I live in an old house (98 years) and my appliance chimney has some significant gaps in the mortar. I called two chimney companies recommended by friends, and they both refused to tuckpoint, insisting that they only do full rebuilds. One of them even said this without coming to my house to take a look, just stating it's their policy. I'm new to this whole chimney situation and wondering if there's a legitimate reason for avoiding tuckpointing or if it's just a way to upsell. Also, the one company that did come suggested replacing the brick chimney with a metal pipe for less maintenance, even though I think the metal looks pretty unattractive. What do you think about going from brick to metal versus rebuilding?
3 Answers
Your situation isn't uncommon. Many contractors recommend rebuilding because it guarantees a longer lifespan compared to tuckpointing, which might just be a temporary fix. However, if you have a metal liner in good shape, you could consider getting a liner installed and making cosmetic repairs to the chimney. This could save you money and reduce future issues.
Honestly, if companies won’t consider tuckpointing, it feels a bit like they’re dodging difficult work. I had a similar situation and found a masonry company that was willing to repoint mine—I ended up paying way less and it's held up great! Just make sure you're not being sold a full rebuild when there are definitely more affordable solutions available.
Right? It sounds super sketchy when all they offer is a rebuild without exploring other options first. I’d say go for a mason who specializes in this; it's worth it!
Tuckpointing can actually be a viable solution for your chimney, especially if the gaps aren't extensive. Some professionals might shy away from it due to the complexity of the job and the skill required. It’s true that minor repairs could be done effectively, but if the structural integrity is a concern, they might push for a rebuild. It might be worth getting a few more opinions from different contractors to see if they’re open to tuckpointing or if they echo the rebuild policy.
Absolutely! Getting multiple quotes can help reveal if some companies are just trying to upsell with the rebuild. I've seen tuckpointing work well when done properly, so don’t lose hope.
That’s a solid strategy! Keeping the brick and working on cosmetic fixes while ensuring your flue is sound can be a wise approach.