Many times as a homeowner or property investor you will find your chimney in need of some minor chimney repair. The first step is gain access to the chimney. If your chimney is 30 feet tall and inaccessible it may be wise to hire a chimney repair specialist. Most reputable masonry contractors will provide you with a free estimate. Once you have gained access to your chimney you can begin the repair process.
The second step is to assess the level of chimney repair necessary. If your chimney crown is cracked this can often times be a simple enough chimney repair to perform for an experienced do-it-yourselfer. The chimney crown is the top concrete part of the chimney. Any chimney crown repair begins with the removal of the damaged crown. Most Chimney repair specialist will chip away the concrete with a rotary hammer or pneumatic chisel. As a DIY homeowner an older and more manual method may be necessary to remove the chimney crown. For this I would recommend a chisel, 5 lb sledge hammer, & brick hammer. Of coarse the tool necessary for chimney repair and chimney crown replacement are dependent on the size and thickness of the crown.
Once you have removed the chimney crown inspect the flue on the chimney. The chimney flue liner is the ceramic insert that runs up the center of the chimney. If the flue is cracked it may be time to call in a chimney repair professional. Provided the chimney flu is in sound condition you can begin replacing the concrete. Next clean away any loose debris. The next step is to mix up some concrete. In most cases I recommend a homeowner use a ready mix concrete. When I perform a repair on a chimney I prefer using crack resistant fiber reinforced concrete. I have found that the thicker the concrete is mixed the less likely it is to run down the side of the chimney. When working in temperatures that exceed 80 degrees on the day you do your chimney repair you will want to mix your concrete with a little more water. Slope your concrete away from the ceramic flue liner to allow for proper water drainage. I find that when you make your chimney crown thicker it makes for a longer lasting chimney repair. On most chimney repairs i make the concrete 4-7 inches thick at the flue and slope it down 2 inches at the edge. Achieving a smooth finish on your concrete takes practice to master but with some patience most DIY homeowners can handle this repair
The above information has been provided for the benefit of the DIY homeowner by Mark Allen Maupin president of Brick Repair LLC (248) 895-7752. Mark is a Michigan Chimney repair expert with the last 12 years specialized in masonry restoration Mark Provides estamites for the following services: Chimney Repair, Chimney rebuilds, Tuckpointing, Natural stone,Chimney repair, Limestone replacement, Cultured stone, brick porch repair, Brick porch construction, Brick wall construction, pointing and work, grout replacement, and historic restoration.
Mr. Maupin looks forward to the opportunity to help you with and brick, block or stone project. Brick Repair LLC has an extensive library of DIY devoted to the masonry Trade please feel to stop in at www.michiganchimneyrepair.com
Both the property investor and home owner you will find your chimney in need of some minor chimney repair. The first step is gain access to the chimney. If your chimney is 30 feet tall and inaccessible it might be time to hire a masonry contractor. Most chimney repair experts will provide free estimates. Once you can access your chimney you can begin the repair process.
The second step is to find out what part of the chimney is causing you the problem. If your chimney crown is cracked this can often times be a simple enough chimney repair to perform for an experienced do-it-yourselfer. The chimney crown is the concrete on the top of the chimney. Any chimney crown repair begins with the removal of the damaged area. Most masonry contractors will chip away the concrete with a rotary hammer or pneumatic chisel. As a DIY homeowner an older and more manual method may be necessary to remove the chimney crown. For this I would recommend a chisel, 5 lb sledge hammer, & brick hammer. Of coarse the tool necessary for chimney repair and chimney crown replacement are dependent on the size and thickness of the crown.
Once you have removed the chimney crown inspect the flue on the chimney. The chimney flue liner is the ceramic insert that runs up the center of the chimney. If the flue is cracked it may be time to call in a chimney repair professional. Provided the chimney flu is in sound condition you can begin replacing the chimney crown. The next step in the process is to clean and loose debris and dust of the top of the chimney. Use a stiff bristle brush to clean of any particles.
The next step is to mix up some concrete. In most cases I recommend that the DIY homeowner use a redi-mix concrete. When I do a chimney repair I prefer using fiber reinforced crack resistant concrete. I have found that the thicker/stiffer the concrete is mixed the less likely it is to run down the side of the chimney this will make for a cleaner job. When working in a warmer climate and temperatures exceed 80 degrees on the day you do your chimney repair you will want to mix your concrete more thin/loose.
Make sure to slope your concrete away from the ceramic flue liner to allow for proper water drainage. I find that when you make your chimney crown thicker it makes for a longer lasting chimney repair. On Most chimney crowns I pour the concrete 4-7 inches thick at the flue and slope it down to a 2 inch edge. Achieving a smooth finish on your concrete can take years of practice to master but with some patience most DIY homeowners can handle this repair