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Brick & Masonry Experts in Metro Detroit

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Q: Mark D. from Birmingham asks

My roofer noticed cracks near the top of my chimney while he was working on the roof. Is that where chimney problems usually start?

Answer

Honestly, yes — the top of the chimney is where we see a lot of problems start. We’ve done quite a few chimney repairs in Birmingham over the years, especially around Maple Rd and Woodward Ave. That area has been pretty busy for us.

The reason is simple: the top of the chimney takes the worst beating from the weather. Rain, snow, wind — it all hits that section first. After enough Michigan winters, the mortar joints and sometimes the brick near the top start to crack.

A lot of homeowners also ask what the chimney crown is when we’re looking at this. The crown is the concrete top surface on the chimney. Its whole job is to push water away from the masonry so it doesn’t soak down into the brick and mortar below. When that area starts cracking, water can get in and that’s usually when the real damage begins.

Birmingham at Maple & Woodward

Q: Amanda R. from Auburn Hills asks

The bricks around our patio doorwall are chipped and a few bricks feel loose. Can that small area be fixed?

Answer

Yes. That’s a very common brick repair in Auburn Hills. Sometimes older doorwalls can be drafty & let air in & out during colder months which can produce moisture near the bricks if warm air from your home hits the cold air outside when we get temperature swings here in Michigan, so that area susceptible to wearing faster.

We can remove the loose bricks, clean it up properly, and reset everything tight with fresh mortar. Most of the time, it’s a straightforward repair.

We usually check the threshold under the doorwall which is usually made of brick or limestone, to be sure it’s not loose & still solid. Other than that we don’t usually see a need to tear apart a large section if the damage hasn’t spread.

Auburn Hills at Walton Blvd & Squirrel Rd

Q: Julie C. from Northville asks

There are cracks in the brick above our front door. Is that a serious brick problem?

Answer

Cracks above doors & windows usually mean that area is under stress. We repair this type of brick damage pretty often. The brick over door openings carries weight. That weight is supported by what’s called a lintel. Lintels help support the bricks above windows & doors & keeps the weight from bearing down. It the weight does bear down windows & doors can become difficult to open & close & and can also damage them. Cracks in bricks are usually a sign the the lintel isn’t doing its job the way it’s supposed to.

Brick repair there usually involves removing the cracked pieces, replacing the lintel, and reinstalling matching brick. If it’s handled early, it stays a smaller repair. Hope this helps.

Northville at 8 Mile & N Center St

Q: Chris A. from Plymouth asks

The brick retaining wall along my driveway has spots where the mortar looks worn down and brittle. What's the worst that can happen if I leave it like that?

Answer

Brick retaining walls take a beating from rain, snow, and water runoff. When the mortar starts wearing away, the bricks slowly lose their grip on each other. The mortar is the “glue” that holds the bricks together.

The “worst” that could happen is given enough time the mortar no longer holds the bricks together which will lead to bricks coming loose, falling apart and eventually the wall could come tumbling down. It doesn’t sound like you’re anywhere near walls tumbling down but you did ask what’s the worst that could happen.

A more realistic solution if you want to consider getting in front of the problem before the worst happens is getting some tuckpointing done.

Tuckpointing that wall puts fresh mortar back where it belongs and locks everything in tight again. It’s much cheaper to maintain a retaining wall than to rebuild part of it after it shifts or worse falls over. Think of it like getting an oil change. It’s cheaper to change the oil in your car than it is pay for a new engine because you never get an oil change & just continue to drive it without a care in the world. Not smart.

Plymouth at Lilley Rd & Ann Arbor Trail

Q: Brian G. from Royal Oak asks

The concrete cap on top of my chimney has thin cracks across it. Do I need chimney repair for something like that?

Answer

Short answer? Yes, it’s worth looking at. That top cap is what keeps water out of your chimney. In Royal Oak, once cracks start forming up there, water gets in and the damage works its way down.

Chimney repair might mean sealing it if it’s minor, or rebuilding that top section if it’s breaking apart. The key is keeping water from getting inside the brick. The longer it’s exposed, the more expensive it gets. Chimneys always tell you early — you just have to listen.

Royal Oak at 11 Mile & Campbell

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