Our Company Blog

We Provide Repointing and Tuckpointing Masonry Repair Services

We pride ourselves on being the top comprehensive chimney company in the Austin region. Atlas Chimney only employs professionals who are trained and certified by leaders in the industry, such as the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). You can count on us to take care of all of your professional chimney needs, no matter what they may be. Our chimney technicians are expert chimney sweeps and inspectors. They also have learned how to repair damaged masonry by using techniques such as tuckpointing and repointing. We would like to tell you more about our professional chimney masonry repair services.

What is the top cause of chimney masonry damage?

According to the CSIA, water penetration is the cause of the majority of damaged bricks and mortar joints. However, cold winter weather has a lot to do with masonry damage as well. When it freezes, any absorbed moisture in the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney will freeze and expand. When the weather warms back up, the force of the water thawing can be strong enough to cause the masonry materials to crack and break apart. This is known as spalling damage. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can lead to major structural problems as well as to more deterioration from water leaks. The CSIA recommends this damage repaired quickly. If the damages remain, more extensive and expensive repairs may be necessary.

What types of masonry techniques does Atlas Chimney use to repair spalling damage?

In order to properly repair this kind of damaged masonry, our professionals must first remove the damaged mortar joints and then replace them with new mortar. This technique is called repointing and is used for minor repair work. We take pride in our work, and strive to make seamless masonry repairs. When we work on older historical homes, we will use a technique known as tuckpointing. With this technique, we match the color of the replacement mortar with the existing mortar, and then we take putty in a contrasting color and embed it down the center of the new mortar joints with specialized tools. You can trust us to use the highest quality materials when making masonry repairs on your chimney.

Have you noticed damaged bricks and mortar joints on your chimney? Contact us today at Atlas Chimney to schedule an appointment for our professional chimney masonry repair services.

We Provide Chimney Video Inspections

Your chimney may look great on the outside. However, on the inside, there could be hazards lurking that could put the safety of your family and home at risk. Although chimney professionals have the training and knowledge to assess the interior of a chimney, it is also challenging for them to see exactly what is going on inside the flue.

Over the years, we have been providing the Austin area with high-quality professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services. At Atlas Chimney, we also have closed-circuit video recording included in our chimney inspections. This allows us to get an up-close look of every inch of the interior of a chimney when looking for damage or issues that could cause your chimney to malfunction. We would like to tell you more about our chimney video inspection service.

How do chimney video inspections work?

In order to get an up-close look at the inside of your chimney, Atlas Chimney uses the Chim-Scan Closed Circuit Internal Evaluation System. It is specifically designed to operate inside chimneys, air ducts, and other venting systems. After our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney professionals sweep your chimney, we will insert the camera system into the flue.

The camera system gives us a better visual of the interior of your chimney on a TV monitor, and this also allows us to spot damage to the liner, wall, or other components that could lead to potential hazards. As we are inspecting your chimney with the Chim-Scan, the system is recording everything, and we will give you a copy of this recording upon completion of our service.

Which levels of chimney inspections include a video recording?

You can expect Atlas Chimney to use our Chim-Scan system for all Level 2 or Level 3 inspections. These levels require a video recording because they are used in situations where chimney damage is usually present, especially after a chimney fire or extreme weather events. The recordings can be given to your home insurance agent for any relevant claims. You also need a Level 2 chimney inspection when you are buying or selling a home, or when you have made changes to your chimney system. We can even include our video recording services for the basic Level 1 inspection if you request it.

Do you need the peace of mind that there is absolutely no damage to the interior of your chimney? Contact us today at Atlas Chimney to schedule a chimney video inspection. We are always here for any of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs!