Chimney maintenance is essential for the safety and functionality of your home. It is especially vital in places where significant seasonal weather changes can affect structures, like in Whitney. Homeowners might face several kinds of chimney repairs, depending on the condition and age of their chimney. If you have an old chimney that has withstood the test of time, it might need masonry repairs, which address missing or cracked bricks, or mortar joints that have dangerously deteriorated and could lead to structural weaknesses. The repairs can be done in sections when a problem is found and need not involve the whole chimney. In some cases, especially when the damage is extensive, a complete rebuild might be necessary.
Another aspect that chimneys and roofs have in common is flashing, which often has to be addressed in chimney repairs. Flashing consists of metal sheets installed at the intersection of the chimney and the roof to keep the area watertight. If the chimney has been constructed with less than ideal materials, or if workmanship was substandard, it is possible that the chimney does not function as designed and that flashing cannot keep it watertight. If the chimney problem is an illusion caused by improper installation of the roof or excessive tree overhang, fixing the roof or trimming the trees may prevent chimney problems in the future. When the chimney requires repair, the problem may lie with the masonry, with the way the chimney was integrated with the roof, or with the flashing itself. Working on the roofing contractor's schedule is often necessary when working on a chimney, since roofing work must precede masonry work in order to keep the chimney watertight.
Ensuring your chimney and flashing are in optimal condition is vital to protect your home from the kinds of weather Whitney can dish out. Working weatherproofing into the design of your chimney prevents water from getting in. The problem is that the chimney itself is comprised of a number of different materials and systems that work together to form a kind of tower that not only carries smoke and gases away from the fireplace but also protects the house from the elements. The chimney is mainly brick or masonry, with the interior often lined with a heat-proof material like precast concrete or metal. The chimney cap and crown, which are not only part of the chimney itself but also parts exclusive to the chimney's function as a structure designed to withstand the weather, are the roof above the fireplace and the sloped surface just below it.
