Restoring and Revitalizing Old Historic Chimneys
Just because a historic brick chimney is old, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be maintained, restored, and maintained in good condition. In fact there are many examples here in Washington DC of historical chimneys that work near perfectly well almost as good as the day that they were first built if they’re just properly maintained with good care and stewardship and maintenance.
The picture below for example shows a large chimney built with three different flues that have a crown, intact and a counter flashing securing the single-ply rooftop membrane directly to the brick and each of the three chimney flues is topped with a proper spark arrestor and chimney cap. This level of good care and maintenance is somewhat rare but it should be expected, especially here in Capitol Hill where houses and buildings are valuable and worth maintaining. .
Good care of maintenance, when looked at over an extended timeline, has a very high return on investment (ROI). Especially with rooftop chimneys, often building owners will be unaware of the condition of their rooftop chimneys and unintentionally allow these masonry chimneys to go without repointing or tuck pointing as required. The lack of repointing on a timely schedule will lead to excessive deterioration to the point that the chimney has to really be fully rebuilt for it to be able to be salvaged.
Although the chimney in the picture above provides an example of a well-maintained and restored chimney, there are many examples here in Washington DC where chimneys have not been properly cared for or maintained. In some cases, the old chimneys are no longer needed and have actually been abandoned and are no longer in use. In other cases, the flues have deteriorated completely yet the openings at the top of the chimney remain wide open and susceptible to the elements from above. This is both a risk from precipitation in rainwater and from animals and pests that are looking for refuge.
If birds or other rodents create a new animal habitat inside of the chimney, it can create a big problem when the inside fireplace is turned on or used again for the first time since a long summer season of inactivity. The same conditions apply and can be problematic even when the chimney is not used for an actual fireplace.
Many historic chimneys in Washington DC have been converted into duct chases for things like boiler burner exhaust gasses or concentric makeup and exhaust events for high efficiency boilers. If an animal has built a nest inside of the chimney, when the appliance of the fireplace is used again for the first time after a long season of inactivity, it can send exhaust gas into a chimney.
The chimney may be completely clogged with this type of animal debris which then can cause problems such as poisonous gases inside of the house or building.
The next picture below shows a look down into the inside of an uncapped chimney. This chimney masonry has been deteriorating slightly, every time there’s significant rainfall in our area. Since there is no cat, crown, or a liner in the chimney, rainfall will hydrate the old historic mortar joints which are particularly susceptible to excessive hydration. Mortar joints like this can break down and deteriorate at an accelerated rate when exposed to the elements, without abatement.
The next picture below shows an example of another picture here in Washington DC where the crown or flaunching around the terracotta flue has deteriorated to the point that areas of the horizontal surface of the brickwork at the top of the chimney is exposed and therefore more susceptible to moisture entry. Without an angled bevel at the top, moisture and water from precipitation and rainfall will build up and saturate into the susceptible areas of the brickwork.
Although the brickwork of this chimney has been reported in recent years, the crown has areas of delamination and separation. The crown must be repaired but it’s actually possibly in better shape, overall, than the average or typical chimney crown that we see on a routine basis.
Another historic chimney crown with more modern or recent repairs follows below for reference and comparison. Although the chimney cap is in place and the terracotta flues are not deteriorated to the point that they are absent or defunct, work is still needed here to manage the historic aging chimneys properly. The crown and flaunching should be rebuilt. The oxidized hardware at the chimney cab and spark arrestor should be properly recoated and probably recoated with a rust prohibiting chemical application
Our company, Dupont Tuckpointing and Masonry, specializes in masonry restoration, historic brick repointing, and tuckpointing services in the Washington D.C. area. These buildings are uniquely historic, and their preservation requires skilled masons who are technically trained in the best practices and knowledge of proper restoration techniques.
We understand the significance of maintaining the architectural integrity of these historic structures, and our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to delivering exceptional craftsmanship. Whether you require masonry restoration, tuckpointing, or brick repointing services, we are here to help.
At Dupont Tuckpointing and Masonry, we take pride in our work and strive to ensure that every project is executed with the utmost care and attention to detail. We are committed to preserving the rich heritage of Washington D.C.’s built environment for generations to come.
If you have any questions or needs regarding masonry restoration, historic brick repointing, or tuckpointing services, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to assist you and provide you with the expertise and quality workmanship that your historic property deserves.
You can reach us by telephone at (202) 796-7644 and you can reach us by email from the contact form on our website at https://duponttuckpointingmasonrydc.com/contact-us/.
