Chimney

Mother Nature is not kind to your chimney. From freezing temperatures to snow, ice, and rain, chimney's can deteriorate over time. Ensuring your chimney is in good condition is crucial to prevent water intrusion, and maintain your home's value.

What are Chimney's?

A chimney is a ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that vents hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from living areas. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the stack, or chimney effect. The space inside a chimney is called the flue.

What are the signs of deterioration?

A simple walk around of your house will allow you to check the health of your chimney. Check for some of the following items:

Cracking in the mortar joints
Brick, stone, or mortar laying on the roof or ground
Dark stains running down the chimney
Missing chimney cap
Rotten soffit or eave near the chimney
Water spots inside the home near the chimney

If you notice any of these items, contact McVay Masonry for a no-cost evaluation and estimate.

It is crucial for you to regularly check your chimney to ensure it doesn't get lost and forgotten and the only option for repair becomes extensive and costly.

McVay Masonry offers yearly maintenance and inspection packages to help ensure peace of mind when it comes to your chimney.

Chimney Repair

Depending on the deterioration, repairs may be a suitable option for your chimney. Some repair items include: Tuck pointing, brick replacements, crown crack repair, and water repellent.

Chimney Waterproofing

Chimney veneers should never be sealed. A waterproofing "sealer" will trap water, snow, and ice behind the sealer and during the cold months, as the materials expand and contract, the sealer will expedite the deterioration of your chimney.

McVay Masonry uses a water-based water repellent specifically designed to soak into the masonry, repel water, and still allow the masonry to breathe and secrete moisture.

Brick Replacements

If you notice cracked brick, white "chalky" lines, or the face of the brick has fallen off, we call that spalling, McVay Masonry can individually remove the bricks and set in new bricks in place to seal up your chimney.

Chimney Rebuild

No one wants to hear the word "rebuild", however depending on the condition of the chimney, repairs may not be a viable option.

There are different levels of "rebuilding"; a partial rebuild, rebuild to the roofline, or rebuild to the ground. McVay Masonry will evaluate the needs of the chimney and recommend a plan to rebuild your chimney.

Tuck Pointing

McVay Masonry can grind out broken, missing, or cracked mortar and replace with new mortar to help seal up that joint and prevent unnecessary water from intruding.

Chimney Caps

Chimney, or flue caps, are a crucial part to your chimney. Caps prevent critters and pests from entering your home, and help reduce the amount of rain, snow, and ice that enters your chimney.

Chimney caps can be an economical and budget friendly way to help preserve your chimney for years to come.

CHIMNEY