Knoxville’s Favorite Chimney Tuckpointing & Masonry Repair
Our chimney sweeps at Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney are certified chimney technicians and experienced chimney masons. We provide comprehensive chimney sweep services, including chimney cleaning, chimney inspections, chimney repairs, and chimney rebuilds. We also offer tuckpointing chimney repair for homeowners in Knoxville TN and the greater Knoxville area, including Pigeon Forge TN, Gatlinburg TN, and Jefferson City TN.
Chimney masonry typically lasts at least a century or more, but mortar only lasts about a quarter of a century. When the mortar begins to crack and decay, if the issue is detected early enough, a procedure called “tuckpointing” provides the least expensive type of repair.
The average lifespan of chimney mortar is about 25 years unless there are circumstances in which excess moisture continually flows against the chimney stack. If the runoff flow of the roof directs rainwater toward the chimney, for example, the mortar may deteriorate prematurely. In that case, a ridge structure called a cricket or saddle could be added to the roof to divert water away from chimney.
What is Tuckpointing?
Tuckpointing and repointing are involved with the same process of replacing damaged mortar and restoring the original structural integrity of a chimney or other masonry. Tuckpointing involves filling in mortar joints of brickwork with two different colors. One of the colors matches the bricks, so that the finish can appear seamless. The second color provides the appearance of mortar joints. The illusion created is that there are very fine mortar joints.
This procedure of tuckpointing originated in the late 1700s in England. The purpose at the time was to imitate the look of high-end building material called “rubbed brick.” It was a popular method because homeowners were able to spend less money while appearing to have more expensive masonry on their home.
What is Repointing?
Repointing is the actual process of repairing damaged mortar joints on brickwork. All brick structures are supported by mortar joints. Mortar is extremely important because it helps to prevent water from entering the chimney system.
What Happens Without Masonry Repair?
Bricks are highly porous, and keeping moisture out of a chimney requires ongoing maintenance. Fire safety experts recommend annual chimney inspections. The inspections are important because moisture damage is almost never immediately obvious. Professional chimney sweeps help homeowners in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Jefferson City, and throughout the region to significantly cut masonry repair expenses. By discovering problems early, they can be addressed before moisture intrusion leads to a chimney leak and worse.
If masonry repair is neglected after water intrusion has occurred, freeze and thaw cycles in winter cause the bricks to continually expand and contract. This leads to deterioration of the masonry, and spalling occurs. Spalling is when the brick face breaks and pops off. If a chimney has spalling, you can usually see debris around the chimney on the rooftop and possibly also on the ground below. If repairs aren’t made, the chimney will begin to lean and could ultimately collapse.
Contact Masonry Experts In Knoxville TN
For expert tuckpointing and all types of masonry repair and rebuilding, contact the chimney masonry experts at Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney. Homeowners in Knoxville TN and surrounding cities of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Jefferson City, and others can count on high-quality chimney services from our certified chimney sweeps. Call us at Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney today.
