When you live in the Hudson Valley, you know how brutally cold the weather can be during the winter. Not only do we experience frequent periods of temperatures below freezing, but we can also have winter storms 
that can leave behind lots of snow and ice in this region. This means homeowners need to be prepared by making sure they have the best preventive measures in place to protect their homes from winter weather damage. One of the most commonly damaged parts of a house by cold temperatures, masonry chimneys can suffer from accelerated deterioration when it is freezing outside. Fortunately, All Seasons Chimney has been taking care of masonry chimneys in the Poughkeepsie area for over 25 years with the highest quality of professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services. We know how to fix winter masonry chimney damage, and after we have made the necessary repairs, we can talk to you about the different preventive service options we provide that can protect your chimney from future masonry deterioration. We would like to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions about winter masonry damage that we get each year.
Why is winter weather so tough on masonry chimneys?
To understand why winter weather can cause so much masonry chimney damage, you should know more about the role that water penetration plays in masonry deterioration. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has referred to water as the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. Every time it rains, sleets, or snows, the bricks and mortar joints naturally absorb that moisture because masonry materials are porous. Water penetration leads to erosion, and the CSIA warns homeowners that masonry deterioration can be accelerated during the winter because of freeze/thaw cycles. Also known as spalling, this type of damage occurs when water that is trapped inside masonry materials freezes and expands. As the water freezes and expands, the expansion can cause the bricks and mortar joints to crack and break apart. They could become loose and even fall from the structure of your chimney. Then, when everything melts, the water will flow into those new cracks and the process starts over. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can result in serious masonry chimney structural damage that could be a safety hazard if repairs are neglected.
How can All Seasons Chimney help me with winter masonry damage?
If you notice damaged bricks and mortar joints on the exterior of your chimney after a period of freezing temperatures, you should contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment with our team of CSIA-certified chimney professionals. We have years of experience with inspecting winter chimney masonry damage, and you can count on us to fully explain how we can restore the integrity of the structure of your chimney. We have been trained in the best masonry repair techniques, which include tuckpointing. After we remove the damaged bricks and mortar joints, we will replace them with durable masonry materials that have been precisely matched to your existing chimney. After we have repaired the masonry damage, we will make our recommendations for the best water penetration preventive services to keep this from occurring in the future.
What options does All Seasons Chimney have to keep water out of my chimney?
For over 25 years, we have specialized in water penetration preventive services, and you can count on our CSIA-certified professionals to ensure your masonry chimney has the ultimate protection against water leaks. You need a chimney cap professionally installed at the top of your chimney, and our expert team can help you find the best cap for your home. We have a wide variety of chimney caps of different materials, and our chimney professionals will properly install it to ensure it keeps water, and even birds and wild animals, out of your chimney. To protect the vulnerable spot where your chimney meets the roof, we can install and repair customized flashing. Our chimney technicians will take precise measurements to properly layer metal sheeting around your chimney to keep water from leaking into your home. For the ultimate protection against winter weather masonry chimney damage, All Seasons Chimney strongly recommends our professional waterproofing services. We only use 100 percent vapor-permeable waterproofing formulas that have been manufactured for masonry chimneys. This means that you will not have to worry about further spalling damage from trapped combustion gases trying to escape. After we have waterproofed your chimney, we will have reduced the possibilities of water penetration to as low as .01 percent! This professional chimney maintenance service is a great investment that will prolong the life of your masonry chimney.
Even though winter has arrived here in the Hudson Valley, it is never too late to protect your chimney from cold weather masonry damage. Contact us today at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment with one of our CSIA-certified chimney technicians. We are here for all of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.