Having a chimney or a fireplace at your home does help to enhance its aesthetic value and appeal. It also allows your family to enjoy the warm atmosphere in the room especially during cold winter months. But what you might not be awake of is that masonry chimneys do require repair after some time. Harsh weather conditions cause damage to the mortar joints, especially excess water amounts. Even rock masonry can get damaged by moisture if water seeps in through the weakened mortar joints. In such a case, you will have to hire the Tuckpointing Melbourne professionals. They will perform ‘Tuckpointing’, a repair process to prevent destructive process as well as to offer several benefits.
Will Tuckpointing be required?
Bricks used for the chimney construction can last for over a century. But mortar comes with a short lifespan. It may last around 25 years depending on its exposure to harsh weather conditions and excess water. Tuckpointing Melbourne professionals recommend homeowners to install a cricket, a compact sized diversion roof. This is to ensure that the chimney does not experience deluge during rains. Moreover, the roof’s layout and chimney’s position is likely to affect the amount of water drainage that contributes towards mortar joint erosion.
Repair work
There might be extensive damages to the mortar joints. If so, then hiring the Tuckpointing Melbourne specialists to carry out tuckpointing is probably an effective remedy. This way, the affected regions can be repaired. Otherwise, the mortar joints should be allowed to deteriorate to a particular point that causes the chimney to collapse. This will mean having to rebuild the entire chimney thus increasing the cost manifolds. Hence, repairing will be a feasible venture to undertake.
Tuckpointing benefits
This crucial procedure helps to preserve the chimneys’ life. A few benefits derived from tuckpointing on chimneys include:
- Restoring chimney’s structural ability. Not repairing the mortar joints on time only causes weaker chimney structure. This is likely to result in further leaning and collapsing.
- Prevention of mortar joint corrosion.
- Cost-effective solution when compared to rebuilding the entire chimney. This procedure helps save lots of money.
- It does not allow water to enter the chimney system. Not repairing the mortar joints on time will mean water is likely to seep down the flue lining and the chimney. This will only encourage mildew, mold growth and rotting wood. Moreover, moisture might stain the wallpaper enclosing the chimney and the ceiling.
The above are the reasons to contact the Tuckpointing Melbourne professionals immediately.
