What Is The Difference Between Chimney Rebuilding And Repointing?
With winter just round the corner, chimneys will require regular maintenance and their performance needs to be gauged for any defects. You then have to do chimney repair before the weather becomes severe.
Maintenance Of Chimneys
If your chimney is crumbling from the drastic weather of the previous season or moisture is damaging it from inside, both these signs point towards a much needed maintenance.
When we speak of chimney maintenance two terms are commonly used. Chimney rebuilding and chimney repointing. Though they are interconnected, there is a major difference between them. Chimney masons can assess and fix your problems and restore your chimney’s lost glory.
Things That Damage Chimneys
Before we consider the differences, let’s check what are the reasons that cause damage to chimneys to a point where the basic structure becomes weak or compromised.
A few of them are listed below, but there are many more:
- Chimney fires
- Earthquakes
- Chimney leakages
- Extreme hot and cold temperatures
- Frequent usage of fireplace
- Lightning strikes, hailstorms and thunderbolts
- Faulty chimney footing
- Old age of chimney leading to decay
- Lack of chimney maintenance
Difference Between Chimney Rebuilding And Chimney Repointing
Now let’s check the differences between the two procedures and see which one can best work to restore the structure and performance of your chimney.
Repointing Or Tuck Pointing
Chimneys are constructed in a way that they are able to hold the structure for a longer period. The joints that hold the structure decay with the passage of time and create spaces or gaps in different areas of the chimney especially between the bricks. This happens usually when the weather has reached an extreme temperature, be it hot or cold, freezing and thawing temperatures are notorious for damaging chimneys over the years.
If your chimneys blocks are in good shape, then repointing or retouching can just be the right option. By availing this option, the cosmetic appearance and the structure of your chimney can be amended.
If you neglect this maintenance, your chimney will undergo major damage to the point where it will require rebuilding.
Repointing is not a lengthy or messy process. It doesn’t involve any disassembling and reassembling of your chimney. Your chimney mason will address the crumbled joints and grind them out between the bricks. Decayed mortar is removed and a fresh one is then used to fill them back. The excessive mortar is removed to reveal a beautiful and smooth look.
Chimney Rebuilding
As stated earlier there comes a point where your chimney is damaged or weakened beyond repair. It is years of neglect or bad effects of weather that lead your chimney to this point. Even repointing cannot fix it. Then you have to seek help from professional chimney masons who will suggest you to rebuild your chimney. Until your chimney is fixed it’s sensible to avoid using it.
There are many ways a chimney can be rebuilt.
- Rebuilding a partial chimney: As the name suggests, it will only involve partial maintenance. Whether your chimney is big or small, its smaller sections will be addressed one at a time. This process usually involves the rebuilding of the chimney crown.
- Rebuilding up the roofline: This process involves building the chimney up from the roofline flashing. When basic repointing won’t work then rebuilding it is the only option left.
- Complete rebuilding of the chimney: When your entire chimney structure is damaged, you are left with no option other than rebuilding it. You can detect the damage if you see leaning of the chimney, spawning or severe mortar damage leading to decay of the chimney.
Role Of Maintenance In Keeping Your Chimney In Optimum Condition
If you want to avoid the hassle and expense involved in rebuilding or repointing, you should get it regularly inspected by chimney experts who can assist you. Regular chimney inspections can detect damage at an early stage and save your money. Annual chimney sweeps and inspections ensure that the structure and performance of your chimney isn’t compromised.
Conclusion
It’s not just your chimney that needs proper inspection and repair, rather every corner of your home should be handled with the same diligence. Hire reliable chimney contractors Columbia MD at the right time to avoid bigger issues later.
