You have probably heard Owens Chimney Systems mention before that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) names water penetration as the greatest enemy to masonry chimneys. If you are wondering how water leaks have gotten such a bad reputation, it is because of the amount and the extent of damage and deterioration water can do to masonry materials. This damage includes stains on the interior walls and ceilings of your home as well as cracked and broken bricks and mortar, which can threaten the stability of the structure of your chimney. One of the most important preventive measures you can take against water penetration is to have your chimney professionally waterproofed. We would like to tell you more about this service and how it can protect your masonry chimney by keeping water from penetrating the bricks and mortar.
What exactly is waterproofing?
Specially manufactured to be used as waterproofing agents, a formula that is 100% vapor-permeable is applied by our CSIA-certified technicians at Owens Chimney Systems to the inner walls of your chimney. It is very important that the waterproofing formula is vapor-permeable because it lets the water trapped inside your chimney exit as vapors. We never use paint or clear sealants because they trap water vapors and moisture inside the masonry materials to cause even more deterioration and damage.
How can waterproofing protect my chimney?
Extremely porous, masonry materials can absorb large amounts of water. Bricks are actually very similar to sponges. If you already have defective mortar joints, Your masonry chimney is even more at risk for water penetration if your chimney suffers from defective mortar joints. Waterproofing your chimney is guaranteed to keep water from leaking into your masonry chimney. You can trust Owens Chimney Systems to correctly apply the waterproofing agent to protect your chimney from water leaks.
What if my chimney is already suffering from water leak damage?
Whenever your masonry chimney has cracks, gaps, voids, or missing mortar, these should be repaired before the waterproofing application treatment. Fortunately, Owen Chimney Systems can expertly repair any damage from water penetration damage. After repairing your chimney, we will then sweep your chimney clean before applying the waterproofing treatment. Even if you do not need repairs, your chimney should be cleaned before waterproofing.
Protect the bricks and mortar of your masonry chimney from water penetration. Contact Owens Chimney Systems to schedule an appointment for our waterproofing service.