Local chimney masonry repair in Sunbeam

The smallest masonry repair that closes the problem, and a clear note of what can wait, from a free inspection for Sunbeam homeowners.

Fully licensed and insured
Locally owned
Family owned and operated
Same-day service

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Get a quote for chimney and fireplace repair and installation in Jacksonville.

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(904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Brick and mortar pros for Sunbeam chimneys

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

Repair or rebuild, you get the reasons in writing and a price for each when both are reasonable.

Locally ownedA locally owned business answers for the brick and mortar work on your Sunbeam chimney.
Upfront pricing, no hidden feesEach area of the stack is priced on its own line, so you can see what each repair costs.
100% satisfaction guaranteedIf the repair does not look or hold the way we agreed, we come back and make it right.

Call (904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Old patches that did not hold

Caulk smeared over a crack, cement troweled onto a face, or a joint filled with the wrong mortar all show on chimneys that have been patched before. Those fixes seal the surface for a season, then crack and hold water behind them. The old patch material on the Sunbeam stack has to come out before a proper repair can go in, because new mortar will not bond to caulk and hard cement next to soft joints concentrates the stress. The removal is listed as part of the work, so you can see why the repair area is larger than the visible crack. Loose brick or crumbling joints in Sunbeam? Ask for mortar samples when you call (904) 920-5495.

Sunbeam sits away from the coastline. Sunbeam is a neighborhood within the City of Jacksonville.

Brick and mortar repairs for Sunbeam homes

Every damaged area mapped on the stack by type
Repointing mortar pre-hydrated and packed in layers
Mortar type picked to be no harder than the wall
Cured test batch checked against the old color

Call (904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Map, match, rake, tool

Damage mapped by type
Soft joints, cracks, flaking faces and loose courses are marked on the stack, along with the water path behind them.
Mortar and brick matched
The mortar type is picked to suit the old wall, a test batch cures against the brick, and replacement units are sized to the coursing.
Rake, repoint and replace
Joints are raked to sound mortar and packed in layers, and damaged brick is cut out and reset.
Tooling, cleanup and cover
New joints are tooled to the old profile, smears come off without raw acid, and fresh work is covered from rain.

Painted brick chimneys in Sunbeam

Paint on brick slows the escape of moisture. Water that gets in through a crack dries more slowly behind the film, and the face can peel or crumble underneath.

When a painted chimney in Sunbeam needs repair, we explain the options for the coating before any mortar work starts.

10% off any service booked within 72 hours of inspection

Loose brick or crumbling mortar? Book within 72 hours of our visit and 10% comes off.

Call (904) 920-5495 Free Inspection

Repair mortar no harder than the wall

When new mortar goes into an old wall, it has to work with the brick and mortar already there. BIA's guidance for repointing sets the rule: the compressive strength of the repair mortar should be equal to or less than that of the existing mortar.

A harder repair mix does not share movement with the soft mortar around it. Instead it pushes stress onto the edges of the brick, and BIA names the outcome as spalling. That is why a bag of the strongest mix is not the default choice, and why we look at the existing joints before choosing what goes into them.

Keeping the wall at its code thickness

Florida's residential code sets a minimum thickness for the walls of a masonry chimney: 4 inches nominal, built of solid units or of hollow units grouted solid. That minimum does not relax during a repair.

When a brick is cut out and replaced, the new unit fills the full depth of the old one, and the joints around it are packed full. Thin slips of brick glued to the face, or a pocket left half empty behind a new face, would thin the wall. We cut out and replace full units so the stack keeps its required thickness everywhere we have worked on it.

Protecting fresh joints while they cure

New mortar needs time to cure, and heavy rain on a fresh joint can wash out its surface and weaken its bond. BIA's cleaning and construction guidance recommends covering the tops of walls and openings with a waterproof membrane at the end of each work day and during stoppages.

On a chimney that means covering the top and any open work before we leave, and checking the forecast when scheduling. Fast drying in strong sun or wind can also weaken new joints, so exposed repairs may be shaded or lightly misted. Those steps affect how the work is scheduled, so they are planned from the start.

Mortar type, brick source and joint depth

Mortar type under ASTM C270, and why it suits the wall
Sand and color match, confirmed with a cured test batch
Joint raking depth and the tool used at the head joints
Cleaning method for mortar smears, without raw muriatic acid

Masonry questions from Sunbeam

My Sunbeam chimney has loose brick. Can you help?

Yes. Masonry repair is part of our work in Sunbeam, and a visit starts with a look at every face of the stack. Book by phone or through the form.

Is repointing the same as masonry repair?

Repointing is one part of it: renewing mortar joints. Masonry repair also covers cracked or flaking brick, loose courses and shoulders, and it may include repointing where the joints need it.