What Type Of Mortar For Chimney Cap

For very severe weather applications consider a type s mortar mix made from 1 part cement 1 2 part lime and 4 to 4 1 2 parts sand.

What type of mortar for chimney cap. I ran into a chimney sweep who explained that the reason so many caps crack is that since the mason is up there finishing the top of the chimney and he s got a batch of mortar and he s all set up to mix mortar he creates the cap out of mortar which doesn t last as well when exposed horizontally as it does when exposed vertically. Unfortunately after looking at hundreds of brick chimney on new. The nps describes type n mortar as a mixture of 1 part cement 1 part lime and 5 to 6 parts sand. For the chimney crown to fulfill its purpose it must be properly shaped and installed.

You should sweep off as much of the excess mortar as you can using a hard bristled brush. Brick chimney crown a brick chimney crown also known as a chimney termination cap cement wash or just a chimney cap seals the chimney top opening around the flue and sheds rainwater prevents moisture from deteriorating the chimney. The most common type is called masons mortar which is used for building chimneys and repairing them. The different types of mortar.

Install cap and screen at top of chimney. Because the top of the chimney takes a beating from the elements over the years i recommend using type s masonry cement mortar which has an increased amount of portland cement. The chimney cap will also keep birds and other animals out of your. Install a cap and screen.

Portland cement to bond water to turn it into a paste sand and hydrated lime. Step 1 prepare the chimney. This sweep said that when he does a replacement he. How to repair chimney mortar.

Type n mortar mix has a medium compressive strength and it is composed of 1 part portland cement 1 part lime and 6 parts sand. The chimney cap also called a rain cover is a stainless steel metal cage like box with a roof like top which fits directly on top of the chimney flue liner. The first tip to remember when mixing chimney mortar is the four different types of mortar that are commonly used in building projects. It is also the preferred mortar mix for soft stone masonry.

National parks service also recommends type n mortar for the majority of chimney applications. Remove any mortar which is loose or has been previously used for a different chimney cap. The basic mortar ingredients remain the same. The first step is to ensure that the chimney is got ready for the cement cap.

If any mortar comes loose from the brick cap underneath the wash make sure that you repoint with fresh mortar. For smaller jobs pre mix mortar is available that is used right from the container. It is considered to be a general purpose mix useful for above grade exterior and interior load bearing installations. These types are type o type s type m and type n.