Our Services
Chimney masonry repair explained for Fern Park
Questions every homeowner in Fern Park should have answered before masonry work starts.
The crown and the brick beneath it
The concrete or stone cap on top of a masonry chimney, usually called the crown, protects the top course. The Florida Building Code, Residential, calls for that cap to be sloped to shed water, to have a drip edge, and to have a caulked bond break around any flue liner.
A crown without a drip edge lets water run straight down the brick faces, and a crown cast tight against the liner can crack as the two move differently with heat. When masonry damage starts at the top, the crown is part of the diagnosis, and any crown work shows on your estimate as its own priced item.
Vines and plant growth on chimney brick
Ivy and similar plants can push fine shoots into small voids in the mortar and hold moisture there. The Brick Industry Association recommends cutting the vines away from the wall instead of pulling them off, since pulling can tear at the brickwork and loosen weak joints.
The cut shoots are left to dry and darken, then brushed off with a stiff fiber brush and detergent, without acids or harsh chemicals. Joints that crack or loosen once the plant is gone are repaired afterward. Tell us about any growth when you book so the visit allows time for it and the estimate covers it.
Roof, yard and plants covered while we work
Brick and mortar work produces dust, chips and broken material. We protect the roof around the chimney, set up a clean route for materials and cover plants, paths and outdoor furniture below the work area before anything is cut.
Tell us about anything fragile near the chimney, such as a screened enclosure, a garden bed or a skylight, when you book. Loose debris is cleared at the end of each day, and at the end of the job we walk the area with you so you can see the finished masonry and a clean yard. That walk-through is included in every job.
