Ortega chimney and fireplace service by local pros

Waterproofing a masonry chimney is the last step of a repair and never a substitute for one, and the product choice counts as well as the timing of the work. Brick and mortar take in water through their pores, and a chimney that stays wet loses mortar, stains, and in time sheds brick faces. A water repellent reduces how much liquid water the surface absorbs.

The right kind is vapor-permeable, such as a silane or siloxane that penetrates the surface and lines the pores, so liquid water beads off while moisture inside the wall can still escape as vapor. A film-forming sealer, such as a paint or a glossy coating, can trap that moisture behind it, and the trapped water does its damage from the inside.

Before anything is applied, the leaks have to be fixed, which means cracked crowns, failed flashing, open joints and broken bricks. Coating over them only hides where the water is going. The masonry also has to be clean and dry enough for the product, and the application follows the maker's data sheet for coverage and cure.

Reapplication follows the same data sheet rather than a calendar we make up. Waterproofing does not stop water that enters at the flue top or around the flashing, which is why it comes after those repairs. On the estimate, it appears as its own line after the repairs, with the product type named and the faces to be treated.

Where the brick is unusual, we treat a small test patch first so the product's effect on the surface is known before the whole face is done. Brick that is already shedding its face gets repaired before any treatment. To check it later, mist the brick lightly, since treated brick beads the water while worn-off areas darken as they soak it in.

On a chimney in Ortega, the crown and flashing repairs come first, and the treatment follows once they have cured. Ortega homeowners can call (904) 920-5495 for a same-day visit when the schedule allows.