Clarkston Firplace Repair

CLARKSTON'S LEADING MASONRY REPAIR CONTRACTOR

At Brick Repair LLC we say why not enjoy the benefit of having a chimney repair and fireplace restoration performed by a specialist. Our Bricklayers have years of brick chimney repair and custom stone restoration experience. One of our Masonry repair teams can rebuild your brick fireplace or repair your chimney cap with ease. From chimney repair, brick walls, tuck pointing, chimney crown repairs, to chimney cap installations Brick Repair LLC is the leading fireplace and chimney restoration company in Clarkston. Brick and stone chimneys are an excellent form of construction. We have restored thousands of Clarkston fireplaces, chimneys, and porches. When built properly a fireplace chimney in Clarkston can require very little maintenance. Low Maintenance does not equal no maintenance. In the masonry construction and chimney repair industry proper equipment materials and technique are imperative. Even the smallest chimney repair can become a large endeavor without proper scaffolding and equipment. Remember Clarkston we don’t cut corners we build them!

Clarkston Residents Call today for your FREE chimney repair estimate 248-895-7752

Our team at Brick Repair LLC doesn't want to just repair your Clarkston chimney or patch your Clarkston fireplace. We look forward to restoring every chimney in Clarkston to better than original masonry condition. Our chimney and fireplace repair experts can add years of life and beauty to any brick or stone chimney or if the situation demands just install a new chimney cap. We are specialized in masonry repair and chimney restoration. Use us for any brick and mortar pacer projects. A few of our services include chimney repair, chimney construction, chimney crown repair, chimney cap replacement, chimney rebuilds, chimley, chimnee, chimney cricket installation, tuck pointing, natural stone, limestone replacement, cultured stone, brick work, brick porch repair, brick porch construction, concrete, brick wall construction, toothing work, pointing and repointing work, grout replacement, and historic restoration. We look forward to the opportunity to helping you with your brick repair and masonry chimney or brick porch construction.

We are experts at removing one brick from a brick wall or an entire section of wall without causing any structural strain or damage. Is your chimney in distress? Does it need a new chimney crown, or just a minor chimney repair? Has your fireplace lost its beauty and strength? We can restore your chimney to like-new condition.. We can rebuild you fireplace or chimneys firebox so that you can enjoy an evening by the fireplace worry free.

We have spent years building a relationship with local masonry supply yards to provide you with the closest possible match in brick size, color, and texture. We are fully equipped for any masonry task.

Can’t find someone for small masonry repairs? No job too small for us! No Chimney repair or fireplace maintenance project is too small. Let us help you restore the look of your homes original masonry beauty.

Causes of Brick Deterioration

Often times in Clarkston you will notice your brick beginning to deteriorate, or the faces of the brick actually falling off. This is due to the constant changing Clarkston seasons. When your brick faces begin to deteriorate, or fall off, it is referred to as spalling. The main cause of spalling is moisture. Changing seasons and Clarkston weather patterns can lead to brick chimney and firplace damage. When brick is exposed to water for excessively long periods of time the moisture begins to absorb into the brick itself. Many Clarkston brick such as reclaim brick are actually quite porous and will absorb moisture like a sponge.

The constant shift in Clarkston's temperature, as well as regular freezing and thawing, will then cause the face of the brick to pop off or spall. This process can be hastened around high moisture areas such as gutters and downspouts. Clarkston brick work exsposed to these areas may need more frequent maintenace. Your fireplace is also exposed to moisture heavily, which is why having a proper chimney crown is so critical.A formed and poured concrete chimney crown, or limestone chimney crown, are amoung the best ways to crown a chimney. Chimney caps can also help prevent moisture absorbing into brick work on your chimney. The amount of damage to the brick is dependant on the amount of moisture it has absorbed from the Clarkston weather, and how long the brick work has been exposed.

Many Clarkston homeowners will attempt to hide the damage or spalling of their brick work by replacing the damaged areas with a subpar brick match. Even worse some Clarkston residants will cover the spalled brick work with mortar. Sometimes when a masonry repair has not been installed correctly or the brick do not match, homeowners and contractors not expierenced in brick work will try to hide this poor repair with paint. It is the opinion of Brick Repair LLC that this is one of the worst things you can possibly do to your masonry wall or brickwork . Some people think the paint will seal their masonry work and help camouflage a poor brick repair or masonry repair job . In fact painting brick only traps the moisture inside the brickwork and hastens the spalling process. Brick work needs to breath.

Some masonry construction such as cinder block, cinder brick, and concrete are not as susceptible to spalling once they are painted. When these brick and block are painted it is important to take time to use a block filler before you paint the brick. It is really the more porous bricks in Clarkston such as reclaim brick, sand lime brick, and chicago common bricks that are most susceptible to spalling and at the most risk once painted. Educating yourself on what type of brick work is on your house before you begin is recommended.

In climates such as Clarkston one of the best ways to prevent your brick from spalling is in the proper construction of your brick wall. Some of these methods include the use of proper mortar and the proper style of jointing during construction.

When you notice your brick work is spalled or that the mortar between your brick work on your chimney has begun to deteriorate, the best solution to this problem is to remove the damaged mortar form between your brick work, or remove the damaged brick work from your brick wall, and then replace it with new brick work.

Hopefully this information has proven as useful as I intend it to be. At Brick Repair LLC we are committed to quality Clarkston masonry restoration and the beautification of our Clarkston communities through quality chimney repair and craftsmanship. If you notice spalled brick in a brick wall on your chimney, or the brick around your gutters is starting to deteriorate, feel free to contact us for a free masonry repair consultation at 248-895-7752.

Brick Repair LLC is a chimney repair and masonry restoration specialist serving Southeast Clarkston. Our masonry contractors have over 12 years of experience. Some of the services we provide include chimney repair, fireplace chimney repair, chimney cap repair, chimney cap replacement, chimney crown replacement, tuck-pointing, chimney re-pointing, brick replacement, brick porch construction, brick fireplace construction, brick fireplace repair, concrete sidewalk installation, concrete step construction, precast concrete step installation, and limestone sill replacement.

For more information on chimney repair or masonry repair, please visit us at http://www.michiganchimneyrepair.com or call us at 248-895-7752

Brick Repair LLC is happy to serve the following Clarkston communities:

Auburn Hills, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield township, Brighton, Canton, Clarendon, Clawson, Commerce, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ferndale, Drayton Plains, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Grosse pointe, Highland, Highland Park, Howell, Hunington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Madison Heights, Milford, New Hudson, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Orchard Lake, Orion, Orchard Lake, Ortonville, Pontiac, Redford, Rochester, Clarkston, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston Clarkston Chimney Repair, Masonry Construction, Fireplace Construction, and Masonry Contractor. Brick Repair LLC is happy to serve the following communities: Auburn Hills, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield township, Brighton, Canton, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ferndale, Drayton Plains, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Grosse pointe, Highland, Highland Park, Howell, Hunington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Madison Heights, Milford, New Hudson, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Orchard Lake, Orion, Orchard Lake, Ortonville, Pontiac, Redford, Rochester, Clarkston, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston County Clarkston Chimney repair,

Inevitably, if you live in an area such as Clarkston where you have a range of seasons, you will have damaged brick. There are a variety of reasons brick work can become damaged. Obviously, an act of God or impact such as car accident or lightning strike can do major damage to your fireplace or chimney brick. More commonly, however, brick become damaged from moisture. Most brick are made of clay and while often resistant to moisture, brick are not waterproof. Some brick, in fact, are very porous and will absorb moisture like a sponge. When the climate changes and that moisture freezes or thaws, your brick can begin to deteriorate or spall.

When the face pops off of a brick, it is referred to as a spalled brick. This is a very common occurrence in Clarkston where I perform most of my masonry repairs and construction. When your brick becomes spalled it is necessary to remove the damaged brick and replace it. For the homeowner this can be a fairly labor intensive job.

The first step in this process for a homeowner is to cut away the damaged bricks. This is done by attaching a diamond blade to a circular saw and cutting into the mortar joints around the damaged brick. The brick is then removed with a chisel and hammer. It is best to start at the top when removing damaged brick, and work your way down. Once you have removed the damaged brick, be sure to chisel out any excess mortar so when you place the new brick in you can lay it plum and level.

For the contractor, I would recommend using a hammer drill or rotary hammer that has a chisel only setting. This is a far more effective and less labor intensive way to remove damaged masonry units, but many homeowners may not want to invest the extra money into this tool.

Before you begin laying your new brick it is best to lay the brick dry, which means you set the brick into the open area to ensure that it will fit cleanly and lay properly before you set it in with repair mortar. The benefit of laying dry brick is that once you actually set the brick in mortar, you do not run the risk of having to relay it again in order to achieve a good looking finished product.

After laying the dry brick, you will want to mix your mortar. Good mortar should have the consistency of whipped mashed potatoes. Spread your mortar evenly below where you plan on laying the brick. Once you have a nice, even layer of mortar, place your brick into the exposed area.

There are two ways to fill in the vertical and horizontal brick mortar joints on the side and top of the brick. The first method is to fill your trowel with mortar. Then take a tuck-pointer and press the mortar into the exposed joint with said tuck-pointer. Brick chimneys and brick walls getting re-pointed with a tuck-pointer will most likely require an acid wash. The reason this type of re-pointing requires an acid wash is that the brick work has a tendency to acquire mortar stains on the front of the brick.

The Clarkston brick repair and chimney crown repair bricklayers and restoration specialists at Brick Repair LLC recommend using this second method for filling in exposed mortar joints, which is to use a masonry grout bag. Begin this re-pointing method by cutting the tip of your masonry grout bag, and filling in your masonry grout bag with mortar. You then squirt the mortar into the crevices between the brick. Using a grout bag is similar to decorating a cake, and looks very similar to a cake decorating bag.

Once all your mortar joints are filled you will want to let your mortar set up, or harden slightly. After your mortar has begun to harden it is time to tool the mortar joints. Mortar joints on brick work are tooled in several different ways. There is the concave joint, the rough joint, the weeping joint, or the rake joint. For more information on types of joints, go to Masonry Joints

I hope you have found this information useful. For a free consultation on masonry repair feel free to call Brick Repair LLC at 248-895-7752, or visit us at www.michiganchimneyrepair.com. Brick Repair LLC services the following communities:

Chimney Caps & Chimney Tops

The first type of chimney cap found in Clarkston the standard chimney cap. The standard chimney cap is made of copper, steel, stainless steel, or aluminum. The most popular chimney caps in Clarkston are steel, either black or natural. Characteristically these chimney caps have side screening, which help keep the small animals we have in Clarkston out of your chimney top. In addition, if you have a spark that manages to work its way up to the flue, it becomes ensnared rather than blowing in your yard and catching something on fire.

A standard chimney cap is both mounted with screws around the base angle and tightened up to the flue tile, or inside if your chimney flue doesn't project far enough above your chimney crown. Installing a stainless steel chimney cap on your Clarkston fireplace helps against wind, smoke, rain, and other elements the top of your chimney crown is exposed to.

The second type of chimney cap is the draft-increasing cap. This form of chimney cap helps against draft problems. If you have a stove, it is fine to cut down the caps on the cross section of your chimney, but is not recommended when dealing with an open fire. Mechanical caps that require the use of spinning turbines should not be used. Creosote and smoke are likely to cause a gooey build up on the workings of these chimney caps.

Next is the integral damper mechanism. Older Clarkston fireplaces missing damper mechanisms, or loose fitting mechanisms, cause energy waste from cold drafts leaking inside your Clarkston house. A good choice in this instance would be a top-sealing damper, which can be retrofitted to your chimney top. These dampers have integral caps, so there is no need to buy anything extra.

The fourth type of chimney cap is a customized cap. Obviously all chimney flues in Clarkston are not shaped the same. If you have numerous chimney flues you may need a custom chimney cap. In this instance you may have a chimney cap custom made, and will need to find a Clarkston chimney cap manufacturer. Typically they are available in brass, aluminum, and other resources that enhance your Clarkston fireplace chimney's look.

Last is the electric draft-increasing cap. People with draft issues who have been unable to find other solutions to this problem will find this option very useful. This Clarkston chimney cap has units built-in that serve as both a cap and an electric draft inducer. You can choose changeable speeds on the electric fans built inside these chimney caps to control the type of draft you wish for your fireplace. However, these units are quite expensive and range from $900 to $1,500.

We hope this information has proved useful to Clarkston residents Brick Repair LLC is looking to perform masonry construction for. If you have an interest in a free consultation about your masonry construction, or an interest in a free estimate, please contact Mark Maupin of Brick Repair LLC at 248-895-7752. For more information on the effects of weather on masonry construction and masonry repair visit us at http://michiganchimneyrepair.com/WintersandMichiganMasonry.aspx

The Majority Brick Repair LLC's Chimney Repair and Masonry Construction been in the following communities of Auburn Hills, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield township, Brighton, Canton, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ferndale, Drayton Plains, Eastpointe, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Grosse pointe, Highland, Highland Park, Howell, Hunington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Madison Heights, Milford, New Hudson, Northville,Novi, Oak Park, Orchard Lake, Orion, Orchard Lake, Ortonville, Pontiac, Redford, Rochester, Clarkston, Romulus, Roseville, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Utica, Walled Lake, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, and Livingston County.

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