As residents of the Chicago area, we are accustomed to dealing with lots of snow and ice every winter. Knowing how to prepare your chimney from the damaging effects of this cold weather is essential, but if you neglected to take care of some preventive chimney maintenance tasks before winter arrived, Aelite Chimney Specialties is here to help you make the necessary repairs to be sure your fireplace and chimney will work efficiently and safely. You can trust our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified technicians to inspect any winter-related damage done to your chimney and to recommend the best and most affordable ways to take care of any problems. We would like to tell you more about the impact that winter can have on your chimney and how we can fix any damage done to your chimney.
How does cold winter weather affect my chimney?
The most common winter-related chimney damage has to do with the deterioration of the bricks and mortar of your chimney’s structure. These masonry materials are very porous, and if you do not sufficiently protect your chimney with waterproofing and other water penetration preventive services, the bricks and mortar can absorb quite a bit of water. According to the CSIA, water penetration is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. The majority of water penetration damage occurs during the winter due to freezing temperatures. When the weather is very cold, the absorbed water in the bricks and mortar freezes and expands. As the temperature rises above freezing, this water thaws, which leads to the cracking and breaking of these masonry materials. After repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, this damage and deterioration gets worse, and if left unrepaired, your chimney will be unsafe to use and could even possibly collapse.
How can Aelite Chimney Specialties repair this winter damage?
To restore the condition of your chimney, our expert masons are trained and experienced in tuckpointing skills. We can replace cracked, broken, and missing bricks and mortar joints by tucking new mortar into the gaps and cracks. Our masons take great care to be sure these repairs do not look obvious by matching the look of the original brick. Our tuckpointing work will increase the durability of the structure of your chimney. After we have completed the repairs, we can then apply a waterproofing formula that will protect your bricks and mortar from further water penetration damage.
Have you noticed cracked, loose, or missing bricks from your chimney this winter? Contact us at Aelite Chimney Specialties to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection today. You can also call us at 815-363-1242!