When your home has a fireplace, there are some terms you will need to know. So, tuckpointing? Brickpointing? Repointing? It can certainly be confusing. This one is easy – all three mean the same thing!
How Does My Chimney Become Damaged?
One thing is for sure – your chimney, although it may seem indestructible, can definitely suffer from the effects of weather, and especially precipitation. Heavy rains can wear away the materials that your chimney is constructed with, especially the mortar that pieces it all together. Even more damaging is the freeze-thaw cycle that occurs in cold weather. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America website, “(M)asonry materials deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze/thaw process, in which moisture that has penetrated the materials periodically freezes and expands causing undue stress.” This website goes on to state that stone itself isn’t going to be damaged by precipitation. However, stone will need large amounts of mortar to hold it together. This leaves a lot of surface that is susceptible to water damage.
So What Is Tuckpointing?
As told by thebalance.com website, tuckpointing is the process of removing old, deteriorating mortar joints and replacing them with fresh mortar. There are several things to consider when deciding whether tuckpointing is necessary or not. One, how much of your chimney needs tuckpointing? The whole structure or only parts of it? Another consideration is the age of your chimney. In addition, what type of mortar was used during it’s construction?
There are many websites out there that will give you pointers on how to ‘do-it-yourself’ in tuckpointing. However, the balance.com website makes it very clear that this is a job that needs to be completed by an experienced professional. It can be extremely labor intensive as well. Also, it is important that a complete assessment be done. This is so the considerations spoken of in the preceding paragraph can be calculated.
Is This Type of Repair Necessary?
It’s pretty obvious that crumbling, damaged mortar isn’t pretty. You want your chimney to look great, but is tuckpointing really that important? According to the experts at Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service, in a word, YES! Not only is damaged mortar unsightly, but it can be dangerous as well. The experts at Chim-Cheroo know that a mortar that isn’t properly repaired has consequences. Also, moisture and time will continue to worsen your chimney and fireplace’s condition. What happens if this moisture is allowed to continue to seep into your chimney? Other elements of your fireplace, such as the flue liner, the damper, and the firebox might also be damaged.
Chim-Cheroo Has the Answers
The professionals at Chim-Cheroo have the experience and the knowledge to assess your chimney problems. They can also fix any problem you may be experiencing with your fireplace or chimney. So if you can see that your mortar is in some trouble, just point yourself in the right direction. Turn to the experts at Chim Cheroo Chimney Sweeps. They’ll take care of all your chimney repair needs! Call 419-752-2231 today.