Benefits of Chimney Waterproofing This Spring

The trees and shrubs blooming vibrant flowers may seem a long way off in the teeth of winter, but the truth is that spring is right around the corner. Spring is the time for waterproofing your chimney. Why? As the weather becomes warmer, professional chimney sweep services will be in less demand. Spring is also ideal because there won’t be as much rain as in summer. 

Waterproofing is crucial to the longevity of your chimney. Protracted exposure to the sun will cook your chimney’s bricks like they were in a kiln. Baking bricks transform them into porous, thirsty creatures. Like a sponge is porous, baked bricks will absorb all the moisture they encounter. They will drink in the moisture if the weather is rainy, snowy, or foggy. This fact brings us to the benefits of waterproofing this spring. Let’s find out why waterproofing your masonry chimney is vital.

Three Benefits of Waterproofing Your Chimney

Extending Your Chimney’s Life

We have briefly touched on prolonging your chimney’s life, but it bears repeating. If you plan to spend the rest of your life in your house, maybe pass it on to your children, and want the same fireplace and chimney, waterproofing is non-negotiable. There is no better way to ensure that your chimney will be around for decades than to waterproof it. Not convinced yet? Keep reading.

Water Damage

Water damage is the primary reason your chimney is waterproofed. It is King Kong, Frankenstein, and the Creature From the Black Lagoon all rolled into one when it comes to harming your chimney. Water invading your chimney’s bricks will expand and contract repeatedly like a balloon inflating and deflating because of the freeze-thaw cycle. Like repeatedly bending a piece of wire, it will eventually break it in two, and the bricks begin to disintegrate from constant expansion and contraction. The cycle can also cause spalling bricks or your whole chimney to collapse.

Chimney Fires

Once a chimney begins to break down, it can cause structural damage that can hinder good airflow out of your chimney. Every time you burn logs in your fireplace, a flammable substance known as creosote is produced. If there is inadequate ventilation from your chimney, then creosote can blanket your chimney walls. If a burning ember rises the flue and there is enough creosote, there is a possibility that your chimney will have a fire at some point. 

Understanding How Chimney Waterproofing Works

A professional chimney sweep will follow a simple process prior to waterproofing your chimney. Before any waterproofing can be undertaken, the chimney will be examined for any telltale signs of damage, and if any is found, they will fix it before the waterproofing. Let’s take a closer look at the steps involved with waterproofing.

Inspecting the Chimney

As just stated, chimney sweeps will examine the chimney for damage.

Cleaning the Chimney

 A waterproofing treatment won’t adhere to a dirty chimney. Any soil, debris, or moss must be scrubbed from your chimney; it may take pressure washing depending on how much dirt is present. When the chimney has been cleaned, it will let the chimney sweeps check for any issues that may have been covered by dirt. chimney and make it ready for the waterproof sealant.

Repairing Chimney Damage

If the chimney sweeps locate damage, they must make repairs before the chimney can be sealed. It may take time if issues like broken bricks or eroded mortar are present.

Application of Waterproof Sealant

After any repairs are performed, the final step is to apply the waterproof sealant to your chimney. The waterproof coating will have a breathable seal designed for chimneys. The sealant will let moisture from inside your chimney’s bricks evaporate while resisting moisture from the outside. The chimney sweeps will have specialized tools to apply the waterproof sealant, such as sprayers and brushes. When the sealant has been applied, there will be a curing period before it is finally sealed. 

Mercer County Chimney Are the Chimney Waterproofing Experts

So, now that you know the benefits of chimney waterproofing in the spring, what are you waiting for? Contact us if you are in the Mercer County area, including Hamilton, Allentown, Lawrenceville, or Chesterfield. We will be happy to schedule one of our chimney sweep crews to waterproof your chimney. Don’t wait until there is a problem, get in touch now.