A chimney, while it looks sturdy, can easily fall into disrepair. There are many ways this can happen and it’s important for a homeowner to be aware of this so that they can get problems fixed before they become a bigger, more expensive, issue.
Chimneys can become damaged in many ways. Some of the more obvious ways are large objects like trees or scaffolding, etc. falling on them. Extremes of weather can take their toll on a chimney causing deterioration. There are other elements such as earthquakes that can result in significant damage to a chimney. A damaged chimney can be very dangerous, depending on the level of damage, it could start to collapse which not only poses a great danger to people on the outside of the home but also for anyone who is inside as a chimney will likely fall in on itself.
How can a homeowner tell if the chimney needs repairing? There are some obvious signs to look out for. Stand away from the home so you can see the entire chimney, does it seem to be leaning or listing? Does it show signs of separating away from the house? Another test you can perform is to take a screwdriver and scrape a small area of the chimney’s mortar. A cause for concern will be if the mortar easily crumbles. Do the chimney footings show signs of deterioration? If you notice any of these signs of deterioration it’s likely that the chimney requires maintenance. Although a homeowner can perform some simple checks on the chimney, there are still many areas of it that require a professional inspection. The chimney should be inspected periodically to make sure that it is still in good working condition. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like more information