Our Work
Cutting out and resetting chimney bricks in Alderene Park
Repairs first, then a repellent only if needed
A clear water repellent cannot replace a spalled or cracked brick. The Brick Industry Association says repellents are not recommended in place of removing and replacing bricks with spalled faces or cracks through the face, and suggests letting several months pass after repairs before deciding whether one is needed.
Often the repairs alone solve the moisture problem. If a repellent still makes sense on your Alderene Park chimney, we explain that it is not permanent and will need reapplying, and we price it as an optional line. Our specialists would sooner see a chimney dry out on its own after repairs than seal moisture in too early.
Coatings that trap moisture
Some sealers form a film on the brick surface. BIA Technical Note 6A warns that film-forming coatings slow the evaporation of water inside masonry and can lead to clouding and spalling when the moisture source is not addressed. Clouding under the film is often the first visible sign.
If a sealer was applied to your chimney in the past and the faces are now breaking, the coating may be part of the cause. Our specialists look for it during the free inspection and explain what the replacement bricks need so they are not sealed into the same problem.
Face brick outside, firebrick inside
The brick on the outside of a chimney is ordinary face brick laid in regular mortar. The brick lining a firebox is firebrick set for heat. Spalling in the firebox has different causes and a different repair.
If your Alderene Park fireplace shows cracked or crumbling firebrick along with exterior spalling, we note both during the free inspection and price them separately. Exterior brick replacement never uses firebox materials, and interior repairs never use exterior mortar. Our specialists explain the difference at the free inspection, so each repair is priced for the right material.
Cleaning the brick without damaging it
Brick next to a repair often needs cleaning, but the method matters. The Brick Industry Association warns that excessive water pressure can damage brick surfaces, erode mortar joints and remove finishes, and that abrasive or high-pressure cleaning can etch the joints. Those methods can do more harm to old brick than the dirt they remove.
We clean around the new bricks gently, brushing off mortar and dust and using water at low pressure where it is needed. The goal is clean brick with its fired face intact, since that face is what keeps the next rain out.
