top of page
Ram Jack Logo FS

Leaning Chimney Repair

Don't  Brace it, Let RAM JACK, fix it right!  

The brick and masonry material of your chimney is constantly exposed to the elements. After years of enduring harsh weather conditions and regular usage, your chimney’s mortar will begin to deteriorate. This leaves your chimney susceptible to excessive moisture which is why it’s imperative to repair or replace the mortar before more serious and expensive damage happens.

The average lifespan of mortar is generally around 25 years, or a quarter of a century. Since bricks are capable of lasting well more than 100 years, it goes to stand that the mortar will need to be replaced a few times during the life of the chimney. The key to extending the useful life of your chimney is to ensure that mortar joints are repointed at first sign of degradation. By preventing water from entering the masonry material, your chimney will have a long, healthy life.  Repointing brick is slow, painstaking work that requires few special skills but a lot of patience.  However, if the work is rushed and done carelessly on a highly visible area, the repointing brickwork will stick out like graffiti.  

For severely worn chimneys, our certified chimney specialists will perform tuckpointing, which involves scraping out deteriorating or ineffective mortar and then replacing it with fresh mortar to recreate the original condition of your bricks and mortar. This simple process can add many years on to the life of your chimney since it stops water from continuing to enter and preventing any new cracks or spalling.

Tuckpointing stems from a masonry technique that started back in the 1800s. Tuckpointing was created to make cheaper, uneven bricks appear as if they were the coveted high-quality rubbed bricks from that time period. The goal was to have the bricks appear perfectly aligned and early tuck pointers were able to use a less expensive brick in combination with a match red mortar to generate the appearance of perfectly aligned rubbed bricks without the high price tag. Today, the terms “Point”, “Repoint”, and “Tuckpoint” are often used to describe similar processes, all with varying styles and materials.

If you notice that your chimney has lost the ability to stop rain and water from entering the brick chimney wall, then it is time to call us for our tuckpointing service. Our committed techs are craftsmen that are highly trained in many different masonry techniques. RAM JACK’s dedicated team stand ready and are more than cable of repairing and restoring your chimney to a perfectly – presented appearance.

Call RAM JACK at the first sign of deterioration, a tuckpointing job can prevent further damage from occurring and causing serious hazards or structural problems. Left unattended, water will seep into cracked mortar causing widespread damage that could require an entire chimney replacement or more. Also, poorly completed repointing jobs can devalue your home and even lead to future problems, so the best bet is to hire a professional. Our chimney sweeps have spent decades performing this simple procedure that has save homeowners thousands of dollars in future repairs.

 

So, contact RAM JACK at the first sign of crumbling mortar joints. RAM JACK will ease your concern about the condition of your chimney masonry and mortar joints. We will gladly visit your home and make the necessary recommendations. To keep your chimney in tip-top shape.

bottom of page