brick spalling problems in your chimney.
Why Do Bricks Spall?
Deterioration of one or many bricks in your chimney’s masonry can be caused by:
- Mortar between bricks don’t allow them to expand in colder weather
- Salvaged or other inferior-quality bricks used during construction
- Poor chimney construction practices, in general
- Earthquakes, hail storms, and other seismic or weather events
- Plain old age
- A damaged chimney crown that allows water to sit on and penetrate bricks below it
- Use of high-powered pressure washers on the masonry
What Happens To Loose and Cracked Chimney Bricks?
In most cases, the number-one concern is water intrusion. Water and chimneys don’t mix, and spalling bricks give water an easy way into the system.
Water will decay and weaken bricks. This can cause a chimney to lean to one side or collapse entirely.
If there’s sufficient compromise to the masonry, water can get into the interior chimney area and begin causing various types of damage. The chimney liner can be affected, as can the fireplace damper. The more moisture inside the chimney, the more likely adjacent building materials of the home will eventually begin to rot.
Structural issues aside, a leaky chimney caused by spalling bricks can allow mold to grow in the interior of a chimney. Mold, some of which can cause serious health problems, will keep on growing until it is properly removed.
The next step is replacing the bricks, which includes applying a top-grade mortar that won’t contribute to brick spalling in the future. Our masons bring years of experience throughout Southern California to every masonry repair and brick replacement project. We’ll do the job right and leave your chimney looking fantastic.
Professionals Spalling Brick Repairs
When the Oliver Twist crew is called out to a job where cracked or loose chimney bricks is the main complaint, the first thing we do is thoroughly inspect the chimney.
We want to understand exactly where and why the spalling is happening as well as what type of collateral damage, if any, has been caused by it.
Call Us for a Safe and Efficient Chimney
No matter what type of chimney trouble you’re dealing with, Oliver Twist Chimney & Fireplace has the tools and know-how to resolve it. Speak with a chimney expert today at (714) 843-9944 or reach out with our handy contact form.
We offer complete chimney cleaning, repair and inspection services along with fireplace and stove installations in Huntington Beach CA, Long Beach CA, Torrance CA, Anaheim CA, Santa Ana CA, Inglewood CA, Manhattan Beach CA, Redondo Beach CA, Hermosa Beach CA and many more SoCal communities.