Construction & Contractors Blog
Is your wallpaper damaged from the high level of moisture in your house? If you have no idea where the moisture is coming from, it might be due to your brick fireplace needing a repair. There are several aspects of a fireplace that can allow water to seep through when in a bad condition. Take a look at this article for the answers to some of the questions that you might have in regards to a damaged brick fireplace.
How Can Damaged Fireplace Bricks Lead to More Moisture?
The crown of the fireplace can allow rainwater to seep in if it is damaged. The crown is located on top of the roof, which is why rainwater can easily seep through if it is in bad shape. Bricks on the chimney to your fireplace can also lead to more moisture if they are damaged, such as if spalling occurs. Spalling is when the bricks begin to break off in small fragments. Another way for moisture to develop is when there is old mortar between each brick, as it allows rainwater to sit inside of the joints.
What Kind of Repairs Might Be Necessary?
If the crown is the root cause of the problem, a contractor might have to seal up cracks or replace it altogether. If spalling is the problem, a contractor can simply replace the damaged bricks. The bricks can also be sealed to prevent spalling from happening again after the repair is made. One of the common repairs that are necessary for a moisture problem is replacing the mortar. A masonry contractor can perform a technique that is called tuckpointing to get rid of old mortar.
How Does a Masonry Contractor Perform Tuckpointing?
The first thing that a contractor will do is thoroughly inspect your fireplace to find out where old mortar is present. He or she will likely scrape different areas of the mortar, as it will turn into power if it is old. Tuckpointing will involve old mortar being scraped away, but a small amount will be left in place to prevent the bricks from falling off as new mortar is being applied. The contractor will also only repair one joint at a time to make sure your fireplace stays intact during the tuckpointing process. Make an appointment with a masonry contractor (like Mara Restoration, Inc.) so he or she can inspect your fireplace and determine why it is causing a moisture problem.
Share8 August 2016
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
