Crumbling of the bricks of your chimney can at times occur due to constant weathering which makes the mortar to crumble with age even if it means that all other brickwork in your home are in good condition. Sometimes getting the crumbling joints of your old mortar at the chimney walls fixed might turn out a bit expensive. Also it is important to get the crevices fixed because it provides an inlet to water and moisture deteriorating the mortar further. You can hire any professional brick chimney contractor or consult chimney contractor to sign a contract for repair. But if you are planning to do it by yourself, then don’t worry, the process is simple when followed with the correct guidelines and can be completed by anyone having strong arms.
Tools required:
- Large hammer
- Chisel
- Hose
- Goggles for safety
- Stiff brush
- Small trowel
Procedure:
Preparing mortar
Mix the mortar in the right quantity to prepare dough that resembles the one of a cookie and make sure that it isn’t too dry or too soggy. The mortar mix can be found in any store or supermarket. All you have to do is just add water to it. The mortar begins to dry quickly thus make sure that isn’t dry while you about to put in the joints.
Cleaning the damaged joints
Use a stiff brush dipped in dish soap to clean off the bricks and scrub off the joints of the damaged area. Let the surface be dried up so that you can proceed to the next step. Don’t forget to put on your safety goggles while you chip off the linings of the brick using a hammer and a chisel.
Remove damaged joints
Try to scrape out all of the loose mortar and make sure you don’t damage any other area in the process. Use a sharp chisel to do this and brush off the fine pieces of loose mortar and bricks. Now apply a fine layer of an adhesive probably some bonding agent to the area where new mortar has to be put in.
Apply the mortar
Use a trowel to put new mortar in the chimney brick joints. Do not simply slap mortar in the joints and instead stuff them inside the joints firmly. Level them up finally with the bricks. You can even use a trowel to do so.
Clean off the area
Finally clean off the area to remove excess mortar that pours out of the joints and give a new look to your chimneys.
