Do-it-yourself Chimney Repair

Chimney repair can sound like something best left for the professionals, but it can be done by oneself. A sturdy ladder, some guts and willingness to work, and the necessary tools are all that the intrepid do-it-yourselfer would need.

Chimney repairs could become necessary with mortar chimney caps. These are vulnerable to cracks forming between joints because of the mortar shrinking, causing the joints to open. Lime-based mortar also decays with time and may crumble away.

For chimney repair that deals mostly with cracked mortar between bricks or on the chimney cap, you would need a ball-peen hammer and a cold chisel. Ready-mixed mortar is a must, as are a trowel, a caulking gun and caulking compound, and of course safety goggles and gloves.

For small cracks, the chimney repair can be simply done by sealing them with a masonry caulking compound using the caulking gun. This may also be done in case the joint between the flue and the cap is just a bit loose.

If the cap itself is crumbling, you would need to bring out the ball-peen hammer and cold chisel to chip the old, crumbling mortar away. Remove as much of the old mortar as you possibly can, being sure to wear safety goggles and gloves throughout the process. Brush away any loose debris after you are done. The chimney repair would be completed by the application of new, ready-mixed mortar using a trowel. Make sure to slope the new mortar away from the flue for good drainage. The new mortar should be kept damp for at least four days, to allow it to cure.

If the chimney repair deals with cracked mortar between bricks, the same procedure applies. The old deteriorating mortar should be chipped away with the ball-peen hammer and cold chisel. Then new mortar could be applied with the trowel. Be sure to use dry mortar that is weather resistant for these in-between cracks.

And lastly, if the chimney repair is with the flashing seals, the old mortar should again be chipped away. The job is finished by caulking along the flashing edges and along the joints between the flashing and the chimney.