How to Repair Chimney Mortar

A Step-by-Step Guide on How We Repair Chimney Mortar

Mortar is the most important part of any masonry project. Poor quality mortar or unwanted cracks in mortar leads to major damage on your chimney if not repaired properly on time. Even if you see some deterioration, it should be fixed as soon as possible. While repairing mortar, it is important to know the right way. At Guaranteed Home Improvement, we have years of experience repairing chimney mortar. Chimneys are made from different materials, like brick or stone masonry. And each chimney is designed for a specific purpose, like withstanding certain conditions. Wind, rain, and the highs and lows in temperature are the main reasons. So every mortar repair job is unique to the type of chimney.

If you want to get a sense of how we repair chimney mortar, we made up a step-by-step guide to give you a better understanding.

1) Remove the Damaged Mortar

The first step of any chimney mortar repair project is to remove all of the damaged mortar from the chimney. Typically, we complete this step with a hammer and chisel, but it can also be done with a power drill and chisel bit. We have to be careful not to damage the bricks while removing the mortar, as they are the base of the structure. When we use a power drill, we angle the drill bit so that it chips away at the mortar rather than drilling into the bricks.

2) Clean the Chimney Bricks

Once the damaged mortar has been removed from the chimney, the next step is to clean the bricks. This can be done with a wire brush or a pressure washer. While cleaning, we always make sure to get all of the dust and debris off of the bricks. If any mortar is left on the bricks, it will need to be removed before starting the repair work on the mortar.

3) Repair the Mortar

Once the chimney is clean, we start repairing the mortar. First, is to mix up some mortar. Depending on the project, we can mix the mortar by hand or with a mortar mixer. When mixing by hand, it is important to take your time. We want to prevent air bubbles from forming in the new mortar, so we use a trowel to press down firmly on any areas where there might be pockets of air. Once we are done with the repair job, we let it dry for at least 48 hours.

4) Seal Mortar Joints

Once it is dry, we will use a wire brush to remove any excess dried mortar from between the bricks before sealing with an appropriate sealant. Then we seal the mortar joints with an appropriate sealant. Different mortar repair has different instructions for application and drying and our team will make sure to follow the proper guidelines. And once that is all set, we will give the chimney and its new mortar one final inspection.

5) Clean up and Put Away Tools

As professionals, we take cleaning up seriously. After the repair work is complete, we will clean up any mess. It will look like we were never there! And we will of course take all of our tools and supplies.

Contact Us Today

Chimneys are essential in keeping your home warm and cozy during the winter, but they also need regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. By following these simple steps, we can repair mortar in your chimney quickly and easily. And get you back to proper use of your chimney. If you need chimney mortar repair, please contact us today.

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When you reach out, we can provide you with a no-obligation consultation.