4800 Meadows Rd Suite 346 Lake Oswego OR 97035 – in person inquiry by appointment only
CHIMNEY REPAIR
Chimney Repair: Restoring Structural Integrity
When a chimney’s mortar deteriorates to the point where tuckpointing is no longer a viable option, it’s time for repairs. At Metro Chimney, we specialize in rebuilding chimneys, offering you the choice of using either the existing bricks or new ones. Below, you’ll find some compelling before-and-after examples of our restoration work.
Before and After: A Chimney Transformation
In one of our notable projects, a chimney had significantly deteriorated due to a combination of factors, including elemental wear and tear and sulfur emissions from an oil fireplace, which had eroded the mortar on one side of the fireplace. Additionally, the house had experienced structural shifting, causing the top of the chimney to shift as well. Moss had taken its toll on the joints, and many bricks had spalled, with their faces giving way to the weight of the chimney above.
To address these issues, we embarked on a comprehensive solution. We deconstructed the chimney down to 13 courses and meticulously rebuilt it, replacing the spalled bricks with new ones. Extensive tuckpointing was performed on the majority of the sides and the front face of the chimney. Given the age of the flue tiles and the desire of the homeowners to prevent animals from gaining access to their home, we also customized a chimney cap.
Please note that the “after” picture was taken before we conducted an acid wash on the chimney, which effectively removes the whitish lime stains commonly found on the repaired area. Click on the images below to view larger versions and witness the stunning transformation for yourself.
Chimney Restoration: Battling the Elements
Once again, this chimney had fallen victim to the relentless forces of nature, leading to severe mortar decay that necessitated extensive tuckpointing work from the roof line downward. The chimney’s mortar had deteriorated significantly, primarily due to sulfur emissions from the oil furnace. It had reached a point where the chimney structure was barely held together by its own weight. From the roof line up, most of the mortar had degraded into a powdery substance, concealed beneath an outer layer of sediment-like hardness.
To rectify this situation, our skilled team embarked on a comprehensive restoration effort. We initiated the process by meticulously tuckpointing the chimney from the roof line downward. However, due to the chimney’s original construction predating the mandatory code requiring chimneys to extend 2 feet above any part of the roofline within 10 feet, further measures were necessary to bring it up to code compliance with the flue tiles. This involved utilizing carefully matched old bricks sourced from other chimneys to seamlessly extend the chimney by an additional foot.
Furthermore, recognizing that the original step flashing was aged and prone to leakage, we implemented an upgrade by installing new One-Piece Chimney Flashing, ensuring a watertight and durable solution for years to come.
If you have chimney damage, call us to get a free estimate on your chimney repair.
IMPORTANT
I e-mail bids only to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision for the work. If you contact me for a bid, please give me a correct e-mail address. Also, I may need to contact you via phone prior to e-mailing you the bid if there is work that needs to be done in addition to what you originally called for due to structural, code, or safety reasons, or if I need any further information not provided during your first call to schedule me to come out to do the bid.
Metro Chimney reserves the right to walk away from a job even if there is signed bid before the work is initiated if we sense there will a problem or ongoing issue between us and the customer. This is the Oregon CCB’s position. The customer can call another contractor or chimney company.