Hello group,

i have a small crack in my chimney top that goes around the
circumfrence completely. its a pretty small crack and there doesnt
seem to be any loose mortar, it just seems like the crack is about
1/16 of an inch. So what are my choices? Can i buy some cement
caulking and fill it, or do i need to grind out the mortar and replace
it with new mortar?

If i need to grind and replace, how can that be done? i have one of
those 4" hand grinders, can i buy a concrete grinding wheel to use for
removing that mortar?

How do i find or mix the new mortar? does it come ready mixed, just
add water?

tia for advice.

Fish

"fish" wrote in message
...
Hello group,

i have a small crack in my chimney top that goes around the
circumfrence completely. its a pretty small crack and there doesnt
seem to be any loose mortar, it just seems like the crack is about
1/16 of an inch. So what are my choices? Can i buy some cement
caulking and fill it, or do i need to grind out the mortar and replace
it with new mortar?

If i need to grind and replace, how can that be done? i have one of
those 4" hand grinders, can i buy a concrete grinding wheel to use for
removing that mortar?

How do i find or mix the new mortar? does it come ready mixed, just
add water?

tia for advice.

Fish



Is this crack in the mortar joint? the chimney cap? or the brick?

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:37:11 GMT, "Colbyt"
wrote:


"fish" wrote in message
.. .
Hello group,

i have a small crack in my chimney top that goes around the
circumfrence completely. its a pretty small crack and there doesnt
seem to be any loose mortar, it just seems like the crack is about
1/16 of an inch. So what are my choices? Can i buy some cement
caulking and fill it, or do i need to grind out the mortar and replace
it with new mortar?

If i need to grind and replace, how can that be done? i have one of
those 4" hand grinders, can i buy a concrete grinding wheel to use for
removing that mortar?

How do i find or mix the new mortar? does it come ready mixed, just
add water?

tia for advice.

Fish



Is this crack in the mortar joint? the chimney cap? or the brick?


that is a good question. i may have a crack in between the cap and
the first brick too. but the other crack i was talking about is in
the mortar.

Here is one we have been using for a few years now. Get the
proper color of NP1, it usually ends up being "stone". Apply a
good bead of caulk in/on the mortar joint - be skimpy rather than
heavy, you can always add more but dealing with too much is
horrible. Rub the proper color sand in the fresh caulk.

Sand colors vary a great deal. NP1 comes in several related
colors. With a little effort you can execute a repair to a joint
that is undetectable to the eye.

(top posted for your convenience)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"fish" wrote in message
...
Hello group,

i have a small crack in my chimney top that goes around the
circumfrence completely. its a pretty small crack and there
doesnt
seem to be any loose mortar, it just seems like the crack is
about
1/16 of an inch. So what are my choices? Can i buy some cement
caulking and fill it, or do i need to grind out the mortar and
replace
it with new mortar?

If i need to grind and replace, how can that be done? i have
one of
those 4" hand grinders, can i buy a concrete grinding wheel to
use for
removing that mortar?

How do i find or mix the new mortar? does it come ready mixed,
just
add water?

tia for advice.

Fish

"fish" wrote in message
...

Is this crack in the mortar joint? the chimney cap? or the brick?


that is a good question. i may have a crack in between the cap and
the first brick too. but the other crack i was talking about is in
the mortar.



I think DanG has given you the best answer for anything up to about 1/8"
wide.

Colbyt

Is this crack in the mortar joint? the chimney cap? or the brick?

Good question so I got motivated and inspected the chimney again this
morning, here is what I saw. I hope my responders are still with me
here on this thread...

There is a crack around the entire chimney under the top layer of
bricks and under the first line of mortar, the crack is only about,
well, less than 1/8 inch.

The cap, i believe, is the cement sitting on top of all the bricks
which is shaped to drain water? I hope this is correct terminology.
Ok, this cap thing is pretty beat up. after a close inspection I find
that the cap is covered with a cement colored rubbery stuff which is
also starting to let go of the actual cement cap and surrounding
brick, and is getting holes in it from what looks like freezes, at
first i thought moss was growing on it but what i think has happened
is the top was punctured from water freezing and mold is beginning to
grow inside. Anyway I peeked at the cement inside this rubbery
coating and it seems to be crumbling, so I am thinking that i need to
replace that cap with fresh cement.

So now I think my question is, can I handle this repair? I have
replaced cement sidewalks, and have done some small brick wall work.
Also, can this repair wait for the spring 2006 to be completed? Will
the chimney undergo any irreversible damage over this winter here in
columbus, ohio?

Thank you,
Fish