A brick chimney is the most prevalent of all chimneys. They are constructed in many different shapes and designs. Like all chimneys, they provide the means to vent smoke from a fireplace or woodstove out of the house. They can be as large as several feet in diameter and as small as a foot in diameter. Like all masonry constructed objects they do deteriorate over time and require repairs. If a deteriorated brick chimney is not repaired, the structural integrity of the chimney will be compromised.

The most common cause of brick chimney deterioration is caused by the weather or by some physical force. Most DIY homeowners can repair their own chimney by following the tips listed below.

Tips for how to repair a brick chimney:

Gain access to the damaged area of the chimney.
Insure that the chimney is in a stable condition.
Remove any loose debris such as broken bricks and mortar in the joints. Usually any loose brick and mortar can be pulled loose by hand.
Use a brick chisel and masonry hammer to break away any brick or mortar that may be lodged.
Once the damaged brick and mortar have been removed, use a brush to sweep any dust away from the area to be repaired.
Mix sufficient mortar to make the repair.
Wet the area to be repaired with a soaked sponge to allow the mortar to bond the new brick to the old brick.
Cut pieces of brick to fit any removed brick sections.
Paste mortar on the replacement brick and fit it into place.
When packing mortar joints, use a large trowel to hold mortar just beneath the mortar joint while you rake and pack the mortar into the joint with a small tuck pointer tool.
Clean the area of any loose material.

That’s all there is to repairing a damaged brick chimney.

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