A chimney improves the value of your home, but it’s also a lot of work and responsibility. Chimneys and fireplaces require yearly inspections and regular repairs to keep them operating safely and efficiently. This includes the mortar joints of your chimney. Through the process of tuckpointing, the team at Chimney Champions can keep your chimney looking like new and prevent moisture from getting through. Here are some of the most common questions we receive about this repair process.
1. What Is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is a centuries-old repair process used to enhance the appearance of masonry. However, it also has another purpose: to remove deteriorating mortar joints and restore your chimney. New mortar replaces the old, often in a contrasting color to emphasize the crispness of the new mortar joints and masonry work.
2. Is Tuckpointing Necessary?
While the bricks of your chimney will last for decades, the same can’t be said for the mortar between them. Mortar is a fine mixture of cementitious materials and fine sand, making it more susceptible to deterioration through rain exposure. When the mortar of your chimney wears away, your structure becomes unstable. This makes tuckpointing a crucial and important repair.
3. What Are the Benefits?
There’s no question that maintaining your chimney has aesthetic benefits, but it can also have home safety and security benefits. Not only is the corrosion stopped immediately, but the integrity of your chimney improves, and water can no longer penetrate it. Tuckpointing is also more cost-effective than a complete teardown and rebuild of your chimney. The value of your home also improves when you make the necessary chimney repairs.
Don’t Wait to Repair Your Chimney
Putting off repairs to your fireplace and chimney can be very costly. Not only do you risk a potential house fire, but you also risk moisture damage from either crumbling mortar or a damaged lining. With yearly inspections from the licensed professionals at Chimney Champions, you can plan well ahead of any necessary repairs. We’ve proudly been repairing chimneys for residents throughout Jacksonville, FL, for years, and we can also help you with chimney cap replacement, cover replacements, and chimney sweeping. Schedule your appointment with us today by calling (904) 268-7200.