Here in Cincinnati, I'm sure I don't speak for myself when I say I have a new respect for hurricanes. We recently experienced hurricane force winds that caused more damage to chimneys than this city has seen in a while. When someone thinks of a hurricane, lots of water comes to mind, and when it comes to chimneys, few things are more detrimental to its life and quality than water damage. Not to mention there are few things more aggravating than the drip, drip, drip of water entering the chimney, resonating through your home and eventually through your very soul... Well, it may not be that annoying but no one wants to have to write a check for a major chimney overhaul due to moisture damage when it is easily preventable.
Water causes over one billion dollars in damage annually in the form of staining, loss of insulation value, freeze-thaw damage, deterioration, and ultimately, structural failure. In light of this, I'd like to discuss a few systems, products, and techniques to ensure your family is safe, warm, and dry this hurricane or winter season, whichever you are preparing for.
Masonry chimneys are more prone to water damage than the rest of your home because they extend far above the roofline, unprotected from the elements. Waterproofing is a good idea because it protects the mortar joints from moisture entry and helps a repair last longer.
Chimneysaver© is a great product. Sealers and silicone coatings form a water resistant surface film which traps water vapors. If these vapors cannot escape, they will add to the deterioration of your brick. Chimneysaver© is 100% vapor permeable, meaning water can easily pass through it. This is a non film-forming water repellent that will penetrate and line masonry pores to prevent water from weakening the brick.
DEFY is a company that makes products that we send our guys out with. After a repair or rebuild of a chimney, we're always happy to apply different DEFY products, such as their Brick Water Repellent or All Purpose Heavy Duty Water Repellent. The Brick Water Repellent is a water-based siloxane which can penetrate your brick up to ¼ of an inch to protect and and prevent water molecules from penetrating your brick while still allowing water vapor to leave the brick. All Purpose Heavy Duty Water Repellent is also water based and uses a blend of silane and siloxane, silicone isomers, to penetrate both concrete and masonry surfaces and form a permanent protecting bond. This product can be used on vertical or horizontal brick and masonry surfaces, or on concrete driveways and sidewalks. Another great perk about both of these DEFY products is that they are 100% Green Certified, meaning their fumes and production, even packaging, are non-damaging to the environment. DEFY's Solvent-Based Water Repellent, although not Green Certified, is still a great product to use. It contains a silane/siloxane blend as do the other aforementioned products, but this Solvent-Based Repellent can penetrate even deeper by moving through capillaries (or vein type passageways) in the brick as opposed to simply penetrating its pores.
