Chimney services Cambridge ON

Our contractors at Masonry Cambridge are chimney experts - our chimney services range from  repairs to restorations to rebuilds.  The process is more involved than it appears.  It’s important to note that we do not take any shortcuts to restore your chimney.  The quality of our workmanship is a source of pride, and our chimney builds are no exception.  Please be wary of contractors who quote a low price, as this price tag likely reflects the level and quality of work or lack thereof.  Taking shortcuts can drive down the price of the labour, which initially attracts clients, but we at Masonry Cambridge care about fostering long term relationships with our clients, and that means restoring the chimney so that you won’t need to call us again for a restoration or repair for a long, long time.

How do you know your chimney needs some work done?  Here are some telltale signs you need to call a chimney repair expert, some of which are more obvious than others:
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• Damaged bricks: this one is the most obvious from an observer below.  If you see bricks that are missing, flaking, cracking, spalling (usually from moisture that has seeped into the masonry unit causing expansion and contraction from temperature changes, or mechanical forces), it is a clear indication that you’ll need to call for a chimney restoration or rebuild.

 

• Damaged mortar joints: the mortar binding the individual masonry bricks is more prone to damage than the brick itself.  When the mortar is compromised, it leaves gaps open for moisture penetration which starts the cycle of damage.​ ​​

 

• ​Damaged chimney crown: this one may not be obvious from below, but cracks in the chimney crown leave an opening on the top for moisture to creep in, causing the damper to rust or the flue tiles to break.

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• Excessive salt deposits: this is a tell-tale sign that there is a moisture issue, and is also referred to as efflorescence, affecting a variety of masonry material like brick, stone and concrete.

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• Clues in your fireplace: if you see pools of water or fallen tiles in your fireplace, these are clear indications your chimney may not be in the best shape, caused by the common issues mentioned above like damaged bricks, mortar joints, chimney crowns, or another issue that would allow water to penetrate.

Masonry Cambridge has a clear process when we’re called upon for a chimney rebuild or restoration.  We use scaffolding to get up there nice and close to inspect the extent of the damage, we set up the area to protect the other items like the roof, air conditioner or heat pumps and then we get to work.  In many cases, we must tear down the chimney to below the flashing to ensure your chimney restoration lasts longer.  As we mentioned before, we don’t take any shortcuts, and we know we’re doing a great job if we don’t hear from you about your chimney for a long time.  So if you’re located in or around Cambridge, don’t hesitate to call us for our top notch chimney repair service.  We look forward to hearing from you.