Chimney Waterproofing
“A stitch in time saves nine” is an old saying you may have heard of. It means that a single stitch when mending a garment, if done as soon as it’s needed, will keep you from having to do nine stitches in the future when the rip or tear worsens. This saying applies to chimney leaks as well as it does to mending clothing.
Every year, homeowners spend big money on repairing leaky chimneys and the widespread damage they’ve caused. Left unattended, a small leak through a minor crack in the chimney’s bricks or mortar can worsen to the point that bricks throughout the system eventually become loose or deteriorated, requiring expensive repairs.
When this happens, the chimney is not safe to use or live around. Fixing a chimney in this condition is costly and time-consuming. Fortunately, it will also be unnecessary if you “make your stitch in time” instead of waiting.
How Chimney Waterproofing Works
When professionally applied, products such as ChimneySaver brand’s multi-purpose water repellant do an excellent job in sealing leaks in a chimney’s masonry.
A 100-percent breathable silane/siloxane repellant, this compound works on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. It’s effective on bricks as well as concrete and even protects against salts and chemicals used for de-icing.
There is a water-based and a solvent-based version of this waterproofing product.
When applied to chimney masonry, there’s no more worry of water moving into existing cracks and starting a cycle of ongoing deterioration. You also won’t have to worry about new small cracks that may appear opening up and letting water inside.
It’s important to note, however, that chimney waterproofing sealant is not a substitute for brick and mortar repair. Depending on the extent of damage to your masonry, we will always recommend having cracks and damaged areas fixed before applying a water repellant.
Chimney Repair
The Fire N’ Stone team based in Tilton, NH, brings 10+ years of experience to all types of masonry repair projects including:
Tuckpointing to replace decayed/crumbling sections of mortar
Brick replacement to add new, strong bricks in place of ones that are cracked and damaged
Partial chimney rebuilding to secure weak and compromised masonry sections
Complete chimney rebuilding to resolve a problem with damage throughout the entire masonry structure of the chimney.
Leaky Chimney Resolution
If your chimney has been leaking for a long time, chimney waterproofing will prevent future water infiltration, but first we need to determine the source and cause of the leak and then repair any existing damage prior to leak prevention.
A thorough chimney inspection is the first step in solving long-term and short-term chimney leaks. Our licensed chimney inspectors will closely examine your chimney structure and its components and pinpoint the leak and whatever damage it may have caused.
Once we know exactly what’s going on, we’ll be able to restore safety and soundness to your chimney. Only then will we add a protective waterproofing sealant to help prevent these problems in the future.
If you know your chimney is leaking or suspect it may be, call Fire N’ Stone at (603) 293-4040. We provide expert chimney waterproofing and repair services throughout New Hampshire’s Lakes Region including Alton NH, Wolfeboro NH, Gilford NH, Laconia NH, and all other area cities.