When we consider the durability of a brick and cement chimney, you normally figure that they were made with these products to hold up for numerous years, and they were. What many people do not realize is that most chimneys may be susceptible to all types of water situations.
The chimney is usually the most recognizable feature on our house top. It is normally sticking up there well above the other things. Throughout time, our brick chimneys are exposed to wind, rain, sleet, and humidity.
Frequent freezing and thawing could cause brick work to decline rapidly because when the bricks become wet and then they freeze, they expand and this can cause their structure to get weakened. All of these natural elements will cause some decline, especially when proper examinations and corrections are not done frequently enough.
The chimney also has metal parts like cast iron or steel also that can be harmed through time by getting wet often. The metal parts can rust and make more leaking and even more devastation. If the water leakage is too bad, it may cause rotting to any nearby or underlying wood that it has prolonged contact with. Needing repairs like this will get expensive fast.
There are several ways that masonry chimney water damage can be avoided. The first way to do this is by installing a chimney cap when the chimney does not have one. Many older homes might not have one. Chimney caps are relatively inexpensive and are not that difficult to install.
A well made chimney cap can have more purposes other than deterring water from entering your flues. They also help prevent sparks from going up through the chimney and resting on your housetop and will discourage small animals and birds from putting their nest inside the chimney.
The chimney crown covers and seals the top area of the chimney from the flue liners to the chimney edge. The chimney crown is probably made from the same mortar as the bricks mortar and is easily deteriorated through years of exposure to the elements. After a chimney cap is damaged, it will eventually allow water in. After a chimney crown is cracked, chipped, or flaking it is best to have it replaced.
Replacement of damaged flashing can be easily repaired. Flashing is a metal lining underneath the housetop shingles around the chimney and prevents water from getting in to this area.
Last but not least, waterproof your chimneys masonry. This is an easy task and will prevent your porous masonry from holding large amounts of water.
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