Check out our video of one of our certified technicians performing smoke chamber resurfacing. As part of our chimney repair services, resurfacing is an important part of maintaining and preserving your chimney and masonry work. Don’t wait until your chimney becomes irreparable to schedule a maintenance call. We service the Twin Cities area so Schedule an appointment today!
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘chimney repair’
Twin Cities: The Importance of Chimney Resurfacing
Friday, April 19th, 2013What is Tuckpointing and Why Do I need it for my Brick Chimney?
Monday, November 12th, 2012If you’ve never owned a brick chimney or if you’ve never paid any attention to the one that you have, you may not know what tuckpointing is. But if your chimney has started to crack, lean or deteriorate, you may have started to hear about tuckpointing. We thought it would be helpful for our customers in St. Paul to learn more about this process and why it is necessary for chimney repairs. Below we’ve put together a brief description of what tuckpointing is and why you need it for your chimney repairs.
What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process of repairing the mortar joints between bricks. While the actual bricks in your chimney can last up to 100 years, the mortar joints between them can last around 25 years or more. The tuckpointing process involves routing out the old mortar and then replacing it with new, fresh mortar. Here is how the process works for a typical red brick chimney:
- The old mortar is ground or routed out at a uniform depth.
- After that, red mortar is filled in to the newly routed grooves.
- Thin strips are cut out down the middle of the red mortar to form thin grooves.
- A contrasting color of mortar, normally white, is then filled into the grooves.
In this way, the original clean shape of the bricks and the mortar are recreated.
Why You Need Tuckpointing On Your Chimney
As the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate they can start to cause some serious problems.
- Water proofing – As the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate they can start to let water into your home. You might not even detect this water which could cause mold, mildew and wood rot.
- Structural stability – Obviously, if the mortar joints start to deteriorate, your chimney won’t be as sturdy.
- Avoid rebuilding – If you let the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate too much, you may have to end up tearing it down and rebuilding it.
Chimney Maintenance
Your chimney should be inspected and maintained every 2 to 3 years. With proper maintenance and repair, including tuckpointing, your chimney should potentially have a long life.
If you have any questions about tuckpointing or chimney repair, call the experts at 2nd Generation Chimney. If you think that your chimney needs tuckpointing, call us and we’ll send one of our technicians out to your home to take a look. about this process and why it is necessary for chimney repairs. Below we’ve put together a brief description of what tuckpointing is and why you need it for your chimney repairs.
What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing is the process of repairing the mortar joints between bricks. While the actual bricks in your chimney can last up to 100 years, the mortar joints between them can last around 25 years or more. The tuckpointing process involves routing out the old mortar and then replacing it with new, fresh mortar. Here is how the process works for a typical red brick chimney:
- The old mortar is ground or routed out at a uniform depth.
- After that, red mortar is filled in to the newly routed grooves.
- Thin strips are cut out down the middle of the red mortar to form thin grooves.
- A contrasting color of mortar, normally white, is then filled into the grooves.
In this way, the original clean shape of the bricks and the mortar are recreated.
Why You Need Tuckpointing On Your Chimney
As the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate they can start to cause some serious problems.
- Water proofing – As the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate they can start to let water into your home. You might not even detect this water which could cause mold, mildew and wood rot.
- Structural stability – Obviously, if the mortar joints start to deteriorate, your chimney won’t be as sturdy.
- Avoid rebuilding – If you let the mortar joints in your chimney deteriorate too much, you may have to end up tearing it down and rebuilding it.
Chimney Maintenance
Your chimney should be inspected and maintained every 2 to 3 years. With proper maintenance and repair, including tuckpointing, your chimney should potentially have a long life.
If you have any questions about tuckpointing or chimney repair, call the experts at 2nd Generation Chimney. If you think that your chimney needs tuckpointing, call us and we’ll send one of our technicians out to your home to take a look.
Twin Cities Chimney Repair Question: What is Chimney Resurfacing?
Monday, August 20th, 2012Chimney resurfacing is an important part of your overall chimney maintenance. Just like any masonry-work, it is essential to keep your chimney in good repair in order for it to work efficiently. The Twin Cities chimney experts at 2nd Generation Chimneys can help you to better understand exactly what chimney resurfacing is, as well as perform a professional chimney resurfacing for you.
Chimney Resurfacing: The Basics
Weather can really take a toll on your chimney. Along with changing weather patterns comes the inevitable cracking or wearing out of the masonry that holds the exterior of the chimney together. Chimney resurfacing will maintain the quality of your chimney. If your chimney is made of brick or stone and the mortar that holds it all together is eroding or you have stucco covering the outside of your chimney that has cracked, it is important that you have it resurfaced right away.
Some of the resurfacing happens along the horizontal sections of the chimney such as the crown on the very top of the chimney or on the shoulders where the chimney flares out to the sides. These horizontal surfaces are designed to keep rain water from penetrating into the brickwork or stonework on a chimney and it is essential that they be properly maintained. If water begins leaking into the chimney because of the wear on these sections it can be very damaging to the mortar holding the masonry together, as well as to the bricks and stonework.
Visibly cracked and weathered crowns or shoulders are an indication that a chimney repair is needed which will normally include restoring the masonry or bricks with fresh mortar, as well as applying a waterproofing agent such as a sealant to protect the repair work that is completed.
So whether you notice small cracks beginning on the chimney crown, the chimney shoulders, or in the mortar that holds the masonry pieces together, it is important to contact a professional Twin Cities chimney company such as 2nd Generation Chimneys to handle your chimney repairs and chimney maintenance.
Minneapolis Chimney FAQ: Why Do I Need Masonry Repair?
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012In Minneapolis, chimneys are exposed to extreme weather throughout the year. Over the years, water can get into the masonry if it isn’t sealed with the right materials, and once the water settles into the joints, it can weaken the mortar and deteriorate the bricks. During the colder months of the year, water trapped inside the mortar can freeze and cause cracks and other damage to the chimney as a whole.
In older homes, brick and mortar chimneys might simply have worn down due to age. Then when moisture mixes with creosote, it can form mild acids that damage the lining and the masonry. As a result, even a well-maintained chimney may eventually need repairs. At 2nd Generation Chimneys, we can take care of all your masonry repair needs, including sealing and resurfacing. Our technicians are trained to thoroughly inspect your entire chimney and make any necessary repairs.
Masonry Repair Services
The goal of masonry repair services is to inspect the chimney and check for common problems, such as deteriorating and loose bricks, crumbling mortar joints, or creosote build-up and other residues inside the liner. The process can vary depending on the condition of your chimney.
While chimney inspections are always done during the replacement of your heating system, you may also want one completed on a regular basis once a year to check for common signs of wear and tear. Masonry repair services can ensure the integrity of your chimney so that you won’t have to worry about it during the heating season.
There are a number of ways you can reduce the impact of excess moisture damaging your masonry chimney. A chimney cap can stop water from getting inside the chimney and damaging the flue liner, or a new liner can provide protection against the acids that develop due to the mixture of creosote and moisture, especially if you just had a new high-efficiency furnace or boiler installed. Sealing and resurfacing (also known as tuckpointing) can help protect the masonry.
If you suspect a problem in your chimney, or if it has not been inspected in the last year or two, call 2nd Generation Chimneys of Minneapolis for a professional chimney inspection.
Handling All Of Your Chimney Needs, 2nd Generations Chimneys
Monday, February 6th, 2012
2nd Generation Chimneys is equipped to handle all of your chimney and maintenance and safety needs. 2nd Generation Chimney Service offers chimney cleaning, restoration, caps and dampers and chimney relining. Whether it’s woodstoves, fireplaces, chimneys, or dryer vents, we get the job done right! Give us a call at 612-922-9600 . We are Minnesota’s number 1 rated full service chimney company. To learn more about us visit www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .
Recommended & Reliable Chimney Cleaning in Minnesota
Monday, January 23rd, 20122nd Generations Chimney’s is Minnesota’s most reliable source for chimney flue safety solutions. They are certified chimney specialists for all types and sizes of chimneys. They provide chimney inspections, sweeping, relining & restoration in Minnesota. They are the most trusted and recommended chimney service company servicing the Minnesota area. Professional, thorough and clean. Call them at 612-922-9600 and to learn more about all their services go online to www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .
Inspections and Cleanings Help Reduce Flue Fires
Monday, January 16th, 2012Did you know annual chimney inspections and cleanings can greatly reduce flue fires? Dirty flues lead to chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and possible loss of property and life. Many of these fires are caused from the ignition of creosote that builds up in the chimney with normal use of your fireplace. 2nd Generations Chimneys is a complete chimney service company in Minnesota. Their services include relining, restoration, chimney caps and dampers and chimney cleaning. They lead the way for best service and products for residential, commercial and industrial building in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. Call them at 612-922-9600 and visit them online at www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .
Chimney Services Unmatched! 2nd Generation Chimneys
Monday, January 9th, 20122nd Generation Chimney’s proudly offers a wide variety of chimney services to the Twin Cities and surrounding area. Relining, restoration, chimney cleaning and inspections are some of the services we offer. Since 2001 we have serviced 50,000 homes and have spotless reputation. We also service commerical and industrial buildings as well. You will find that we have serviced many of the finest residential, commercial and industrial buildings in the area. Our expertise is unmatched! Call us at 612-922-9600 and visit us online at www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .
Minnesota’s Leading Chimney Service Company, 2nd Generation Chimneys
Monday, December 26th, 2011
2nd Generation Chimneys is Minnestota’s leading Chimney Service Company. We specialize in fireplace and chimney cleaning, fireplace and chimney repair, chimney sweep services, fireplace and chimney inspection, chimney restoration and chimney relining. We are the number one chimney service company in Minnesota. Give us a call at 612-922-9600 and visit us online at www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .
Chimney Cleaning, Relining, Restoration
Monday, December 19th, 2011Did you know that by using Duraflame or Pine Mountain logs you still need to have your chimney cleaned. These logs are made from wood product and held together with a wax substance. 2nd Generation Chimneys of Minnesota has been a leader in chimney cleaning, chimney relining and chimney restoration since 2001. Call them with any questions you have at 612-922-9600 and visit them online at www.2ndgenerationchimneys.com .