Chimney Maintenance
Proper chimney maintenance is crucial. With upkeep and proper chimney repair you can prevent a more costly chimney rebuild. Crumbling mortar, water infiltration, frequent use, exposure to the elements, and a lack of preventative maintenance can lead to serious chimney damage or require a complete chimney rebuild. At CTC Masonry Group, we offer expert chimney rebuild and chimney repair services that help your fireplace look great and run longer.
Our chimney repair services include:
Chimney repair process
When a chimney has deteriorated to the point where a simple chimney repair is no longer viable, a chimney rebuild may be necessary. Facing this obstacle doesn’t have to be scary – CTC Masonry Group is here to help.
During a rebuild, we typically erect scaffolding to gain access to the top of the chimney. Once the area is safely cleared, we begin the removal process. Demolition is completed by carefully and expertly saw-cutting the concrete chimney crown and masonry brick sections. Upon reaching an appropriate level, we internally inspect the chimney.
After we gain your approval with new bricks and carefully matched Type N mortar, the chimney rebuild process begins. The new brick and mortar are lifted into place and we begin to lay the brick. All of our masonry work is built level, plumb, and square. The mortar is carefully smoothed using hand tools to create your choice of a variety of finishes. After we complete these steps, the chimney crown is installed. We use either a reinforced cement chimney crown or a precast one-piece crown.
The lifespan of a chimney largely depends on climate, usage, construction, and maintenance. When problems become apparent, it is often too late for simple chimney repairs This is why regular maintenance, including a waterproofing plan, is necessary to maximize your chimney’s life span.
Some of the common chimney services we provide are:
- Partial chimney rebuild: Conducted for small chimneys with no scaffolding or top sections and for large chimneys with the addition of a new crown.
- Roof line up chimney rebuild: Conducted when significant mortar and/or brick deterioration has set in beyond the ability of a tuck-pointing repair. The chimney is torn down to the area of the flashing by the roofline, and then the top of the chimney is rebuilt and a new crown is added.
- Total chimney rebuild: Conducted when the chimney is leaning, severe mortar deterioration has occurred, severe brick spalling has set in from the ground up and so forth. The outer brick layer of the chimney is torn down and a new crown is added. In most cases the firebox, hearth, and smoke chamber must be repaired as well.
Contact us at CTC Masonry today to discuss the best options for your chimney repair or rebuild. We proudly serve the Chicagoland area and all surrounding areas.
