Mortar Wears Out Long Before Brick Does
A well-made brick can last a hundred years. The mortar between the bricks cannot. It is softer on purpose, and sun, rain and movement wear it down in a few decades.
On a Dallas chimney, the mortar has a hard life. The stack takes full sun on every side. Rain soaks it. The clay soil under the house swells and shrinks, and the chimney flexes with the foundation. First the joints crack, then they turn sandy, then they wash out.
Once the joints are open, water gets in and the damage speeds up. Dallas Chimney Care provides chimney tuckpointing and masonry repair in Dallas, TX to stop it there.
Masonry Problems We Repair
- Eroded mortar joints. The mortar has worn back from the face of the brick.
- Cracked joints. Often a stair-step crack that follows the joints across the chimney.
- Spalling brick. The face of the brick flakes or pops off after water gets inside.
- Loose bricks. Bricks near the top that move when touched.
- Firebox damage. Cracked firebrick and failed joints inside the fireplace.
How Chimney Tuckpointing Works
- Inspect. We check each face of the chimney and photograph the damage.
- Grind out. Failed mortar is removed to a depth where the joint is solid.
- Clean. Dust and loose material come out of the joints.
- Repoint. New mortar is packed in, in layers, until the joint is full.
- Tool and finish. Joints are shaped to match the rest of the house and the brick is cleaned.
If bricks are too damaged to keep, we cut them out and set new ones. When the top rows are too far gone, a partial chimney rebuild is the better repair, and we will tell you so.
Protect the Repair
New mortar should stay dry. After tuckpointing, we recommend a sound crown and chimney waterproofing so rain does not soak the brick again. The EPA’s Burn Wise program also has good advice on burning habits that are easier on a chimney.
Why Dallas Chimney Care
Dallas Chimney Care is a small local company with our own masonry team. Our owner has worked on chimneys for 20 years and is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We are insured, and masonry repairs carry a 5-year workmanship warranty.
See the rest of our chimney repair work, or all of our professional chimney services in Dallas, TX.