Our Services:
Chimney Repair
A masonry chimney is a prime target to the perils of mother nature. Often exposed on all four sides to the elements, as well near to the top of the structure. Also many times, an exterior chimney, traveling up the side of the home, will be shaded for periods of time, slowing the evaporation and drying of moisture from the masonry.
And, unlike other masonry on your home and/or business, chimneys have yet another enemy. Condensation caused by the heating and cooling effects of fireplaces and appliances. Improperly lined chimneys do not work as efficiently as they should. Therefore, warm air lingers inside the chimney reacting to the cooling of the masonry. This moisture, can and will deteriate the chimney over time from the inside out. A good sign of this occuring is effloresence. A white staining that can be seen on the exterior of the chimney. This is caused by chemicals in the masonry reacting to the moisture.
Catching problems in or on your chimney early can be the difference between a simple tuckpointing job, to finding out the correct fix is to tear down and rebuild the chimney, replacing or installing a proper lining system, or pouring a solid concrete chimney cap with a correct drip edge. Custom Restoration promises to give you all the right answers. If your chimney can be repaired by tuckpointing the masonry we will tuckpoint the masonry. If we need to complete a rebuild, the suggestion will be a rebuild. We are here to provide you first with honesty, then with the knowledge and craftsmanship to complete the job.
You will notice pictured here that this chimney desperately needed attention. And by neglecting to complete preventative maintanence over the years, the only possible fix was a complete rebuild.
Notice in the picture the white staining that is present. This is the before mentioned effloresence. The mortar in this chimney had deteriated so badly that mostly sand was all that remained. This can be a huge safety hazard as the mortar loses all strength, and as you can see bricks loosen, and fall from the chimney. After rebuilt, Custom inserted a new stainless steel liner to the hot water heater, and poured a solid 4" concrete cap with drip edge.