Jun 26, Chimney. Just like other areas of your home, chimneys too can have different problems and defects, making them less efficient and unsafe to use. One of the most common obstacles you might run into is spalling. Most of the time, spalling is a result of water seeping into the brickwork. The moisture that keeps developing with time forces the chimney bricks to peel, crack, pop out, flake off, or crumble.
If spalling goes untreated, it compromises the entire structure of the chimney. Spalling starts as minor cracks and develops into bigger ones deteriorating the entire surface. Once spalling arises in a particular location, it risks even the bricks of surrounding areas. Water is one of the underlying causes of spalling. It affects the material in several ways. Number one is rainwater that directly hits the surface and eventually begins to degrade the brickwork.
Next is poor drainage of water that can, over time, erode the bricks of the chimney. Water may even directly enter the insides of the chimney due to broken or cracked crown. A colder climate can also freeze and thaw the bricks leading to excessive damage. In fact, moisture can seep into the bricks through something as harmless as water vapors.
And in case salvaged bricks have been used during the construction of the chimney, spalling is more likely to occur. Another major cause of the spalling of chimney bricks is the environment. The detrimental effects of rain, wind, heat, hail, and snow can worsen the exteriors. That dramatically changing climate pierces the protective layer of the bricks resulting in progressive damage.
Such destruction tends to enlarge with time, and the bricks or the masonry falls apart. This is another reason why bricks start to spall. High-pressure washing leads to considerable damage to the bricks. It is especially harmful to chimneys that are harder on the outside but have a softer core.
