The Causes of Spalling Bricks
If you’ve got spalling bricks, you are probably wondering what caused it. You may be reading this and wondering what spalling is. We can help in both cases. Read on to find out what the causes of spalling bricks are.
Just What is Spalling?
Spalling occurs when your chimney’s bricks absorb moisture. Over time, the bricks will begin to break down and chip, crumble, or break due to repeated freezing and thawing of the moisture. Needless to say, when your bricks start to break down, it’s a problem. So, what causes spalling? Read on.
The Causes of Spalling
As you just read, freezing and thawing of water are the primary culprits of spalling. Here are some other factors:
Poor Quality Bricks– Poor quality or incorrect types of bricks can lead to spalling.
Chemicals- If your bricks are exposed to various chemicals, regardless of whether they were used to clean the bricks or if it’s from chlorinated water from a sprinkler, chemicals are another chief culprit of spalling.
Curing- If the bricks were not given a proper amount of time to cure during construction and their integrity was compromised,
If the bricks in your chimney have more than one of these conditions, then it is likely that the spalling will only get worse, and the whole chimney is in danger of collapsing.
How is Spalling Fixed
When a qualified chimney sweep service begins repairs on your chimney, they will first inspect it to ensure all the bad bricks are accounted for before starting the project. Next, they will remove all the spalling bricks from your chimney. The next step is to clean the area thoroughly to ensure a good bond with the new bricks.
New bricks will be installed, having been chosen for the closest possible match to the other bricks in the chimney by color and patterns. New mortar will secure the bricks and bond them to your chimney. After the new bricks have been laid, a process called repointing will occur where the mortar is not as strong on the chimney to shore it up and prevent its collapse.
Spalling is a Safety Issue
If you choose to ignore the warning signs of spalling, you may end up with tragic results. Because spalling compromises your chimney’s structure, there is an increased chance that it could collapse. When your chimney collapses, it could fall on you, a grandparent, a child, or a pet. So, please, if you are encountering spalling with your chimney’s bricks, don’t put off having them repaired.
At Chimney Sweeps Incorporated We Can Tackle Spalling
If you live in the wider San Diego area and have spalling bricks, contact us immediately. Our qualified chimney sweeps have the training, skill, and experience to repair or replace the broken bricks in your chimney. Don’t wait until your chimney collapses and huts someone to contact us; reach out today. One of our chimney experts will gladly set an appointment to inspect your chimney. Once we have completed our inspection, we will provide an estimate before proceeding with repairs.
