Chimney Brick Spalling – Why It Should Be Repaired

If you’re living in an old house, you may have noticed that your chimney is crumbling in some areas. Chimneys are sturdy structures, but with time, exposure to the elements can cause them to weaken

Moreover, high levels of moisture within the structure of the chimney can lead to “spalling,” which can cause it to collapse. Spalling happens when moisture seeps into cracks in the bricks and weakens them from within.

In the winter, the moisture in the cracks expands and contracts with changes in temperature, eventually causing the brick to crack and break.

Common causes of chimney spalling include:

• Exposure to cold temperatures
• Leaky gutters
• Low quality bricks
• Deterioration of waterproofing sealant

Here’s why you shouldn’t ever ignore chimney spalling:

1.      It Increases Chances of Chimney Fires

There are around 25,000 chimney fires in the US every year. These are primarily caused by the accumulation of creosote, which is a sticky tar-like substance that’s created by smoke. Creosote starts building up on the sides of the chimney flue.

Unless your chimney is cleaned regularly, creosote starts accumulating in thick layers. The highly flammable substance can easily ignite with just a spark from the fireplace.

2.      The Damage Will Worsen

Homeowners often ignore chimney spalling because they don’t want to deal with repairs, but neglecting the problem only makes matters worse.

A few areas of spalling can be repaired easily; however, ignoring the spalling may cause your entire chimney to collapse!

Moreover, if you leave cracks untreated, more moisture will enter the bricks and weaken the masonry at a faster rate.

3.      The Chimney May Collapse

Chimneys aren’t light structures, so the last thing you want is for one to collapse on the top of your house.

Untreated chimney spalling will compromise the strength of the structure and can cause it to collapse. It’s much more cost-efficient to invest in chimney spalling repairs than to rebuild the chimney.

As chimney experts, we suggest homeowners hire professionals to carry out chimney inspections to address issues right away.

Creative Masonry & Chimney is licensed and fully certified. We can take care of all your chimney-related problems. We provide comprehensive chimney services in Connecticut. Our services include chimney inspections, chimney repair, chimney cleaning, and even chimney rebuilding.

We serve Granby, Bloomfield, Simsbury, Avon, West Hartford, Farmington, Bristol, and other nearby areas.