A home is not quite so much a home without that fire crackling in your chimney on a winter evening, while the wind blows and the cold air fogs up the windows – or it’s rainy, or snowing… just dream up your own nasty winter weather; because the uglier outside the nicer it feels indoor, thanks to the primeval glow of that fireplace…
But to be able to enjoy that magical moment thoroughly, you need to trust your home is safe and sound; in particular, the parts of it that will take hold of those flames and channel the smoke safely up into the heavens – so let’s talk a bit about the importance of having your chimney rebuilt or re-pointed.
Chimney re-pointing, or rebuilding, is roughly speaking the process of removing the old mortar and replacing it with new one. Along the way we might also replace broken parts or those deteriorated beyond all possible restoration.
The process calls for an specialist that can read the condition of mortar and brickwork and understands the process thoroughly. The removal of the old mortar requires extreme care to avoid damaging the masonry, while at the same time ensuring the joint is left clean and in proper shape and depth for best mortar re-pointing.
The cosmetic side of this job, the immediate uplift it gives to your home in terms of looks and value, is obvious and needs no explanation – just take a look at these before/after pictures:
But there is more than just cosmetics at play here – re-pointing is a necessary part of maintenance that shouldn’t be overlooked at risk of incurring bigger problems and expenses further down the road.
Over time, weather and normal decay and deterioration may cause the masonry joints to vacate in places, allowing for water to enter and smoke to leak out. If left unattended it can even undermine the structural integrity of the chimney itself.
At RTM Masonry we understand the intricacies of this job and we can help you determine if your chimney needs re-pointing at this time. We can get you right back into your winter dream – so call us before winter arrives!