Having a brick home or chimney that is made with masonry is something that a lot of people find visually attractive. Bricks can be a very sturdy building material with a look that always looks beautiful in its own way. Even chimneys that are on the older side can still be pleasing to the eye. But a “vintage” look can sometimes actually be a sign of a problem.

If you have a chimney with bricks that are in bad shape, it may mean that you need to schedule a visit with Best Cincinnati Chimney. This is especially important if you notice spalling bricks on your chimney.

Here is what you need to know about getting repairs for problematic masonry.

What Are Spalling Bricks?

After years of handling freezing temperatures and then springtime thawing, your bricks will start to form micro cracks in the masonry. When water gets inside the cracks and freezes it expands the crack and allows more water in the next season. After a few years this water can work itself into the brick itself and when it expands with freezing, it will pop the facing off of the brick. This is known as spalling. This allows moisture to get into the brick even more and even into your house. This can cause much damage. This will cause other bricks to crumble, flake, peel, or even fall out of the exterior of your chimney completely.

Sometimes bricks split from top to bottom and cause the same problems.

Why It’s a Problem

As you can imagine, the loss of bricks around your chimney flue or house isn’t a good thing.

First, the worse some of the bricks get, the more they will impact the other bricks around them. Secondly, the risk of bricks coming out of your chimney is a safety hazard for anyone walking around outside the house. This can also cause damage to your shingles or flashing. This can cause water damage into the walls and ceilings of your home. On your walls, spalling brick will cause other bricks to spall and will deteriorate your walls. Thirdly, when your chimney develops spalling brickwork it can compromise the integrity of the flue itself, creating airflow problems and even creating spots for leaks.

Spalling Brick Repairs Are a Must

If you notice that the masonry that makes up your chimney and brick walls are in poor shape, it is best to reach out for repairs promptly. The state of your chimney and walls will only worsen and become a bigger threat to your safety and the wellbeing of your home.

Brick repairs may sound like a big time investment but when the repairs are performed by a professional it will be a worthwhile investment. A professional technician can assess the issue and provide comprehensive and effective solutions. For example, if the issue that caused the spalling bricks originated from bad mortar, they can replace that mortar and fix the bricks to get your chimney back into shape.

Additional brick repairs that we can make include:

• Fixing chimney crowns to create a drip edge
• Chimney and wall tuck pointing
• Replacement of spalling brick
• Repairs to Lintels around windows and garage doors
• Chimney and brick wall water repellent sealing

With Best Cincinnati Chimney, you are guaranteed to get the repairs you need done right the first time around. This means better performance from your fireplace and chimney this winter and less stress all around on your brick home, along with improved safety and comfort.

The technicians on our team are all Certified Chimney Professionals and Certified Chimney Reliners. We specialize in light masonry such as brick repair, spalling and tuck pointing. Call today!