Chimney Repointing – Chimney Tuckpointing in Rhode Island

Elite Chimney Solutions is a chimney repair company that serves all of Rhode Island, including the towns of Warwick, Middletown, Pawtucket, East Providence, Cranston, and Bristol.

Your chimney is made of three different components: the firebox, the flue, and the top of the chimney. If you have a brick chimney, chimney repointing is necessary because over time the mortar will absorb moisture from the air and the water in the mortar will start to dissolve the underlying brick. Chimney repointing can prevent your chimney from crumbling and falling apart. Because chimneys are designed to channel exhaust fumes and smoke from a fire up and out of your home, over time, the mortar between the bricks can crack and crumble, allowing harmful gasses and fumes to leak back into your home.

Chimney repointing is the process of removing the old mortar in between the bricks and replacing it with new mortar. When you repoint a chimney it's important to follow certain steps, because if you don't, the new mortar could shrink over time and leave gaps in between the bricks. It’s important to have this done as part of regular maintenance to ensure your fireplace is going to work properly. If your chimney isn't repointed every 10 to 15 years, the mortar can separate from the bricks. Chimney repointing is similar to bricklaying, but with one major difference. Instead of building chimneys from scratch, which is what bricklayers do, chimney repairers are responsible for repairing and rebuilding the bricks that make up your chimney.

The mortar between each of the bricks or stones is what keeps the chimney strong. In Warwick Rhode Island, there is a saying that goes, “A chimney is only as strong as its mortar joints”. If a homeowner is going to have their chimney repointed it is important that the mortar joints are ground out smooth. If the mortar joints are not ground out smooth then there will be voids in between the new mortar and the old mortar. The purpose of repointing is to repair damage or deterioration to chimneys and masonry in order to prevent safety issues and extend the life of the chimney. When you’re repointing a chimney, it’s very important that you follow the mortar joints. The trick is to mix the mortar with sand and water before you apply it, which will make it easier to texture the joints so they look seamless when you’re done.

You can find out if it’s time to repoint your chimney by looking at the bricks. If you see cracks in the mortar or if the mortar is falling out between the bricks, then it’s clear that you need to repoint your chimney. If you notice that your chimney is crumbling, it’s very important to have it repointed and repaired as soon as possible. Crumbling chimneys can be a fire hazard, and they can also cause damage to your roof and home. Give Elite Chimney Solutions a call today if if you notice any of the following:

 

• Your fireplace has a lot of smoke coming out of it. This can be caused by a crack in your chimney or flue.
• Cracks in the mortar between your bricks.
• Bricks that have shifted out of place.

Repointing a chimney is something that needs to be done every few decades, as the mortar between the bricks in your chimney erodes over time. If you notice any of the tell-tale signs of eroding mortar, such as cracked or crumbling bricks or a flaking finish, then it's time to repoint your chimney. Elite Chimney Solutions is the chimney company that you can turn to for all chimney repointing or masonry repair needs. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded. Elite has over 20 years of experience tuckpointing chimneys in Rhode Island and surrounding areas. Our chimney repair crews are experienced, and courteous with customer service always being our top priority. We provide an inspection with every service call to determine what is needed to fix or replace your damaged chimney. Call us at (844) 354-8385