Chimney Bricks In Attic Are Crumbling

Bricks are typically made of clay and shale with filler materials that act as binders.

Chimney bricks in attic are crumbling.

However the mortar that holds bricks together a mixture of cement and sand can weaken and crumble. I m guessing this is because of some long term roof leak that s made the brick soft. There are many different kinds of masonry sealers on the market. Put on safety goggles and work gloves.

The flaking surface is a classic example of spalling a type of failure caused by moisture and the freeze thaw cycle. Measure the length of the damaged irregular bricks in the chimney. Bricks that have been custom cut will require you to cut the new brick to fit. Age of the mortar.

The brick retaining wall shown above is falling apart and it s too late to save it. You can first have a look at your fireplace hearth and see if there are crack or broken bricks. Repairing the crumbling mortar before the bricks fall is called tuck pointing or re pointing the bricks. I ve noticed where the chimney was the bricks are so soft the mortar literally crumbles in my hand and so do some of the bricks see pics the three rows of brick at the very top are sturdy and dry and the black is mould.

You can actually conduct a simple and quick visual chimney check up to help you determine if there s something that needs to be fixed. To fix crumbling chimney mortar you will need to remove the old mortar and reapply new mortar into the gaps. Crumbling on the roof around the chimney loose or broken bricks a chimney that has begun to lean to one side white staining on the exterior masonry efflorescence. If your home is more than 50 years old you are dealing with old building materials that have.

Mark the measurement of the old bricks on your new brick using a marker. Age of the brick. Why is my chimney crumbling in the attic. Check the firebox for visually broken bricks or cracks.