A chimney can look solid from the yard while problems are developing somewhere you can’t see. Mortar wears away between the bricks. A crack forms in the chimney liner. Water seeps into the masonry. Sometimes the first clue is nothing more than a few pieces of brick or mortar on the ground.
Chimney Specialists Inc. handles chimney repairs throughout Muscoda, WI. Sometimes the work is limited to a section of damaged mortar or a few problem bricks. Other times, chimneys have been deteriorating long enough to need a complete restoration or rebuild.
When Chimney Masonry Starts to Break Down
Wisconsin weather is hard on masonry. Brick and mortar get wet, freeze, thaw, dry out, and repeat. Eventually, that wear can start showing on the chimney. You may see the mortar crumbling between a few bricks. Or pieces of brick may begin chipping away, or a crack that wasn’t there before suddenly catches your eye. Staining can be another reason to take a closer look.
Damage contained to one area may call for masonry or mortar repairs, while a chimney with more widespread deterioration may need sections rebuilt. That’s hard to judge from the ground, especially when some damage may be happening inside the chimney.
Problems Can Start Inside the Chimney
Some chimney damage simply isn’t visible from the yard. Cracked flue tiles and worn areas inside the chimney can stay hidden until someone gets a closer look.
Damage inside the flue matters just as much as what’s happening to the brick outside. Cracked clay tiles or a deteriorating liner can leave parts of the chimney exposed that weren’t meant to handle direct heat and exhaust. Depending on what’s already there and its condition, repairing the chimney may involve relining it with a new system. In many cases, you can restore an internally deteriorated chimney without tearing down the entire structure.
Keeping Water Out
Water causes plenty of trouble for masonry chimneys. The chimney crown, cap, and masonry all help keep moisture from getting where it shouldn’t. A damaged crown can allow water into the chimney, while deteriorated mortar creates more openings for moisture to enter the masonry.
Once there, Wisconsin’s freezing temperatures can worsen existing damage. Watch for changes around the chimney. White staining, loose bricks, crumbling mortar, or water near the fireplace can all be reasons to have the system inspected rather than waiting to see what another winter does to it.
Chimney Repair in Muscoda, WI
Chimney repair can mean replacing damaged mortar in one area or restoring a chimney that has deteriorated for years. What matters is matching the repair to what’s actually happening with the structure.
Chimney Specialists Inc. has provided chimney cleaning, repair, relining, and rebuilding services since 1977. If you’ve noticed changes to the chimney at your Muscoda home, contact our team to have it evaluated and learn what repair options make sense.
