Chimney & Fireplaces/Chimney Masonry Repair

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Expert: - 2/19/2008


Question
Our chimney brick has been deteriorating due to water, and the brick needs to be rebuilt/replaced. The chimney is exposed from the garage roof and upwards past the house roof.  All of the masons who have looked at the chimney agree that the damage is from the top roof line and upwards -- 15-18 courses of brick at a cost ranging from $2900-$3700.  Two of the masons say they can match the brick closely (it is a 35yo house) and only the top half needs to be replaced.  The third mason says all of the brick should be replaced from the garage roof to the top b/c there is bound to be water leakage behind all of the brick.  We have had no leaks inside the house or garage. All of the masons have good reputations.  So my questions are: (1) when replacing exposed chimney brick b/c of water leakage, should you replace the whole thing or is it also good practice to only replace the damaged part; (2) what can you realistically expect from trying to match bricks and mortar -- assuming the bricks are fairly closely matched -- will the new mortar eventually acquire a color closer to the older mortar; and finally (3) is using Chimney Saver Water Repellent and Crown Coat worth the investment? Thank you very much for your time and help.

Answer
Hi Amy,

1 & 2) You only need to replace the damaged part, however, if the brick has been spalling, there's a good chance that much of the rest of the exposed masonry work is also damaged.  If it was mine, I would replace the entire exterior brick on the chimney from the roofline upwards so you have a consistent brick color.

3)  Yes, they are worth the investment.

I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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