Most homeowners don’t think about chimney care and maintenance until something is wrong. Creosote buildup is a leading cause for chimney fires. Simple chimney maintenance tasks can alleviate these problems. Tuckpointing is an important chimney maintenance task that people neglect to do. Cracks and breaks in your chimney’s surface can lead to air leakage, water damage, mold, and mildew. If you plan for annual or semi-annual chimney maintenance, you can prevent damage to your chimney, prevent dangerous carbon monoxide fumes, and enjoy your fireplace for many years to come. Cracks in the chimney crown can damage the entire chimney. Cleaning the flue is important. However, it is not the only chimney maintenance task to perform. Spalling mortar, a cracked crown, and chipped bricks, if gone unchecked, can lead to big repair bills up to $3,000. Performing simple repair jobs, such as repairing the cap or crown and replacing broken mortar, will improve your heating bills, and save you money on repair costs. As well, your chimney will remain structurally safe and sound.
Let’s discuss tuckpointing which is the process involving the repair and replacement of mortar in brick surfaces such as brick veneer commonly found on many homes and chimneys. Professional tuck pointers use finely pointed trowels to point or place grooved mortar joints with a fine ridge of mortar, putty, or mortar repair mix. They know how to use the correct tools, mortar mix, and the correct color and style to use. Quickly repairing damaged brick veneer, the cost of the job offsets high heating bills and worth the investment. Inclement weather during all seasons causes the mortar joints to break down, crack, or separate allowing for water damage and mold to grow. Water damage and air leakage are two problems that occur due to lack of proper chimney care and maintenance. Hire a skilled tuckpointing professional to restore your chimney’s brick veneer and prevent water damage. Air leakage causes high utility bills. Breaks in the chimney mortar can lead to drafting, creosote buildup, and dangerous carbon monoxide. Keep your family safe by performing preventive chimney maintenance. Tuckpointing costs run as high as $5 to $20 per square foot.
Consider variants such as labor, materials, size of the job and geographic region. These variants will affect the overall price of the completed job. Before hiring a professional tuck pointer, thoroughly check all referrals. Ask for several estimates and references about previous jobs. Check for certifications and licenses. If you are a skilled DIY homeowner repair guru, fixing your chimney may present some challenges. You will need to climb up on your roof to measure the flu liner so that you can order the correctly sized chimney cap and also to perform any needed maintenance tasks. Safety first, always wear a harness. You will need to use the correct tools and equipment to safely reach the chimney crown from your roof. If the roof pitch is steep, or you don’t like heights, consider hiring a professional tuck pointer to complete the yearly chimney maintenance tasks.
