Our Services
Getting a rebuilt chimney right in Wagner
How we plan a rebuild on your Wagner chimney, from the first sound course to the new cap.
Clay tile or a listed metal liner
A rebuild opens a decision about the flue. Reset clay tile suits many masonry fireplaces, while a lining system listed to UL 1777, such as a stainless liner, is another option the Florida Building Code, Residential, accepts.
The right choice depends on what burns below, the size and shape of the flue and how much of the old lining is sound. We explain the options for your chimney and price them separately, so the masonry rebuild and the lining decision can each be judged on their own. If the fireplace or stove is changing too, tell us early, since the liner has to suit the appliance it serves.
Whichever lining you choose, it is carried up through the rebuilt courses and finished at the top so the crown, the liner and the cap work together as one detail.
Mortar for a rebuilt chimney
New courses are laid in mortar chosen for a chimney's exposure. For chimneys above grade, the Brick Industry Association's mortar guide recommends Type N, with Type S as the alternate, and it advises using the lowest strength that still meets the job's requirements.
On a partial rebuild the mix also has to sit comfortably beside the older masonry that stays, since a much harder mortar next to softer old brick concentrates stress in the old work. We name the mortar on your estimate and explain why it suits both the new brick and the chimney below it.
The new joints are tooled once the mortar reaches the right firmness, which compresses the surface and helps the fresh work shed rain from the first storm onward.
Curing time before the first fire
New mortar and a freshly cast crown have to cure before the first fire heats them. Brick industry maintenance guidance calls for replaced masonry to be properly cured before it carries load.
We give you a date when the fireplace can be used again, and we ask you to wait until then even if the chimney looks finished. Lighting a fire too early can crack a new crown or weaken fresh joints. Weather can shift the schedule, and we let you know the same day if it does.
When you do light the first fire, keep it small and short. That gives the new masonry a gentle first warm-up before the chimney goes back into regular use.
