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Chimney Repair in Nashville, TN

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Chimney Repair in Nashville, TN

Leaning or Tilting Chimney

Chimneys are often neglected, but homeowners need to be aware of their chimney’s health. A leaning or tilting chimney indicates serious structural issues that could result in costly foundation problems. If a tilting chimney is neglected for too long, bricks can begin to tumble out and subject the roof to considerable damage.

Check out our post on Brick & Masonry Problems in Nashville, TN for more info.

Brick Chimney Repair

Brick chimneys are heavy. The weight of a leaning chimney is likely to cause damage to the siding, which in turn, has the potential to create voids. These voids serve as easy access points into the home for pests, small animals, and water (such as fireplace leaks).

If the problem has gotten so bad that the chimney liner has fractured, a more dangerous problem can occur. It could allow combustible gas to seep into your home. This poses a serious threat to anyone inside and must be fixed immediately.

What Causes a Brick Chimney To Lean

Because brick chimneys are exceptionally heavy, they require a sturdy base. If the base is weak or inept, the chimney is inclined to lean. There are several foundation-related problems that can cause this to occur, including:

  • Shallow footings
  • Absent footings
  • Disproportionately small footings
  • Deteriorating footings
  • Improperly compacted soil

Inspecting & Repairing a Tilting Chimney

Regardless of what is causing your chimney to tilt, it is essential to have the chimney inspected and corrected immediately. First, you must determine if the chimney is, in fact, leaning as a result of foundation failure. This can be difficult to assess, but here are a few telltale indicators:

  • A gap between the siding and the chimney: If a gap is separating the siding on the house and the exterior chimney, the lean is probably indicative of foundation problems.
  • Uneven mortar joints: Some chimneys are designed to appear tilted. To determine if your chimney is leaning unintentionally, pay special attention to the horizontal mortar joints. If they are level, the chimney is safe and was built that way intentionally. If not, have the chimney inspected immediately.
  • Leaking chimney: If the roof surrounding your chimney is leaking as a result of dislodged flashing, the chimney has likely settled along with the foundation.
  • Leaning in the attic: If the chimney runs through the interior of the home, inspect the attic to ensure that it is centered properly. If the chimney is leaning, it will be off center in the framed opening and pressed to one side.

Chimney Inspection

A tilting chimney comes with a host of problems that extend far beyond aesthetics. If neglected, it can become a serious health risk to your family, friends, and neighbors. Leaning chimneys are rarely a standard age-related complication, but rather a defect related to deep foundation problems.

Because the chimney is often one of the heaviest parts of your home, it can serve as a preliminary symptom of a serious foundation issue. Not only this, but it can also diminish the value of your home substantially. If your chimney is leaning, contact the foundation repair experts at Ground Up Foundation Repair immediately. We offer estimates and inspections on most of our work.

A leaning chimney can quickly turn into a host of expensive problems, including:

If the chimney is left unrepaired, you are at a high risk of a chimney collapse. This puts your family, neighbors, and home at great risk.

Our team of foundation contractors offer a variety of chimney repair solutions. Helical piers from Earth Contact Products can be used to lift your slab foundations, porches, and other lightweight structures. Other options include installing steel piers and/or plate anchors.

Contact us today to schedule a chimney inspection. We will determine the best solution for your home. Ground Up Foundation Repair proudly serves Middle Tennessee (including Nashville, Franklin, and Murfreesboro). Contact us for an estimate and prompt service to fix your chimney problem at the source! Don’t wait until your leaning chimney inflicts serious damage.

Foundation Repair Experts

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