By Lelia Hall
Repairing chimney components helps prolong the life of the structure and makes it function efficiently. If chimneys are maintained properly, they can last for long. But maintaining chimneys is not just about cleaning them. While you may want to make sure these structures are cleaned regularly, it is also important to have them inspected of any defects and repaired by a Minneapolis chimney repair contractor.
Things like the mortar and bricks, capping, and crown will become defective with time. The capping structure is found on top of chimneys and is not part of the masonry work. It is the cover that you see at the top and it may be made of metal such as copper, steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum.
Moisture is probably the number one form of destructive forces that you have watch out for in chimneys. Damaged caps will allow water to enter in flues and cause a lot of damage. While the interior part may be exposed to extreme heat more than the upper part, it is most shielded from the harsh weather and the rate of deteriorating may be slow.
The part that is below the roof remains much protected. It is important to check the mortar joints on the section above the roofing. You can check for separations, cracks, and spalling. Separations between brick and mortar may occur due to the weather elements. You can use a screwdriver to try to scrape the mortar or the bricks to see if they are soft and beginning to flake away.
You do not need to use a ladder so that you determine if the capping is damaged or defect. You may just want to step outside the house and take a look at the capping of chimneys. The capping is not masonry part of chimneys though it plays a vital protective role that helps the chimneys survive longer both interior and exterior.
The crown of your chimneys offers a second line of defense against water. Usually, a crown is that concrete or mortar slab which is poured on top of every chimney. It is about 2 by 3 inches. It is this crown that covers the upper most courses of bricks making your chimneys and it surrounds the flue tiles at the top. A crown is needed not only for aesthetic appeal but also for protective purposes.
Chimneys have a hollow interior that surrounds the flue tiles. That space is important because it helps in directing the smoke outside the house. Because concretes or slabs that make the mortar of crown may suffer from moisture, it needs to be checked. One process that contractors handle when repairing chimneys is tuckpointing. Many people confuse tuckpointing with mortar joints.
Almost, all chimneys masonry will need tuckpointing in every 30 to 50 years. Because chimneys are half above the roofing structure and half below the roofing line, they may deteriorate at different rates. Usually, the structure above is exposed to harsher weather conditions such as wind, rainfall, snow, ice, and cold temperatures. It is likely to deteriorate fast. Such parts should be inspected and repaired if they are damaged.
Things like the mortar and bricks, capping, and crown will become defective with time. The capping structure is found on top of chimneys and is not part of the masonry work. It is the cover that you see at the top and it may be made of metal such as copper, steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum.
Moisture is probably the number one form of destructive forces that you have watch out for in chimneys. Damaged caps will allow water to enter in flues and cause a lot of damage. While the interior part may be exposed to extreme heat more than the upper part, it is most shielded from the harsh weather and the rate of deteriorating may be slow.
The part that is below the roof remains much protected. It is important to check the mortar joints on the section above the roofing. You can check for separations, cracks, and spalling. Separations between brick and mortar may occur due to the weather elements. You can use a screwdriver to try to scrape the mortar or the bricks to see if they are soft and beginning to flake away.
You do not need to use a ladder so that you determine if the capping is damaged or defect. You may just want to step outside the house and take a look at the capping of chimneys. The capping is not masonry part of chimneys though it plays a vital protective role that helps the chimneys survive longer both interior and exterior.
The crown of your chimneys offers a second line of defense against water. Usually, a crown is that concrete or mortar slab which is poured on top of every chimney. It is about 2 by 3 inches. It is this crown that covers the upper most courses of bricks making your chimneys and it surrounds the flue tiles at the top. A crown is needed not only for aesthetic appeal but also for protective purposes.
Chimneys have a hollow interior that surrounds the flue tiles. That space is important because it helps in directing the smoke outside the house. Because concretes or slabs that make the mortar of crown may suffer from moisture, it needs to be checked. One process that contractors handle when repairing chimneys is tuckpointing. Many people confuse tuckpointing with mortar joints.
Almost, all chimneys masonry will need tuckpointing in every 30 to 50 years. Because chimneys are half above the roofing structure and half below the roofing line, they may deteriorate at different rates. Usually, the structure above is exposed to harsher weather conditions such as wind, rainfall, snow, ice, and cold temperatures. It is likely to deteriorate fast. Such parts should be inspected and repaired if they are damaged.
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