Problems We Fix

Stone chimney problems we fix in Indian Mound Village

The cricket behind a wide chimney

A wide chimney on a sloped roof catches water running down from above. A cricket, a small peaked ridge built behind it, splits that water around the chimney. The veneer industry detail extends the cricket at least 2 inches beyond each side of the chase. Without it, water can pool against the back of the stone.

We look behind the chimney as part of every stone repair and tell you if a cricket is missing or damaged. Call (645) 465-4122 for a free look in Indian Mound Village.

Sealers and coatings on stone

A shiny coating brushed over stone can change its color and hold moisture in, and a sealer is no fix for open joints or loose units. The veneer installation guide sends every question about repellents and sealers back to the stone's maker. We make repairs first and recommend a coating only where the maker supports one.

If an old coating is causing trouble, we explain what can be done. The inspection by our local stone experts in Indian Mound Village is free.

Soft sheathing behind the veneer

When water has been getting behind manufactured stone on a framed chase, the sheathing and framing underneath can soften long before the face shows it. Pressing on the veneer may give a little, or stones near a wet spot may sound hollow. We open the area, replace any soft wood and rebuild the barrier and lath before the stone goes back.

You see what we find before the work grows. Call (645) 465-4122 for a free stone chimney inspection in Indian Mound Village.

Veneer pulling away from the wall

A section of veneer that bulges outward or shows a gap along its edge has lost its bond to the scratch coat or the wall behind it. It will not settle back. The safe repair removes that section, fixes whatever lies behind it and reinstalls the stone, reusing sound units wherever possible so the face still matches.

Our local stone pros keep as much of the original stone as they can. The inspection in Indian Mound Village is free, with the price in writing.

The top of a stone chimney

Water entering at the top of a stone chimney runs down inside the stonework, softening joints and loosening stones well below. A cracked mortar top, a broken stone cap or a short chase cover can all let it in. We check the top whenever we repair the stone beneath it, since repairing the face without closing the top only buys time.

Any crown, cap or cover work is priced on its own line. Our local stone experts in Indian Mound Village explain the order of the work.