Paint Causes Chimney Damage
Moisture is a brick’s enemy. If a brick retains too much moisture, especially in freezing cold temperatures, the expansion/contraction causes the brick to break apart or spall. Generally, this means the faces or slivers and corners will pop off. In some cases, they will split and crack altogether. This can happen if the brick is especially soft or porous such as some older brick manufactured prior to ASTM standards. Sometimes it just happens due to an excessive amount of moisture and lack of water protection such as a breathable masonry water sealant. Safeside offers this as an economical solution in cases where the situation isn’t yet systemic and there is no structural or safety concerns.
But , even a properly manufactured brick will almost surely spall if painted. The paint holds the moisture inside the chimney preventing it from escaping. This will damage the brick and the mortar, creating structural issues. It is also is quite unsightly as the paint will peel and the brick faces will break off littering the surrounding areas.
Westport Chimney Paint Repair
This particular chimney was not structurally unsafe, as the mortar was still solid, but large chunks of brick were rolling off the roof onto the walkway areas below. It was also an eyesore on an otherwise lovely home. If you know your chimney has been painted, contact us at Safeside today to fix the issues to ensure your safety.
