Chimney caps
A damaged cap is replaced which protects the damper and flue tiles.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Waterproofing Jenkintown, PA
A chimney sweep in Jenkintown can waterproof a masonry chimney with a breathable, vapor-permeable repellent that keeps rain out while letting moisture escape, so the brick stops soaking up rain. Call (267) 633-0240 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Masonry acts like a hard sponge, absorbing rain through the brick faces and the mortar joints. Over time, the moisture feeds freeze-thaw damage, efflorescence, rusted dampers and deteriorated flue tiles. A good water repellent cuts that absorption dramatically.
Choosing the right product is the whole job. Chimney masonry needs a vapor-permeable water repellent, usually siloxane or silane based, that soaks into the brick and repels liquid water while letting water vapor out. Paint, acrylic coatings and film-forming sealers do the opposite: they trap moisture inside the brick, and when it freezes, it blows the face off the brick.
Waterproofing does not fix damage, it protects repairs. If the crown is cracked or the joints are open, water will get in no matter how much repellent is applied. Repairs and cure time come first, then the repellent.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney waterproofing in Jenkintown, PA can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney tuckpointing.
Dealing with this in Jenkintown, PA right now? Call (267) 633-0240 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Jenkintown.
Call nowThe process
How chimney waterproofing works
Waterproofing is only as good as the repairs and prep that come before it.
Check for damage
The chimney is inspected for cracks, open joints and failing parts that repellent cannot fix. Old coatings are identified because they can block the new product.
Make repairs first
Repointing, brick replacement, crown sealing and flashing work come first. Repairs are given time to cure.
Prep the surface
The surface is washed and cleared of deposits. A clean surface lets the product soak in properly.
Let it dry
Repellent is applied only to dry brick, in dry weather. Timing around the weather matters.
Saturate the brick
The repellent is sprayed or brushed on evenly, from the top of the chimney down. The crown is treated with its own crown coating, and the flashing is checked at the same time.
Water test
After curing, the treated brick is checked to make sure rain runs off. A breathable repellent leaves no glossy coating on the brick.
What is included
What waterproofing covers
Brick waterproofing
A vapor-permeable repellent is applied to all exposed masonry to slow freeze-thaw damage.
Flashing sealing
The joint at the roof is inspected and sealed as part of a complete waterproofing job.
Masonry cleaning
The brick is cleaned of mineral deposits and growth so the repellent can penetrate.
Crown sealing
Hairline crown cracks are sealed to protect the most exposed part of the chimney.
Related service
Chimney Sealing Jenkintown, PA
When people talk about sealing a chimney, they usually mean closing up all the ways water gets in. A complete job seals crown cracks, closes flashing gaps, caps the flue and treats the masonry with a vapor-permeable repellent. The common thread is that every product used on the masonry must let moisture escape.
In Jenkintown, one of the most common chimney mistakes is sealing brick with paint or a glossy sealer. Products that form a film on the surface trap vapor and make spalling worse. If the chimney already has paint or a sealer, ask the chimney sweep how it affects the plan, since it may need to wear off or be removed first.
Local help
Chimney Waterproofing Near Me
Around Jenkintown, waterproofing is often the last step after a chimney has been repointed or had its crown repaired. Homes in Jenkintown and nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley include many brick chimneys that have soaked up decades of rain, along with some that were painted or coated with the wrong sealer, so a breathable repellent applied after repairs adds years to the masonry.
Searching for chimney waterproofing near me from Jenkintown or Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley? Call (267) 633-0240 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Jenkintown
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Jenkintown, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Jenkintown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Waterproofing FAQ
How long does chimney waterproofing last?
Most masonry repellents last several years before they need reapplying. A simple sign is when water stops beading and starts soaking into the brick again. A yearly chimney inspection can check its condition.
Will painting the chimney keep water out?
Paint is a poor choice for keeping water out of chimney brick. Moisture from inside and from small cracks gets trapped behind the paint film. A breathable, vapor-permeable repellent is the right product for chimney masonry.
Does waterproofing stop a chimney leak?
A water repellent can stop seepage through porous brick, but it will not fix a cracked crown or failed flashing. Cracked crowns, missing caps, failed flashing and open mortar joints let in far more water than porous brick. Repair the source first, then waterproof.
What is the best waterproofing for a chimney?
Breathable, penetrating repellents made for masonry are the right choice. These soak into the brick and repel liquid water while letting water vapor escape. Products that form a film on the surface can cause the damage they were meant to prevent.
Why would I waterproof my chimney?
Waterproofing with a breathable repellent can greatly reduce how much water the masonry absorbs, which slows spalling, efflorescence and freeze-thaw damage. It works best on sound masonry after repairs, and it is not a fix for cracks, open joints or a damaged crown. In wet, freezing climates, it adds real protection.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0240
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Tuckpointing
Replacing crumbling mortar between chimney bricks, before loose brick starts to shift.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Jenkintown chimney sweep about chimney waterproofing
Call now for Jenkintown chimney waterproofing and help in the towns around it.
(267) 633-0240
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