Chimney cap repair.

The origional cap on this chimney had completely broken down and was no longer preventing water from penetrating. Someone had applied a thin layer of some type of flexible material on top of the broken cap, in an attempt to seal it. Unfortunately that is only a temporary solution or a “band aid”. Attempting to seal a broken cap only covers up the issue for a short period of time. If the underlying problem is not addressed it will resurface eventually. The entire chimney cap must be removed and replaced to properly fix the problem.

Once water has a way into a chimney it will cause more damage down the line. If the wall becomes saturated and is then exposed to freezing temperatures typically the mortar joints will be the first thing to break down and need to be replaced. If the problem persists long enough eventually the Brick or block will break down and basically turn into mush. It is best to address the problem as soon as possible. It will only cause more damage and therefore be more expensive until it is dealt with.

Often times due to how high off the ground a chimney is it can be hard for homeowners to see what is going on up there. However there are often tell tail signs that you have a problem. If part of your wall is a different color than the rest of it “usually darker” that can be a sign there is a problem. Also if cracks appear or if the mortar joints appear to be disintegrating or flaking away. Often times water penetration is the issue.

Lebanon, PA.