If you have a masonry chimney, you may already know how badly water can damage the bricks and mortar. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) even states that water is the greatest enemy of masonry chimneys. Aelite Chimney Specialties understands how and why water leaks destroy the bricks and mortar of your chimney. Prolonged exposure to water speeds up the deterioration of masonry materials, but the worst damage is caused in the winter during the freeze/thaw process. When water leaks into the bricks and mortar of your chimney, it freezes and expands when the temperature drops. As that water thaws, it causes the masonry materials to crack from the cavity left by the expanded ice. If this type of damage is not repaired, your chimney 
could tilt and even collapse. Our CSIA-certified chimney technicians have years of experience with repairing water leaks as well as preventing these leaks from ever occurring. We would like to tell you about a couple of ways we can help stop water from penetrating into your masonry chimney to protect your chimney from destruction.
FLASHING
According to the CSIA, flashing keeps the water from rain and melted snow out of your chimney to stop it from leaking into the bricks and mortar as well as from getting into your home and damaging ceilings and walls. What exactly is flashing? The seal between the chimney and the roof, flashing consists of layers of sheet metal that overlap around your chimney where it meets with your roof. To work successfully, flashing should be professionally installed so that it can be custom-fitted to ensure an airtight seal. You can trust the chimney technicians at Aelite Chimney Specialties to do an expert flashing job that will protect the bricks and mortar of your chimney from damaging water leaks. Our technicians weave custom metal sheet work together, fold it against the chimney, and embed part of it into the mortar joints to create a superior flashing job. If you have noticed that your flashing has rusted, become loose, or if you have no flashing, contact us to learn more about our flashing services.
WATERPROOFING
To prolong the life of your masonry chimney, waterproofing is recommended by the CSIA as a preventive measure against the damage done by water from rain, snow, and ice. When Aelite Chimney Specialties arrives at your home to waterproof your chimney, you can expect our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps to begin by cleaning your chimney. Our sweeps then apply a 100% vapor permeable formula to the entire length of your chimney. This formula allows your chimney to breathe so that vapors do not become trapped inside the bricks and mortar of your chimney to cause further damage. After the application, your chimney will be watertight with a professional grade water repellent treatment that has been proven to reduce water leaks by 99.9%. Waterproofing is a smart investment that can save you money in costly masonry repairs due to water damage.
Want to know more about how Aelite Chimney Specialties can prevent water leaks from destroying your masonry chimney? Contact us at 815-363-1242 to talk to our expert staff about flashing and waterproofing.