Stone chimney repair in Nassau Village-Ratliff, stone by stone

One free visit in Nassau Village-Ratliff settles which build your stone chimney is and what the right repair costs.

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Locally owned
Family owned and operated
Same-day service

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(904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Stone chimney specialists for Nassau Village-Ratliff homes

Locally owned in Jacksonville
Family owned and operated
100% satisfaction guaranteed
Free inspection and estimate
Same-day service available
10% off any service

Old cement and caulk come out before new mortar goes in.

Free inspection and estimateWhether your Nassau Village-Ratliff chimney is full stone or veneer is settled on a free visit, before any price.
Upfront pricing, no hidden feesStones, joints and veneer area are priced in writing one line at a time.
Family owned and operatedOur family-owned masons approve the mortar sample with you before the first joint is filled.

Call (904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Joints washed out between the stones

Stone joints are wide and irregular, so when mortar erodes, the gaps can run deep. Water then gets into the heart of the chimney, and the stones start to depend on each other instead of on mortar. A thin skim of new mortar over a deep gap falls out in a season. Rain driving into deep, open joints also reaches the flue side of the masonry.

We rake stone joints in Nassau Village-Ratliff back to sound mortar, which can mean several inches, and fill them in layers until they are full. The estimate prices the joints by the run, and our masons match the mortar to what is there.

At the 2020 Census, Nassau Village-Ratliff was home to 5,561 people. Nassau Village-Ratliff sits away from the coastline.

What our stone masons fix in Nassau Village-Ratliff

Loose adhered veneer taken off and reinstalled
Water barrier and lath repaired behind veneer
Veneer cut back from the roof surface
Every stone reset on your Nassau Village-Ratliff chimney counted on the ticket

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Identify, rake, reset, match

Describe what moved
Tell us what has shifted or fallen, and the free visit comes equipped for it.
Build and backing confirmed
Corners, joints and the base show the build, and a loose piece shows what is behind the veneer.
Reset, repoint or reinstall
Stones go back on fresh beds, joints fill in layers, and veneer returns to a repaired backing.
Matched and cured
An approved mortar sample and the old joint profile guide the finish, and the cure time is written down.

Storm season and stone chimneys in Nassau Village-Ratliff

From June 1 to November 30, the Atlantic hurricane season as the National Hurricane Center defines it, strong wind can loosen top stones or crack a crown far from the shore. In Nassau Village-Ratliff, a stone out of line at the top is worth a look before the next storm.

The top courses and the crown get a look after each storm.

10% off any service booked within 72 hours of inspection

On a stone chimney in Nassau Village-Ratliff, the mortar match and the discount both go in writing.

Call (904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

The drainage exit at the base

Water that gets behind adhered veneer is meant to run down the barrier and out at the base, through the screed or flashing R703.12 calls for. That exit only works if it is open to the air, with a gap above soil, mulch and paving.

Every veneer chimney's base is checked for a working exit. Where it is buried or missing, the estimate covers opening it up or adding the detail, which can mean removing the lowest course of stone. Where a patio or step has been built up against the base, the exit may need to be recreated above the new grade.

Getting sealant out of stone joints

Caulk or foam packed into stone joints blocks them from drying and leaves the old mortar behind it wet and soft. It also bonds to the stone edges, so pulling it out can take the edge of a soft stone with it.

We cut sealant out with blades rather than tearing it, then rake the joint to sound mortar and repoint. Sealant stays only where a moving joint needs it, such as between the crown and the flue liner, and the ticket says where. Silicone residue left on stone faces can stop new mortar from bonding, so the edges are cleaned before repointing.

Cleaning stone without damaging it

The gentlest method that works is the right one for stone. Low-pressure water and soft brushes come first, then cleaners chosen for the stone type, each tried on a hidden spot. Acidic cleaners etch limestone and marble, and high-pressure water can erode soft stone and open joints.

We name the method and the product on the ticket so the next cleaning follows it. If staining comes from water or smoke, we tell you, because cleaning a stain whose cause remains only buys time. Any cleaner is rinsed off thoroughly, since residue left in the pores can stain or draw salts to the surface.

Stone, joints, backing and base, in writing

Loose stones counted, reset on fresh beds and repointed
Mortar mix and sand matched, with a cured sample to approve
Veneer backing opened and checked where bulging or loose
Water repellent recommended only after repairs have cured

Stone chimney questions from Nassau Village-Ratliff

How do I know whether my chimney is full stone or veneer?

The corners, the depth of the joints and the base can show it, and a loose piece shows the backing directly. We confirm it on the free visit and write down how we know.

Why not just seal the joints with caulk?

Caulk keeps water in as well as out, so the mortar behind it stays wet and fails. Repointing with the right mortar lets the joint dry the way it should.