As the spring brings warmer temperatures, melting snow and drier weather, it also delivers the best time of year to schedule your chimney repairs!
Winter is hard on your chimney, and come spring, your chimney is often worse for the wear and in need of repairs. Spring’s warmer, dryer weather makes those repairs easier to perform. And by scheduling now, you will avoid the rush of repair requests that come our way in the late summer and early fall, meaning you won’t have to wait for chimney repairs, and you know your chimney will be ready for the fall!
So how do you know if your chimney needs repair this spring? If you were told by your chimney sweep to schedule a repair, that’s a no-brainer. But if your chimney suffered damage from cold winter temperatures, strong winter winds, and winter moisture, you might be able to spot chimney damage that needs attention. Some common chimney repairs include:
Tuckpointing. Your chimney’s masonry absorbs moisture. When temperatures drop during the winter months, the water within the masonry freezes and expands, which can cause mortar and brick faces to crumble away. If you see signs of crumbling masonry on your chimney, it can be repaired through tuckpointing, which involves scraping away crumbling mortar and replacing it with new mortar. Tuckpointing restores the look and the structural integrity of your chimney.- Chimney crown repair. Just like the masonry in the chimney structure, the masonry chimney crown can crack and crumble during winter’s freeze/thaw cycles. Your chimney crown is vital for keeping water out of your chimney flue and away from the sides of your chimney. During the spring, we can repair cracks or rebuild your chimney crown so that it continues to protect your chimney from further water damage.
- Chimney cap replacement. Strong winter winds can knock your chimney cap right of your chimney, or leave it sitting askew. Your chimney cap is your chimney’s best defense against water damage. If your chimney cap is no longer protecting your chimney from water, a new chimney cap should be installed.
- Chimney flashing repair. The flashing around the base of your chimney prevents water from penetrating your roof line and damaging your home’s structure. That flashing can pull away from the chimney or corrode, leading to water damage in your ceilings and walls. Reinforcing your flashing can keep your home safe from water damage.
- Chimney improvements. If you’ve been thinking about improving the look of your chimney, spring also is the time to schedule your masonry work for the same reasons that spring is the best time for chimney repairs!
If you know your chimney needs to be repaired after enduring the harsh winter weather, or if you would like to improve your chimney before the next fire-burning season, don’t let the opportunity for spring repairs pass you by! Call Fluesbrothers Chimney Service to schedule and inspection and consultation today!
