The brutally cold temperatures of winters in the Hudson Valley can be rough on masonry chimneys. In addition, they can also cause quite a bit of damage. Have you noticed a few cracked or missing bricks and mortar joints from your chimney after a long winter? If so, the reason why these masonry materials have deteriorated has to do with the freeze/thaw cycle. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), water causes the most deterioration to masonry materials. Unfortunately, freeze/thaw cycles in the winter significantly speeds up this deterioration. All Seasons Chimney knows how to repair chimney masonry damage from the freeze/thaw cycles that happen each winter. Additionally, we can also prevent them happening during the next one. We would like to tell you more about the freeze/thaw cycle and what we can do to help you deal with it.
What is the freeze/thaw cycle?
The reason why water is so damaging to masonry materials has to do with how porous they are. The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney naturally absorb moisture from being exposed to rain, ice, and snow. Whenever the temperature falls below the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, any water trapped within the bricks and mortar joints will freeze within the masonry materials. As the weather warms back up, the water thaws. This causes the bricks and mortar joints to crack and crumble apart, which is called spalling damage. Over a winter season, the temperature can go up and down many times, and this is a freeze/thaw cycle.
How can All Seasons Chimney help me with freeze/thaw damage?
For over 25 years, we have been providing the Hudson Valley with professional chimney masonry repair services. Have you have seen damaged or missing bricks or mortar joints from your chimney? If so, contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced chimney masons. We can remove the spalled masonry and replace it with durable and long-lasting bricks and mortar joints. Also, we know how to prevent spalling damage from occurring during a freeze/thaw cycle with our professional chimney waterproofing service. We apply a 100 percent vapor permeable waterproofing formula to your entire chimney to create a barrier against water penetration of your bricks and mortar joints. After we have waterproofed your chimney, it will be protected during each freeze/thaw cycle for the next 10 years.
Protect your chimney this winter from the damage that can happen during freeze/thaw cycles. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney masonry repair and maintenance services today.
Known as Cerfractory technology, HeatShield is a hybrid of ceramic and refractory coating used to line chimneys and flues. It withstands moisture, and corrosive combustion gases, as well as temperatures exceeding 2900 degrees Fahrenheit. Developed over 20 years ago in Europe, HeatShield can restore your chimney to its original peak of safety and efficiency.