Our Process
Spalling brick repair on Altamonte Springs homes
Choosing the replacement mortar
The Brick Industry Association advises that repair mortar should have a compressive strength equal to or lower than the original, and physical properties similar to the existing mortar. A mortar harder than the old one puts the stress on the edges of the brick, where it can pop the face off.
Its guidance names Type N as generally suited to modern work and Type O where mortars with more cement would be too strong. Our specialists match the mortar to the brick in your chimney and list the type on the written estimate, so you know what is going into the wall.
Working in heat and strong sun
Mortar cures properly only if it does not dry out too fast. According to the National Park Service, keeping wall temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit prevents freezing or excessive evaporation, and masonry work is best done in shade, out of strong sunlight, especially in hot weather.
For brick work on a chimney in Altamonte Springs, we plan around the hottest part of the day where we can and protect fresh joints from direct sun and rain while they set. If conditions are wrong, we reschedule instead of rushing the mortar.
White bloom on the brick
A white, powdery bloom on chimney brick is efflorescence, salts left behind as water evaporates. Brick industry maintenance guidance advises investigating persistent efflorescence and resolving water ingress before cleaning it, since the bloom will return while the water does.
Most efflorescence can be removed by dry brushing once the source is fixed. Where a chimney in Altamonte Springs shows both bloom and spalled faces, our specialists treat them as two signs of the same moisture and address that moisture first. Washing it off with a hose only feeds more water into the wall, which is why we brush it dry.
What the brick replacement estimate shows
Brick replacement is priced on what is actually failing. The estimate for your Altamonte Springs chimney lists the number of units to replace, the mortar type, any repointing around them and access needs such as roof work.
Related work that stops the water, such as crown, cap or flashing repair, appears on separate lines. You approve the plan before we start, with no hidden fees, and if we find an extra failed brick during the job, we show you before adding it. Our specialists go through each line with you before you approve it.
