A fireplace can be a beautiful centerpiece of a room, and of your home. But sometimes brick fireplaces, in particular, can be tricky to maintain. Time and wear can start to cause problems, but if you don’t know what to look for, then it can be easy to miss signs of problems. Here’s how to spot where your brick fireplace might need repairs.
Dust
A common issue with aging and deteriorating masonry is efflorescence, which is excess moisture causing the salt and sediments inside of the brick to come to the surface. Often efflorescence looks like white dust. So if you notice an unusual amount of dust around your fireplace or if the surface of your bricks look chalky then you can tell that they aren’t as sturdy as they used to be in those areas. It’s best to make sure you have your furnace inspected by a professional to find the source of the moisture issue.
Rust
A definite sign of aging in your fireplace is rust in the metal components. For example, the firebox is an important part of your fireplace that combusts the fuel. Because this part takes the bulk of the heat, it can experience wear and tear much quicker. Make sure you look for signs of rust and corrosion in your firebox, especially since holes can form over time, which could lead to dangerous malfunctions. If you notice rust on any decorative metal elements on the outside of your fireplace, then water damage could be the culprit.
Deterioration
Two very clear signs of deterioration in brick are in the mortar and in the brick itself. If you notice that your mortar is starting to crumble, then you should check to see whether it starts to fall away when you scratch at it. This is a sign that your fireplace might need repointing in that area. On the other hand, the brick itself could show signs of disrepair by flaking apart at the edges. The quality of your masonry materials will determine how long they will last. While you might not have control over that, depending on whether the fireplace was already in your house, you can make sure that you get quality masonry repairs.
Contact Del Prete Masonry Today for Your Next Masonry Project
If you are ready to upgrade your home or commercial building with professional masonry installation or replacement, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our residential and commercial services and set up a consultation, please give us a call at 410-683-0650 or contact us online. We currently serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and get more updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tags: brick, brick fireplace, brick maintenance, brick masonry, Masonry repair, masonry repairs