It is not uncommon for home buyers to overlook signs of wear and tear, cosmetic changes, and landscaping issues. In fact, many people specifically hunt these homes out in order to put their own spin on them. However, one sign that should never be ignored is a leaning chimney.
A leaning chimney is a huge indicator that there is a foundational issue with the home’s structure. Home builders now know that a chimney needs its own foundation footing in order to support its enormous weight. However, 60, 85, 100 years ago, it was very common for a chimney to simply be attached to a home and left to support itself or use the support of the house. Because a house is never meant to support an excessive amount of weight, the house will begin to give over time. A leaning chimney will lean in any direction. It can lean out, pulling away from the house; it can lean to either side; or it can begin to lean in toward the home with the risk of falling on top of the roof. All of these scenarios have the possibility for falling and life-threatening results.
Aside from the chimney falling, there are other serious issues that can occur from a leaning chimney:
- Smoke and noxious fumes can easily leak into the home’s interior
- Bricks and stones can easily fall off the chimney, causing property damage, injury, or worse to anyone or anything in their path
- Bugs and other vermin can enter into the home through exposed cracks
- Rain, snow, and wind can seep into your home, causing severe water damage and rot
Many homeowners and home buyers think that a quick, DIY, or temporary fix will be successful at handling a leaning chimney. However, there is no such thing as a quick, DIY, or temporary solution. At the first sign of any type of chimney damage, a licensed, professional foundational expert should be called in immediately.
At Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs, we specialize in chimney repairs and a full range of foundational services. While correcting the foundation issues that are an issue with your property, our masonry experts can aesthetically repair the look of your chimney so that the repaired sections match the rest of the chimney, or so that a new chimney coordinates with your home’s appearance. With over 90 years of experience, Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repair is the name that you can trust.
Posted on behalf of John Anglin, Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
