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Bricks and Mortar
Summer / July & August
This may be a subject far from your mind in July & August - the firebox of your fireplace.
I know, I know, when the low temperature dips to 80° at night you would rather be in the pool rather than in front of the fire. The fact is summer is the best time to get firebox work done because it is the “off” season. There are a few different aspects to look at during the summer to get ready for the winter or even the fall: maintenance and safety.
Maintenance items include cleaning and “repointing” the mortar between the bricks where cracks or holes may have formed.
When should a fireplace be cleaned? If you can’t remember the last time you had it cleaned, it should be considered just like changing the oil in your car: it is probably time to have it done. That way you will have a starting point for your records. Then you can use this simple formula: metal fireplaces should be cleaned every ½ cord of wood. The smaller the flue-size, the more restricted the air flow exhausting the dangerous gases and soot. If you have a masonry fireplace, cleaning every 1 – 1 ½ cords is good. The reason we don’t use a time frame, like “every two years” for cleaning is simple: some people don’t use their fireplaces some years and others use it constantly when the string of holidays hit. Not to mention the times when families used their fireplaces for heat when their power was out! Gas only fireplaces need to be cleaned as well, they just get dirty in a different way.
Replacing the mortar between the bricks ranges from simple to severe. If you have a fine “micro” type crack, let it go for another season, let it get bigger-it may not. But sometimes we forget about our fireplace-backwall until the season is upon us, this is more prevalent. The more severe mortar cracks and holes can form due to several reasons: water coming down the chimney which can settle directly behind the backwall, movement of the structure (like the foundation or settling) or just logs rolling against the backwall. Fire can take its toll on bricks and mortar just as you see its effects on your grate over time. Fire oxidizes the elements of matter in our physical world just as water causes rust (another form of oxidation).
Remortaring, or “repointing” the joints helps keep the bricks healthy and in place. If your joints are missing you might actually see the bricks begin to crumble and in severe cases, may lose the shape and look of a brick. If any of the bricks move, in many cases repointing is all that is needed to keep your backwall in good repair. If more than one brick moves, or if the integrity of the backwall is questionable, you may need to replace the backwall (at about 5x’s the cost!) It is much better to maintain the backwall than to replace it; just like changing your oil regularly prevents replacing the motor in your car.
Using your fireplace with a severe backwall problem can be both a fire hazard, and a structural hazard, depending on how your fireplace is constructed. If you have a metal fireplace, the sheet metal has a cast tile(s) that line the firebox and MUST remain intact to prevent the actual contact between metal and the fire. (Remember our earlier comments on oxidation!) These tiles can be replaced for a reasonable cost and using your fireplace with a damaged tile can be extremely dangerous if not in good repair because many metal fireplaces are considered “Zero clearance” meaning the combustible building materials around your fireplace can be as close as two inches! This is also why the fires in a metal fireplace should always be small and to the back of the firebox. Any issues concerning the integrity of the metal fireplace should be addressed immediately. But this brings us to our next subject – safety and the safety inspection…
Many fireplace professionals can inspect your fireplace more efficiently and thoroughly after and during the cleaning process. If you are putting your house on the market, it is a benefit to have a clean bill of health concerning the fireplace. Fireplaces add much value to a home and any problem with the fireplace will more than likely cause a question on an inspection report. It is better to be pro-active concerning the fireplace during the buying and selling process avoiding those headaches all together. Fireplaces intact and safely working are an asset in the real estate market; conversely, fireplaces that have been altered, re-engineered, or of questionable integrity are an albatross that no buyer or seller wants around their neck.
If repairs are needed, please remember: your fireplace may need time for the mortar to cure properly, usually 7 - 10 days is sufficient. Repairs done during the summer have months to cure, long before the wet chilly autumn nights come. Having a fireplace inspection or cleaning in the summer makes a lot of sense – it is the “off” season. Wait until the first cold snap and watch how fast our schedule books up…
Wait until Halloween or Thanksgiving? Well, everyone does that!
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