Are you Putting Off Repairs to your Chimney?

Property owners often overlook the maintenance and condition of their chimney, instead paying attention on the state of the actual roof. However, it is important to keep your chimney in a good state if repair. The majority of professional roofers in Nottingham provide chimney repair and maintenance services. If you do have any doubts about the condition of your chimney, please contact Roofers Nottingham today.

Frequent chimney and roof surveys are imperative, as is the cleaning your chimney. More extensive repair work may be needed on some occasions. Roofers Nottingham have highlighted some signs that could indicate more considerable repair work is needed on your chimney.

Just looking at your chimney is not enough to tell if the condition is satisfactory. A thorough chimney inspection should be included as part of your annual roof survey. Any repairs that are needed should be completed as soon as possible to prevent further complications.

Defective mortar joints

This is a crucial defect that needs repairing as soon as possible. When a mortar joint starts to become defective, water ingress can occur. This can lead to small repairs becoming larger and potentially a collapsed chimney.

Mortar creates a seal between the chimney bricks. If the mortar cracks, water enters, when it freezes the water expands making the cracks larger. It only takes a few occurrences for the mortar to be completely destroyed.

Spalling

Spalling is a problem when moisture gets into the stone or brick of the chimney. Moisture in the brick can cause it to expand and displace it away from the chimney. You may notice bits of masonry falling of the chimney when this occurs. Roofers Nottingham, always recommend you have regular chimney inspections, particularly after period of heavy rain.

Rust

Rust can be an issue in some chimneys. The majority of chimneys don’t contain a lot of metal, places to check include the firebox and the damper. If you are finding the damper is getting tougher to adjust, inspect it for any rust.

A defective damper is especially dangerous since a split or rusted flu will eventually result in the decay the flu lining. This will leave your building vulnerable to a fire.

To prevent the metal rusting you can seal it. However, once rusting has occurred you will need to replace the parts.

Decayed Walls

Check the walls around the chimney, on all floors, frequently. It is especially important to inspect the walls after a large amount of rainfall. If moisture has made its way inside the chimney, it can present itself as damage to the wallpaper or paint. The paintwork may become discoloured. Your chimney will need to be resealed if water is making its way inside your property.

Discolouration

If your chimney is becoming discoloured this could be a sign something is wrong. You should contact your local professional roofers in Nottingham for an inspection. They will be able to inform you if repairs are necessary.

Chimney discolouration is due to heat reaching areas where is shouldn’t or even water damage. Left untreated this may lead to bigger problems later on. Roofers Nottingham always advise to get repair work completed as soon as possible.

Shaling

Shaling occurs on older chimneys where there is a flu lining that is tiled. You may have found tiles falling into the fireplace or firebox which is a sign that you need to survey the inside of your chimney.

If you notice the inside of the chimney is disintegrating, a professional roofer should visit to provide an  inspection. They can conduct a thorough evaluation on the damage. Avoid using the chimney if you think shaling has occurred, as the chimney’s protection is likely to be compromised from the heat.

Cracks in the crown of the chimney

You should call your local roofers in Nottingham to inspect the chimney crown. They will survey the crown for cracks, splits and other damage. Any defects can cause moisture to enter into the chimney.

You should try and have your chimney crown surveyed at least twice a year. Any defects can be identified and repaired before the occurrence of larger issues.

Chimney Pointing

Pointing is used between the chimney bricks and stones. Usually, mortar is applied to keep the bricks in place. Mortar between the joints helps to keep your chimney watertight, so no water enters the inside of your chimney. 

Your chimney structure will move over time as your building settles and also as a result of expansion and contraction due to temperature. This can cause your chimney mortar to decay. Your chimney structure may require repointing over time. This is particularly true if you own an older property with the original chimney.

Chimney repointing should be completed by professionals, like Roofers Nottingham. This is due to the location of the chimney on a property. The old mortar must be removed with care and attention and the fresh mortar applied correctly. Done poorly, problems will occur sooner or later.

If you notice a problem with your chimney, you should have it repaired as soon as possible. The longer the issue is left untreated the more it is likely to cost. For example, a repair to the crown of a chimney will cost more than a replacement. Similarly, a repointing job will be cheaper than replacing parts of your chimney. 

The most significant issue for chimneys is moisture. There are a large number of problems that can occur if moisture enters your chimney and even your property, like cracks and rust. If you are experiencing chimney or roof related issues please contact Roofers Nottingham today for free expert advice and your competitive quote.

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