Chimney Tuckpointing

A chimney is only as strong as the mortar that holds its bricks together. When mortar begins to fail, parts of the chimney structure, or the entire structure, can become compromised. Advanced Chimney Sweep provides tuckpointing service for chimneys throughout the greater Greenville, SC, and Spartanburg, SC, regions.

The Tuckpointing Process

Tuckpointing is the process of scraping away and replacing deteriorated mortar between the bricks of a masonry chimney. We use a top-grade commercial mortar compound that provides a strong sealant between the bricks and has a visually appealing finish.

We’ve found that mortar often begins to decay long before the bricks in our customers’ chimneys. This is why it’s a good idea to periodically inspect your chimney’s mortar and schedule annual chimney inspections.

Signs Your Chimney Needs Tuckpointing

The only way to get a good look at your chimney’s mortar is by getting up on the roof or a ladder. If you feel comfortable doing this, check for:

• Mortar lines that are shallow or missing
• Crumbled material on the roof
• Bricks that are loose

Mortar tuckpointing is needed if you notice any of these signs in your chimney. If you don’t feel safe on the roof or a ladder, call us to schedule an inspection.

Damage Beyond the Mortar

If crumbling mortar is ignored and allowed to progress, two serious problems may occur.

1. Water Leaks

Water from the heavy rains in the area will get into the compromised mortar joints and move into the chimney system. Depending on the extent of the leak, the chimney liner, firebox, and other parts of the chimney and fireplace system may be affected.

Additionally, leaks in the masonry can cause the growth of dangerous mold within the interior spaces of your chimney, which is not visible.

2. Structural Issues

Damaged mortar that allows water to seep in can lead to leaky bricks and leave the entire chimney structurally unstable. But even if the bricks aren’t affected, a chimney can collapse just because of deteriorated mortar.

Saving Your Chimney

We want to avoid a chimney collapse at all costs. We also want to prevent water damage to the masonry and the chimney’s components. This is why we encourage our customers to do two critical things:

1.  Schedule annual chimney inspections
2. Keep a regular eye on their chimneys and report any problems

Call the Tuckpointing Experts

If you know or believe that there’s trouble with the mortar in your chimney, now is the time to call Advanced Chimney Sweep. You can speak with a chimney repair and tuckpointing pro by phone. If you prefer, reach out through our contact form.

We provide chimney tuckpointing and a full range of other services in Greenville, Spartanburg, Roebuck, Easley, Greer, Duncan, Boiling Springs, and other South Carolina cities and towns in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.