Sealing brick chimneys the right way in Hawthorne

Cracks sealed, joints repointed, then the repellent. Local chimney waterproofing in Hawthorne after the free look.

Family owned and run
Free inspection first
100% satisfaction, guaranteed
Locally owned and operated

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New brickwork needs time before sealing

Just had the chimney rebuilt or new brick added? Fresh masonry can bloom with white salts as it dries for the first time, and sealing it too soon can trap that moisture. The Brick Industry Association suggests waiting well after construction, preferably through a full year, before treating new brickwork.

You'll get a date for when your new masonry should be ready, and it's checked again before anything is applied. The crown and cap still get sealed and fitted right away, since those keep the worst of the water out while the brick dries. Talk to a local pro about when to waterproof new brickwork in Hawthorne at (352) 675-6366.

We cover Hawthorne along with the rest of our Alachua County area. In 2020, the Census Bureau counted 1,478 people living in Hawthorne.

What's Included

Repairs, test patch and final coat

Breathable repellent applied bottom up
Test patches checked before the full coat
Efflorescence brushed off before treatment
Product and date recorded for the warranty in Hawthorne

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Local Conditions

Dust and pollen on the brick

A chimney on a home in Hawthorne collects dust, pollen and soot on its faces between rains. A repellent applied over that layer bonds to the dirt instead of soaking into the brick. Our specialists brush and clean the faces before treatment and let them dry, so the repellent reaches the pores it's meant to line. A clean, dry face takes the repellent evenly across the whole chimney.

Our Process

Repairs, a test patch, then the repellent

Close the gaps

Crown, cap, flashing and joints are repaired first, since a repellent can't seal them.
Test the brick

Absorption is measured on each face and a test patch is checked with you.
Mask and apply

Glass and trim are masked, and the repellent goes on bottom up on dry brick.
Record and recheck

You get the product, faces and date written out, and we check beading on later visits.

Why Choose Us

Breathable chimney protection in Hawthorne

Locally owned and run
A family-run company
100% satisfaction guarantee
Your inspection is free
Same-day visits available
Arrange a visit, take 10% off

Repairs come first, so the repellent isn't asked to do a job it can't do in Hawthorne.

Free inspection firstA brick absorption test is part of the free inspection, so you know if waterproofing is worth it.
No hidden fees, all upfrontNo hidden fees on waterproofing in Hawthorne; masking, testing and cleanup are in the price.
Family owned and runWe're family owned, and we'll tell you when your chimney doesn't need a coating.

Call (352) 675-6366 Get a Free Inspection

What film-forming sealers do to brick

Some sealers sit on the surface as a film, such as acrylics, waxes, stearates and urethanes. The Brick Industry Association notes they can bridge hairline cracks but slow evaporation from the wall, and salts can collect under low-permeability coatings.

The question is how a particular coating will behave on this chimney. Ask about its vapor properties, the condition of the wall and any coating already present before agreeing to treatment. A glossy or matt appearance alone cannot answer those questions.

What a repellent can't do

A penetrating repellent lines pores; it doesn't fill gaps. Water running into a crack in the brick, a gap at the flashing or a recessed mortar joint goes straight past it, and the Brick Industry Association notes repellents seldom stop water entering through anything beyond very fine cracks.

That's why a repellent alone rarely fixes a leak. Our pros find and close the gaps with the right repair, whether that's repointing, crown work or new flashing, and use the repellent to cut down what the sound brick absorbs. Expecting the coating to do the repair's job is how money gets wasted.

Stucco chimneys are a different surface

A chimney finished in stucco, a cement plaster over masonry or lath, doesn't take a brick repellent the same way. Stucco has its own coatings, from breathable masonry finishes to elastomeric ones, and each behaves differently with water and vapor.

Cracks and gaps at trim and flashing can let in more water than the surface does, so the stucco's condition comes first. Repairs come before any coating, and the finish is chosen with the stucco maker's guidance. You'll hear the options, and their tradeoffs, before anything is priced. Stucco with cracks at the flashing or trim gets those gaps sealed first, since they let in far more water than the stucco surface does.

Free Inspection

A free absorption test in Hawthorne

Weather side and sheltered faces compared for exposure
Cure time left on any recent repointing or new brick
Product choice, number of coats and the maker's weather window
Whether the chimney needs a repellent at all

Claim 10% off your first service

Reserve a test and coat today, and as a first-time customer claim 10% off.

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FAQs

Repellents and sealers, answered

How soon after repointing can you waterproof?

At least 72 hours after repointing, per the Brick Industry Association and the repellent maker, and longer for new masonry. Our pros write the date on your quote.

Do you seal the crown too?

The crown gets a separate flexible coating made for concrete, applied as its own step. The brick gets the penetrating repellent. Both are priced separately.

Our Services