Don’t Let Storm Damage Keep You Down

In Jacksonville, Hurricane season falls between June and November. Although we can expect heavy storms year-round, hurricanes can cause more damages to your home and chimney. Don’t let storm damages get you down, but give the team at Hudson Chimney a call for your chimney and fireplace repairs.

Jacksonville is our home. We work here, live here, know the area, its municipal codes and the climate. We know that ocean air can lead to efflorescence on your chimney structures, which can cause leaks and alter the look of your chimney. As we prepare for the terrible hurricane season ahead, we want to help you be more aware of storm damages and what you can do to protect your chimney.

Common Storm Damage

birds sitting on roof and chimneyDuring and after hurricane season, we often get calls for chimney inspections. We commonly see missing or dislodged flashing, damaged chase pans, chimney caps, masonry, worn chimney crowns, and more. This type of damage can happen suddenly or over time when the chimney is exposed to tropical storms and hurricanes year after year. The most important thing is getting regular chimney inspections after burn season or hurricane season to minimize and stay on top these damages.

Professional Inspections

You can make sure your chimney system is in tip top shape by scheduling an inspection. Generally, a level one inspection is required annually when the chimney has not been through any changes. However, a level two inspection should be scheduled for natural occurrence, which affects your chimney system. When we complete a level two inspection, we include a video scan to access the entire system—even unseen portions of the flue.

After your inspection, our technician provide a detailed report including necessary footage and a repair plan. It’s important to address repairs as soon as possible to avoid more damage. If your system needs repairs, you can call Hudson Chimney now to get the necessary work done before storms come your way!

Water Damage and More

When you leave repairs undone, you leave your chimney system exposed to the elements. Missing flashing or caps and damaged crowns or masonry can allow water to go directly into your system. When water enters your system, it can ruin walls and furniture, rust parts, and even cause respiratory issues to your family members.

Hudson Chimney Repairs

Some of your masonry damages are visible. There could be missing mortar, gaps, cracks, flaking masonry, and stains. While other masonry damages are unseen, and they are only detected by a video scan during a level 2 inspection. Whatever damage you are experiencing, we have the repairs to address them. Our team of masons and certified chimney sweeps can repair your masonry with tuckpointing. We rebuild masonry, repair and seal mortar crowns, and we install flashing and caps to protect your chimney system for future storms.

For added protection for your chimney, you should also consider waterproofing your chimney. It is a simple process that protects your masonry from water penetration for many years. Call Hudson Chimney at 904-282-4159!

Fixing Leaky Chimneys in the Middleburg, Florida Area

Fixing a leaking chimney quickly can prevent thousands of dollars worth of damage. Leaky chimneys can lead to mold growth, water stains, drywall distortion, and insulation damage. Most importantly, small leaks that may seem insignificant will eventually become bigger leaks that create more damage to your home and that will cost more to repair.Fixing Leaky Chimneys - Middleburg FL - Hudson Chimney

Calling a professional to fix your leaky chimney is not only safer than making the attempt to fix it yourself, but it also ensures that the best – and the correct – repairs are made. The professionals at Hudson Chimney  can locate the source or sources of the leaks and fix them accordingly. They will work to not only repair any damages, but to also prevent further damage.

Calling chimney professionals such as those at Hudson Chimney rather than roofing professionals is also important if you think your chimney is what is leaking. Professionals at Hudson Chimney have the expertise and tools necessary to find and fix a chimney leak, while roofing professionals have the expertise and tools to fix roofs. Signs that your chimney and not your roof is leaking include water-stains around your chimney, cracking in your flu lining, a collapsing chimney, and the staining of your chimney or the mortar.

There are several possible problems if your chimney is leaking, all of which Hudson Chimney is CSI-certified to repair:

  •  If the leak is coming from your chimney crown, Hudson Chimney can repair it with a crown coating material. It is important to fix small cracks because water can seep into the cracks, freeze and expand, and thus make the cracks bigger. If the chimney crown has bigger cracks, Hudson Chimney can replace the crown.
  •  If there is damage to the chimney flashing, or the metal sheeting that protects the gaps between your chimney and the roof, only a professional should attempt to fix it. Hudson Chimney offers this service to not only prevent further leaking, but to ensure the lifespan of your chimney.
  •  There might be damage to shingles surrounding your chimney. Professionals at Hudson Chimney can replace the shingles for you to stop the leaking.
  •  The erosion of mortar joints can easily lead to holes and thus leaks. Professionals at Hudson Chimney have been working for over thirty years to fix such problems and worse.

Once any cracks in bricks or mortar have been fixed, the professionals at Hudson Chimney can apply ChimneySaver’s Water Repellent to prevent water from seeping into the chimney. Bricks and mortar absorb water, which can cause leaking. Water repellent allows for the brick or mortar to keep water out while still letting the materials breathe. Therefore, it is important to use a water repellent and not a sealer, which will trap moisture created inside the chimney in the bricks or mortar and cause further damage. ChimneySaver’s Water Repellent does the job by blocking 99.9 percent of water from penetrating the bricks or mortar of your chimney while still being 100 percent vapor permeable, or letting your chimney breathe. Professionals at Hudson Chimney can also install chimney caps or chimney pans to prevent water from entering your chimney.

Repair your leaky chimney, and you will save yourself time and money as well as ensure your chimney’s longevity.