Edgewood’s median home was built in 1978 and 57% of homes predate 1980, so chimneys here are mostly around fifty years old, brick or early factory-built. That decides what a repair here usually involves.
The parts of a chimney that get repaired
Most repairs fall into three groups. The structure: brick, mortar joints and the courses above the roof, where mortar joint repointing or repair for damaged brickwork restores what weather has worn away. The top: the crown and cap, which decide how much water reaches everything below; see chimney crown work. The inside: the flue liner, which decides whether the fireplace can be used at all; see liner repair.
On a framed chase the same logic applies with different materials: the chase cover, trim, siding and any wet framing, covered by repairs to framed chases.
The local picture in Edgewood
At that age a brick chimney usually needs its top looked at first: crown cracks, the top courses and the joints just above the roof. An early factory-built unit is a different job, and parts have to match what the unit was listed with, which isn’t always possible on older models.
Signs a chimney needs repair
01Cracked or crumbling crown
- What you may notice
- Cracks, missing pieces or a crown that looks rough and porous.
- How it’s confirmed
- The crown is checked up close for crack depth and whether it still sheds water.
02Flaking or broken brick
- What you may notice
- Brick faces popping off, fragments on the roof or in the gutter.
- How it’s confirmed
- Damaged units are mapped and the cause, usually water, is traced.
03Mortar washing out
- What you may notice
- Sandy joints, gaps you can see into, grit on the hearth.
- How it’s confirmed
- Joint depth is checked to decide where repointing is needed.
A chimney that tilts or opens a gap at the wall is a different problem; see chimneys that lean or separate.
Repair, partial rebuild or full rebuild?
| Scope | When it fits | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | Sound brick with worn joints, a cracked crown | Repointing, crown work, replacing damaged brick |
| Partial rebuild | Loose or broken courses above the roof | Taking the top down to sound brick and relaying it |
| Full rebuild | Damage or movement through most of the stack (uncommon) | Rebuilding from the roofline or foundation |
Scope follows the damage, not the age. See when a chimney needs rebuilding for how the line is drawn.
Damage, leaks and inspections
Damage and leaks often go together, but they’re approached differently. A leak is traced from the stain back to where water enters, and that belongs to the leak repair service for Edgewood. Structural and masonry repair starts from the damage itself. When you don’t yet know which you have, start with an inspection before the repair is scoped.
Chimney repair across Edgewood
Repairs are available throughout Edgewood, from Lake Jessamine Estates to the newest streets. Tell us whether the chimney is brick or a framed chase, what you’ve noticed and when it started. For other work on the house, see chimney, fireplace and vent work in Edgewood. Nearby, the same service covers chimney repair for Belle Isle homes, masonry and chimney repair in Orlando and repair services in Winter Park.
Related repairs that often come up: rebuilding the chimney top.
For the full background, see chimney repair explained in depth and how repair and rebuild compare.
References (2)
Where the Edgewood numbers and code references come from.
