How to Make Common Chimney Repairs | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough shows host Kevin O’Connor some common issues with brick chimneys and how to repair them.

At a job site, mason Mark McCullough talks about chimney repairs. Mark shows Kevin O'Connor what to look for when planning out a repair before the pair roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Difficulty: ⅗
Time: One day
Cost: Around $100

Where to find it?
Mark & Kevin discuss common chimney problems and arm homeowners with the information they need to hire a licensed professional to carry out the repairs, including safety protocols.



All products can be found at a local home center.

Materials:

Tools:

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Make Common Chimney Repairs | Ask This Old House

[FrederickDunn]

This is a very good demonstration, thanks. I'm wondering why the individual brick condition wasn't discussed? What if some of the bricks are cracked or spalling? I wish some of the bricks could have been replaced as part of this tutorial. Also would have liked a tiny introduction to the mortar selection and preparation. This Old House has been my go-to for more than 30 years :) Thank you!

[benclark-xt]

Great video! I’ve been maintaining my chimney for years, but I didn’t realize I was overlooking things like the chimney liner and creosote buildup. If you're in Texas, I highly recommend Top Hat Chimney & Roofing in Sugar Land. They helped me fix some issues I didn’t even know existed. Gotta follow a professionals advice from now on.

[petevella]

FYI, Mark, the chimney cap on the other brick chimney does not penetrate the flue or the concrete contrary to your statement in the video. That particular cap as well as every other flue mounted cap that I have ever seen is designed to be secured with pressure bolts which tighten to the corners or sides of the flue without penetrating the surface.

[doneown]

great video - I only wish, during mention of some important step, & mortar type that is used, also - what to look for the waterproofing, but still !, Lot to take in ! He's certainly good at this !👍👍

[JIMMYS]

That man has never tuck pointed a day in his life.

[PerfectCleanVA]

Did you guys add sand into the cement that you’ve used? If so, what is the proportion?

[GeoffreyLawrence-etyk]

Good video. Can you tell me what waterproofing agent you recommend for a 100+ year old chimney.

[EmpireTextbooks]

Isn’t it more cost effective to use a harness than to set up a whole scaffolding tower just for a simple chimney repair?

[zackzander]

For repointing grind the vertical joints out first and then the horizontal bed joints. Take a plugging chisel and clean out the half moons where the head joints meet the bed joints. Apply your mortar in 1/4" lifts. Should be about 3. No need to acid wash if you're neat and using a hawk with the correct size pointing tool. FYI those paper masks are not doing anything to protect you. Might as well use nothing at all. Need a fitted respirator with the magenta colored filters.

[pedalingpetes]

The safety equipment installation was more dangerous than the actual project ever was

[rovert]

Is there any concern with using a modern type N mortar with these old bricks, or are these not old enough to be made without portland cement?

[grantmeyer]

What about the chimney cap? As for the mortar joints is that really a job a homeowner could do?

[jessewilliams]

As soon as he said OSHA compliant the correct answer is yes overkill...

[ralph]

Got a lot of respect for a guy that does good jobs working in joints like that.

[robertbamford]

Always a pleasure to watch. Speaking of watches, wearing one while chiseling - shock resistance. WRT metal caps on wood burners, here (Calif) we have a cap that attaches to the protruding flue with horizontal machine screws that are tightened to create a friction fit.

[Handygrrl]

Is the goal to strip out the old mortar completely or just get down to a solid mortar?

[ccjohncc]

When you can spend $25, 000.00 on safety equipment and stair installed scaffolding to do a $4, 000.00 dollar chimney repair!

[RandomVids]

Like that plastic fence is safer then a harness 😂😂

[bfrost]

wish they would start posting the potential price ranges, materials and cost of labor.

[chadvaillancourt]

154 brick rebuild. Could be demolished and rebuilt in one day with new brick by any mason I’ve ever worked with, no scaffolding needed. Be nice to get some counter flashing on there too, it would help stop the water infiltration.