A chimney is very important for all houses as it acts as a channel or also known as flue stack for the smoke to flow out from the house. After several years using the chimney, the possibility of cracking may occur especially at the mortar joints between the bricks. A crack chimney might be harmful to our health as it might cause condensation as the chimney will not be able to accommodate high heat when burning the coal. Thus, it is important to routinely check your chimney especially the top part to avoid major repair work.
So, what are the tools needed when you have to repair the chimney on your own? First of all, it is important to make sure your chimney is clean and free from dirt and debris. To clean the inner side of your chimney, you will need a brush to clear away ashes and creosote where it is formed due to the burning of wood. Before cleaning, ensure that the fireplace is properly covered to avoid major cleaning after the repair work.
With a constant and average pressure, use the brush to clean the inside chimney wall. Move the brush up and down gently so that it won’t break the flue stack structure. Next, after the cleaning process, we will have to start replace the damaged mortar joints with the new ones. This process is usually called tuck pointing. You need a mortar raking device for this. If required, you may need to use hammer or a masonry chisel to help you out with the process.
Then, for a horizontal joint, you can use a mortar hawk to carry the mortar and for a vertical joint, you may use joint filler. It is advisable to use pigment or concrete to strengthen the mortar for a better end result. After that, leave it until it dries. Now, you are done!
All these tools can be found easily in hardware stores. List down all the tools you need and try this DIY chimney repair. If you are not confident enough, you might search in the Internet for chimney repair videos to have a better understanding on how it works.