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Do you have Concerns about your Firebox?

Cracks in Your Firebox

Cracks in the brick or mortar joints of your firebox or within your chimney flue can cause chimney fires, which in turn can ignite adjoining combustible materials and potentially ignite a house fire.

Cracks inside masonry fireplaces are considered a fire hazard by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association).

Smoke carries waste particles from a fire. These particles form deposits on the walls, and inside and behind cracks. This oily substance, called creosote, can re-ignite from sparks rising in the chimney. Therefore, it’s important to keep these walls free of creosote build-up and to promptly repair any cracks. Cracked mortar must be repaired by carefully grinding or chiseling out cracked areas and tuck pointing with Portland cement or fireclay.

Here brick and mortar is cracked and broken. Typically a back wall will last 15-25 years in the DFW area (depending on usage). It is advisable to rebuild the affected wall with new firebrick and fire clay once the brick have cracked.

This parge coat has delaminated, allowing flames, smoke and sparks to get behind it and reach whatever brick and mortar cracks were hidden.

Another parge coat, this one freshly done. These sloppy repairs are not a reliable solution.

Parge coats and patches might seem like a cheap short-term fix, but are neither safe nor long-lasting. Such a coating may look reasonable initially, but will not bond to the dirty, smoky surface. New repairs must be carefully tuck-pointed into well-cleaned mortar joints that have been chiseled or ground out. If any brick are broken (typically a back wall will last 15-25 years in our area, depending on usage), it is usually advisable to rebuild the affected wall with new firebrick and fire clay.

Caulking is a short term repair in a space that can so easily be forgotten. You don’t want a cheap caulking job to endanger your home when you build a fire in your firebox.

This is a patch. It not only looks bad but does little towards actually restoring the fire resistance of the firebox. The only safe solution is to have the cracked mortar carefully ground or chiseled out and tuck pointed with Portland cement or fireclay.

Brick Fireplace cracks should not be ignored. Protect your family from potential fire hazards. We will never use scare tactics, but if you have cracks in your fireplace or firebox our experts would enjoy helping you safely restore it to functional safely. 

Can We Help You with an Issue with Your Fireplace firebox?

Over the years, Brick Doctor has done just about everything when it comes to repairing and restoring fireboxes in brick fireplaces. We know what we are doing. Let us know if we can help you.

Don’t take our word for it. (Check out our reviews). And, even better, ask a neighbor for a recommendation. We have done tens of thousands of projects all over the DFW Metroplex since 1986, including for some of your neighbors.

Have any particular questions or concerns about your fireplace firebox at your home? We can help.

Brick Doctor is always ready to answer your questions, address your concerns or provide an estimate for repairs designed for the scope of your needs.

We look forward to assisting you. Reach out today. Contact us

972-234-0900
817-540-1800
info@brickdoctor.com

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