It is hard to believe that water could cause so much damage to a seemingly strong structure such as a chimney. However, facts are facts, and water damage is one of the most harmful things for a chimney, as it can cause many safety and financial concerns for your home or commercial business. If you do not wish to experience deterioration, structural failure, staining, or worse, you should seriously consider waterproofing your chimney.
Your chimney is all alone and unprotected on all sides on your roof, and using a waterproofing sealant as a preventative measure can help defend your structure against weather significantly. Here are a few things waterproofing can prevent:
Gaps and Openings
Holes and cracks in your chimney, as well as the porous nature of masonry, can allow water to seep into and through your chimney, eventually causing leaks. This pesky problem can cause mildew and moisture buildup and strange smells to wreak havoc in your home.
Failing Joints
The space between your masonry is not nearly as strong as the masonry itself and therefore can take a rough beating from water. Water can cause mortar joints to crack or weaken or produce leaks, and it can even create the beginning of a structural failure and degradation since without a strong joint holding your structure together, it is bound to come down.
Flashing Problems
Chimney flashing stops water from getting into your chimney along the edges and at the point where the chimney and the roof meet. If flashing is damaged, fails, or begins to weaken, water can leak into your home and chimney.
Breaking Up
The more weather and impact your chimney takes, the more it will break down and wear away. As your chimney and masonry takes this continuous pounding, it also retains water inside tiny nooks and crevices over time. Water that has crept into these spaces can then cause your chimney to erode or crack, as the water stuck inside creates pressure in your bricks and chimney that cause it to freeze and expand within your structure.
Chimney Decay
So what if it is not cold enough to freeze water and cause cracks? Well, pooling water on your roof and chimney is just as much of a concern, as mildew and mold can create all kinds of problems for you and your chimney. Not only are mildew and mold a danger and safety concern, but they are also treacherous for your chimney because they can cause damage and discoloration among other things. These growths expand and contract inside your chimney and are not to be taken lightly as they can spread quickly and cause just as many, if not more, problems than water itself.
Resources: eHow, Chimney Safety Institute of America, A-1 Chimney Specialist