Chimney efficiency
Repairing any part of the chimney is a hard task and time consuming. Fixing a damaged chimney masonry isn’t complicated but it takes a lot of time and effort. Doing the task by yourself is not that hard and you will certainly save some money.
Tools and Materials:
- Masonry mortar and fortifier
- Plasterer’s hawk
- Trowel
- Pointing tool
- Hammer
- Chisel (for brick)
- Wire brush
- Spray bottle
- Grout brush
- Grout rake
- Vacuum cleaner
- Stiff brush
Removing the masonry
Use a grout take to remove the masonry and a hammer and chisel for any bigger loose pieces. You must do this before doing any repairs on the chimney.
Widen the joints
Dig into the joints using the flattened side of the rake. Remove any material that is falling off and then vacuum the area of any dust. Use a wire brush to get rid of any loosened dust and then use the vacuum again. Any dust will make the reparations less effective.
Wet the masonry
The mortar you will apply will adhere to the masonry better if you wet the masonry first. Use a spray bottle with water and lightly apply it on the area.
Preparing mortar
The producer’s instructions should be followed when preparing the mortar. The mixture will be good to use once it’s thick but not too thick to work with.
Applying mortar
Apply some of the mortar on the hawk. Be sure to have your trowel and pointing tool at hand. Use them to mix the mortar and then fill the joints. The places where you will pour the mortar must be densely packed and even. The mortar must be let to dry.
Removing excess mortar
Using a trowel, scrape any excess mortar after it is dry. The area you repaired must be flush with the rest of the wall.
Finishing touches
Apply some water over the repaired area to prevent the mortar from cracking because of rapid drying. Don’t use the chimney for about 2 -3 days. Using a stiff brush, clean the area of any dust.