I hired a guy once to repoint my 1895 brick house, he drove the grinder down into the brick and nicked every head joint, I still cry when I see the work this guy did that was 4 years ago :(
3/4” grind out with three 1/4” lifts of mortar back in. When you bag the joints the mortar is too wet and it can shrink / crack when curing. With a hawk repointing goes pretty quick. I’ve seen guys get caught with the cake bags on multimillion dollar restoration jobs and get booted off by the architects. At least you’re pushing it in with a pointer, most guys just hit it with a barrel jointer at the end. Also, a plugging chisel does a great job getting the mortar joints you can’t get with the grinder.
Looks excellent. Appreciate all the details and your commentaries. I was hoping to get my chimney done this year, but was told it's too late in the season. Is that because of the curing time for the mortar? We're in Ohio and our low temps are still in the 40's. Thanks for your videos, really do enjoy them!!
Thanks! The companies are probably too busy to squeeze it in because cold weather, you will probably have a better overall product if you wait until spring.
Nice work! I like that you make 2 passes to pack it in. You kept it tidy with no smudges. You know the Brits are going to call you a cake decorator for using a grout bag and not troweling it in 😂. Troweling is probably a better way, but it takes too much time.
I’ve been called everything by those guys already 🤣 One guy called me a “boot”, Lol. It must be an offensive term across the water. I would do it by hand if it was lime mortar. I haven’t seen any kind of results that would lead me to believe the grout bag produced inferior results. In fact, it’s probably better, considering everything is drying as one and can be jointed at the same time. When you’re in the hot sun, pointing by hand is brutal with the mortar setting so fast.
Chad. To add some clarity on what a “boot” is. As a novice to masonry repair, I could be accurately “described as “boot” or a “booter.” It’s military jargon with a negative connotation for “new guy” or inexperienced, or unskilled… I would not put you in that category in the least. Thanks for the great content. I can’t tell you what a big help it is to me and my work as a sweep.
Is it possible to widen a chimney? My chimney is very narrow and may lead me to having to use an undersized liner. I was wondering if it's possible to widen the whole chimney a few inches so that I can install the appropriate liner. Thanks
It’s not usually possible to make it wider without an entire rebuild. If it’s a multi-flue chimney built in the 17-1800s you may be able to get creative to make it work. We can make extra room by removing the flue liners or by ovalizing the stainless liner. In some cases you could order a square or rectangle liner, although, round and oval are preferred.
Thanks for noticing! I really do try to show everything. I think this is why there isn’t a ton of chimney contents out there, because people don’t want to show how they’re really doing stuff.
Really appreciate the videos! Thank you. Honest craftsmanship.
I hired a guy once to repoint my 1895 brick house, he drove the grinder down into the brick and nicked every head joint, I still cry when I see the work this guy did that was 4 years ago :(
3/4” grind out with three 1/4” lifts of mortar back in. When you bag the joints the mortar is too wet and it can shrink / crack when curing. With a hawk repointing goes pretty quick. I’ve seen guys get caught with the cake bags on multimillion dollar restoration jobs and get booted off by the architects. At least you’re pushing it in with a pointer, most guys just hit it with a barrel jointer at the end. Also, a plugging chisel does a great job getting the mortar joints you can’t get with the grinder.
Looks excellent. Appreciate all the details and your commentaries. I was hoping to get my chimney done this year, but was told it's too late in the season. Is that because of the curing time for the mortar? We're in Ohio and our low temps are still in the 40's. Thanks for your videos, really do enjoy them!!
Thanks! The companies are probably too busy to squeeze it in because cold weather, you will probably have a better overall product if you wait until spring.
How much would a repoint/crown job cost? Just curious.
Roughly how much would this work cost ?
.
Nice work! I like that you make 2 passes to pack it in. You kept it tidy with no smudges. You know the Brits are going to call you a cake decorator for using a grout bag and not troweling it in 😂. Troweling is probably a better way, but it takes too much time.
I’ve been called everything by those guys already 🤣
One guy called me a “boot”, Lol. It must be an offensive term across the water.
I would do it by hand if it was lime mortar. I haven’t seen any kind of results that would lead me to believe the grout bag produced inferior results. In fact, it’s probably better, considering everything is drying as one and can be jointed at the same time. When you’re in the hot sun, pointing by hand is brutal with the mortar setting so fast.
Chad. To add some clarity on what a “boot” is. As a novice to masonry repair, I could be accurately “described as “boot” or a “booter.” It’s military jargon with a negative connotation for “new guy” or inexperienced, or unskilled… I would not put you in that category in the least. Thanks for the great content. I can’t tell you what a big help it is to me and my work as a sweep.
Ahh… that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification. I’m still not offended 🤣
I’m not a baby…don’t need the gvt telling me how to work…lol I’m dying laughing over here 😂😂😂😂
what kind of mortar do you use for the top
My guard has a vacuum recovery Port. Remind folks to cover air conditioning units.
What are them pads called you have the plank on.
Is it possible to widen a chimney? My chimney is very narrow and may lead me to having to use an undersized liner. I was wondering if it's possible to widen the whole chimney a few inches so that I can install the appropriate liner. Thanks
It’s not usually possible to make it wider without an entire rebuild. If it’s a multi-flue chimney built in the 17-1800s you may be able to get creative to make it work. We can make extra room by removing the flue liners or by ovalizing the stainless liner. In some cases you could order a square or rectangle liner, although, round and oval are preferred.
If a brick absorbs less than 26 drops of water it is to wet.
I mask chimney projects with yoga pads
Skittled
When video your work from beginning to end, you're not hiding anything from anyone. Not everyone in the trades can work like that.
Thanks for noticing! I really do try to show everything. I think this is why there isn’t a ton of chimney contents out there, because people don’t want to show how they’re really doing stuff.