We all know the damages left over from hurricanes and flooding. Most likely your roof was damaged and you know what they say “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” so that was your main concern. After you’ve dealt with your roof issues and called in the cleanup crew, you’ve probably contacted some General Contractors to work on your floors and walls. But before you call them in you should probably have your chimney and fireplace inspected and deal with those issues, especially if they need to be repaired or rebuilt.
Hurricanes and tropical storms bring high winds that can rip up chimney flashing, damage chimney caps, and chimney crowns and cause the chimney bricks to chip. While chimneys are usually strong enough to withstand bad weather, they also have higher exposure to them. A Category 4 storm like Hurricane Harvey had sustained winds of 110 mph damaging 203,000 homes, of which 12,700 were destroyed. High winds combined with heavy rain, and debris caused both surface and structural damage to buildings including roofs and chimneys.
While they might not seem like pressing issues when these essential components of the chimney are damaged or missing; rainwater can enter your home. Water can cause extensive damage to the interior of your home. A chimney inspection is the only way to determine how much damage was caused by the wind and water.
Some of the more common repairs resulting from wind and water exposure include:
Brick Chimney and Fireplace Repair
– We’ll provide a complete inspection focusing on cracks, receding mortar joints, crumbing or cracking chimney crowns.
Chimney Relining
-The flue liner is located in the interior of the chimney. In some cases improper construction can make the problem worse but overall deterioration caused by a mix of oil, gas and inclement weather can crack and cause damage to the lining.
Flashing Installation and Repair
-After prolonged exposure to high winds, the chimney flashing lifts providing an entry for rain into your home. We always inspect the chimney flashing looking for any damage that will affect its long-term durability.
The major reason that you should have your chimney inspected before you call in a General Contractor is that if there is damage, water can penetrate your chimney; leaking into your dwelling. Nothing would be more frustrating than to have all that work performed, just to have water damage occur. While many companies have come to Houston to help out many have left and don’t have a local presence. Professional Chimney Services is a Houston-based chimney and fireplace repair company. With over 15 years of experience servicing all of the Houston area, Professional Chimney Services offers chimney cleaning and repairs, preventing unwanted fires, leaks or crumbling. Professional Chimney Services, keeping you safe and keeping your air clean!
