Chimney Waterproofing Protects Your Masonry and Prevents Leaks in Your Home

What is Chimney Waterproofing?

According to the Brick Industry Association, chimneys require special attention and maintenance to prevent costly damage caused by water penetration. Because chimneys project above the roof line, they are vulnerable to the elements. Nearly every chimney we encounter has signs of water damage!

Our Chimney Waterproofing experts apply a water-based siloxane product that penetrates masonry up to 1/4 inch or more depending on surface porosity and moisture content at the time of application.

Based on the level of damage and a chimney’s specific needs, we score a chimney to determine it’s Water Resistance Needs on a 3 level scale as follows.

Level 1

With these services, we see a 95% Success rate in resolving chimney water leaks in.

Full Coverage Chimney Cap
Crack Free Mortar Crown
Seal Mortar Crown
Waterproof Brick and Mortar
Bond Chimney to the Flashing to the Roof
Minor Tuck Pointing if needed

Level 2

Tuck point the entire chimney.

Seal Mortar Crown
Waterproof Brick and Mortar

Level 3

If water damage and corrosion is extreme, sometimes the only option is to rebuild the entire chimney.

Full Coverage Chimney Cap
Crack Free Mortar Crown

Masters Services Certified Chimney Professionals strongly recommend that every masonry chimney be waterproofed. Every chimney eventually leaks, so preventative measures are essential before water damage becomes a problem. Average cost for chimney waterproofing is $150 – $250.

Our Chimney experts use ChimneySaver, the first product developed specifically for chimneys, which has been used successfully by leading chimney professionals for nearly 20 years. It reduces water penetration into the masonry by 99.9%, according to ASTM tests conducted at the University of Wyoming.

It’s also 100% vapor permeable, which means it won’t trap water vapors that may pass through the bricks when the chimney is in use, unlike other products found in most hardware or home improvement stores. When applied to a masonry chimney, those products can actually slow down water vapors as they pass through the chimney, which leads to water damage.

Get Your Chimney Waterproofed!

Call to Schedule Chimney Waterproofing

Chimney Waterproofing Prevents Disasters

Chimney Saver waterproofing product is used to stop water leaks in masonry chimneys in Dallas, Houston, and Fort Worth areas.

Masters Services Certified Chimney Professional strongly recommends every masonry chimney be waterproofed. Every chimney eventually leaks, stop it before it becomes a problem. Average cost $150 – $250.

Why Do I Need Chimney Waterproofing?

Chimneys are often times one of the most overlooked systems in our homes. Many times our chimneys don’t receive the attention that other systems in our houses do. Chimneys do their job even when they have been abused or neglected which is probably why there is so much indifference about our chimneys. These systems are vital to the overall function of a fireplace ensuring that we are not at risk while burning and maintaining a fire. Several factors can cause these structures to behave improperly.

Experts agree that the durability of masonry depends largely on its resistance to water penetration. Even the best masonry walls conforming to the current ASTM standards will provide some water penetration at the head and the bed joints in the wall. While stone is largely unaffected by water penetration, the mortar that holds the stone together can be affected very badly. It is therefore important to have your stone or brick chimney protected from the effects of water penetration.

Construction & Chimney Waterproofing

A chimney can fall victim to weather exposure, presenting several different safety hazards. Weather damaged flue linings, loose masonry materials and obstructions are all things that can pose a threat to residents. Regular maintenance of your chimney is critical to prevent damage, deterioration and repairs that can be very expensive.

Masonry chimneys are all constructed of a combination of masonry and metal materials such as: brick, mortar, concrete, stone, cast iron, steel and flue tiling. All masonry chimneys have at least some or in some cases all of these components built into them. With the exception of certain types of stone, contact with water can cause an adverse reaction for all of the materials used in masonry chimneys.

Unfortunately, good design components are not always used in residential construction. Brick walls and chimneys often rest upon the foundation directly with no flashing or weep holes. The lack of crown and flashing designs integrated into the chimney inevitably cause water penetration problems.

Chimney Water Damage

Materials used in chimney construction will suffer accelerated deterioration as it is exposed to contact with water. This is especially true when chimneys are exposed to water and go through repeated freeze-thaw cycles, during which the water that has already penetrated the masonry freezes and expands and thaws and contracts causing undue stresses in the materials. Water wicking in your masonry chimney also causes rust in cast iron and steel causing a weakening or destruction of the metal used in the construction.

Some of the things that often need repairs because of water damage include:

Metal and masonry firebox assemblies
Damper assemblies
Fireplace accessories
Glass doors
Neighboring wood or wall coverings

Walls and ceilings
Chimney exteriors and mortar
Flue lining systems
Hearth support
Chimney settlement

Water damage can include corrosion, deterioration, freeze-thaw spalling, efflorescence, and even structural failure. The main source of water damage to any outdoor masonry surface is rain. The level of penetration is affected by the quantity of rain and the pressure as well. For instance on a particular side of a masonry chimney that is often subject to both rain and wind (driving rain), it will show wear and tear much more quickly than the less exposed areas.

Water damage is also caused by the condensation of water inside the chimney by the temperature differences between the masonry and the flue gasses themselves which contain large amounts of water vapor. The greatest condensation occurs during the heating season when air cavities surrounding the lining hold high humidity due to surface wetting and heating. This sometimes produces condensation on the inside walls of your chimney. Water can also enter through pores and cracks in the masonry and the joints especially.

More Info About ChimneySaver

We use a terrific and effective product called ChimneySaver Water-Base Water Repellent to waterproof the masonry of your chimney. This treatment is water resistant and it comes with a 10 Year Warranty. It is 100% Vapor Permeable which means that water vapor can escape while your chimney is in use but it creates a hydrophobic zone when it reacts with the atmosphere and water vapor in the air to bind with the brick and mortar.

It’s environmentally friendly, has a non glossy look to keep your traditional brick or stone work looking great, it provides efflorescence protection (staining from salts wicking through the masonry) and stain protection, it is mildew and fungus resistant, it offers both freeze and thaw protection to help ensure the integrity of the masonry, and it is water-based.

ChimneySaver has been tested to ASTM Standards and has been found to reduce water penetration by 96.9% while remaining 100% breathable. ChimneySaver Solvent-Base Water Repellent protects most vertical and horizontal exterior, above-grade masonry surfaces including: Adobe; Architectural concrete, precast or cast-in-place; Clay Brick; Mortars; Natural Stone; Limestone; Granite; Sandstone; Terra Cotta; Exposed Aggregate Products; Portland Cement Stuccoes and Concrete Masonry Units. Natural substrate color and surface textures are unaffected, with little or no gloss created.

ChimneySaver Solvent-Base Water Repellent has been in circulation by professionals for over 20 years. This unique repellent is vapor permeable so it will not trap water vapors in the brick. Water repellents that trap the vapors in the brick actually cause spalling rather than preventing it. The Solvent-Base formula from ChimneySaver is specially formulated for chimneys that have never been treated with another waterproofing product.

Fire hazards are eliminated since ChimneySaver Solvent-Base Water Repellent is Solvent-based and does not contain combustible or flammable, volatile organic solvents. There little risk to surrounding vegetation during application, and overspray on non-targeted areas can be easily removed with soap and water.

A Customer Review of ChimneySaver Solvent-Base Water Repellent

“I’m typically very skeptical of products and before spending the money on something I want to make sure it will do what it claims. I’m telling you that Chimney Saver completely fixed my problem of a leaky brick chimney. I was getting water in my unfinished basement coming from the chimney. It leaked before and after I had the roof replaced and the chimney cap. Applied this stuff and after the first major rainstorm, my basement is dry. I’m extremely happy with this product! If you have a leak and the mortar joints appear to be okay (meaning not cracked and falling out), this will work wonders for you. – J.W.”

Chimney Waterproofing