Spalling brick repair on Gainesville chimneys, done locally

Once a brick's face starts popping off in flakes, what's left of it soaks up rain even faster. Our pros, a local family business, cut out each damaged unit, tooth in a replacement that matches, then track down the water that caused it, because new brick fails the same way if the cause stays. Step one is a free look at every face.

• Spalled brick replacement with units matched in size and color
• Cracked chimney brick replacement, cut out and toothed in
• Water sources found and fixed before new brick goes in
• Joints around new units repointed to lock them tight
• Sound salvaged brick reused where it matches best

1. Assess the affected brickwork

   The inspection considers the damaged units, adjoining joints and any signs that the problem extends farther.

   01

2. Agree the removal area

   The proposed work identifies whether individual units or a larger section need attention before masonry is taken out.

   02

3. Select compatible replacements

   Brick and mortar are chosen for the existing construction. Available samples can help discuss appearance differences.

   03

4. Address related defects

   Any additional water-entry or structural concerns are explained and priced as part of the agreed repair scope.

   04

The size of the fix follows how far the spalling reaches and what's feeding it.

Replacement brick

New units made to ASTM C216 or C62, or sound salvaged brick, chosen to sit close to the original in size, color and hardness.

Setting mortar, softer than the brick

Mortar in a type softer than the brick, so future wear goes to the joint instead of the new unit.

Breathable water repellent

Applied only when it helps, per the maker's label, and only a product that lets vapor out of the brick.

1. 01

   Number of bricks

   A handful of units is a short job; a spalled face may mean rebuilding a whole section.

2. 02

   Where the damage sits

   Bricks high above the roof need more setup than ones you can reach from a ladder.

3. 03

   Finding a match

   Older or unusual brick can take time to source in the right size and color.

4. 04

   Repairs to the cause

   Fixing the crown, cap or old sealer that fed the spalling gets a separate price.

• All four faces, with each spalled or cracked brick counted
• The joints around damaged bricks, probed for soft mortar
• Crown and cap, two places water gets into the brick
• Any coating or sealer on the chimney, tested to see if it breathes
• Signs of movement, like stepped cracks or a slight lean
• Brick options, so we can replace chimney bricks in a close match

• Brick faces popping off in flakes

  Moisture inside the brick is breaking the face away. We replace the damaged units and close off where the water gets in.

• Crumbs of red brick on the patio

  Faces high on the chimney are shedding. Our pros find which units are failing and replace them before the gaps widen.

• Bricks cracked straight through

  Settling, impact or trapped moisture split them. We replace the cracked units and check the wall for movement.

• A sealer peeling off with the brick

  A coating that doesn't breathe held water in. We replace the damaged brick and use breathable treatments afterward.

• Chimney Masonry Repair Brick and mortar on the chimney repaired with a matched mix.
• Chimney Tuckpointing Worn, sandy or cracked mortar raked out and replaced with a matched mix.
• Stucco Chimney Repair Cracked, loose or water-stained stucco on a block or framed chimney.

• Stone Chimney RepairLoose stones, eroded joints and failing veneer on stone chimneys.

• Why your chimney brick is flaking, and what fixes it Water, the wrong mortar and coatings that seal moisture in are what peel the face off a Florida chimney's brick, and each one has its own fix.

Chimney Guides