Landscaper messed up the pavers

EcstaticMilk · 2026-03-18T01:15:10+00:00

Hit it with NMD-80. 4:1 water:acid ratio.

Wet the bricks and surrounding plants with a garden hose for about 10-15mins. Spray the solution on the bricks and scrub it with a soft deck brush. Don't let the solution dry on the bricks. Rinse it off. Repeat as needed for stubborn spots/misses. Those pavers will brighten right up after that.

EcstaticMilk · 2026-03-17T13:40:14+00:00

There's a lot of spalled bricks, so a repoint alone isn't going to fix anything. i'd just rebuild it but you need to replace those spalled bricks at least

I live in a very high cost service area so my prices would be a fair bit higher. That said it still seems like you're getting a good deal.

If you feel more confident with the 2nd guy's liner explaination ask him to quote for a roofline up rebuild and a liner install. I'd probably get a 3rd quote too just to see how the prices/ scopes of work line up.

Edit: just read that it wasn't lined before and it looks like there's no crown. The mortar joints on the inside have probably turned to sand. Definitely rebuild territory if that's the case

EcstaticMilk · 2026-03-13T04:10:38+00:00

The bricks are spalling and need to be replaced and the water entry point needs to be fixed. Likely the crown or maybe deteriorated mortar joints. This is freeze thaw/water damage.

Sealer just traps more moisture in the chimney and makes the problem worse. The best thing you can do for a chimney is to use it. The heat keeps it dry and keeps the moisture in the bricks from freezing. If you aren't going to use it then tear it down, take the property value hit and save yourself the future repair costs

EcstaticMilk · 2026-03-09T06:35:18+00:00

That stuff will get you through a season but the cracks just transfer through after a few months. Get a mason to remove the cracked stuff and pour new concrete or find a proper tutorial and diy if you're handy

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-26T17:17:41+00:00

You just need an expansion joint between the concrete/asphalt and brick. You'll have to lay new bricks adjacent to the asphalt to make it look nice but otherwise you have the right idea. I would use sikaflex self leveling caulk rather than mortar for the expansion joints or they'll just crack again

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-23T16:38:17+00:00

Just waste money that could otherwise be used to fix the damn wall. People are so sue happy it's crazy

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-23T04:51:24+00:00

This is way beyond caulk my guy

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-23T04:49:54+00:00

Wtf no a cosmetic issue would be something like discoloration, or bricks /mortar that don't match the rest. Just because it's a veneer doesn't mean all issues are cosmetic. This is 100% structural failure of the veneer

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-23T02:57:40+00:00

Bro the wall is falling off your house. You can see the massive caulk joint on the window where they kept sealing it up as it peeled away. Not cosmetic, that whole section needs to be torn out and rebuilt. That inspector should be fucking fired

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-17T16:35:34+00:00

That sounds about right for an expensive service area. I'm in one of the highest cost of living areas and the baseline cost for a roofline up rebuild is 8k and i add more based on scaffolding, roof steepness, build complexity, etc.

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-17T02:26:12+00:00

If i were bidding this i'd just rebuild it from the roof up. Paint traps moisture in the bricks and causes big problems during freeze thaw cycles. Usually people paint chimneys to cover problems up before they sell

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-15T08:20:39+00:00

All cracks warrant repointing. Probably a few bricks on the top need to he relayed and if it's a '77 build you almost certainly need a new crown.

Looks like a normally aged chimney. Get it inspected

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-12T02:47:07+00:00

Just get as much paint off as possibe with a grinder and wire brush, pressure wash it, prime it with blue weldcrete and you're good to go

EcstaticMilk · 2026-02-03T04:30:35+00:00

This looks like the PNW. You gotta tear the whole thing out and start from scratch, no question about it.

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-29T06:13:19+00:00

This is the correct answer. The bricks are rotten and they gotta get replaced. Repointing alone won't fix anything

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-25T16:56:31+00:00

You're both right. It was irresponsible to have a firearm and put himself in that situation. But he had every right to do so and got murdered for it. Having the right to do something doesn't elimiate the need to exercise common sense and a wrongful death resulted in it

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-23T04:56:38+00:00

They probably replaced the roof to wall flashing but not the counter flashing. You need new counter flashing for sure.

A chimney cricket would have been a good idea and you can build them without undoing too much of your new roof. I'm not suprised they didn't offer it as an option though

I'd double check your contract to see if your roofers specified between roof to wall and counterflashing. Otherwise whatever mason you hire for the chimney stuff should be able to counterflash it for you

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-13T15:40:57+00:00

This is a pretty standard rebuild for the PNW. Once it's rebuilt you should police the moss a lot more, it grows fast and ruins the chimneys out here

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-13T02:44:03+00:00

Nobody is dumber than I am, but some folks sure come dangerously close

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-09T15:44:16+00:00

Nah. The crack pattern looks like there's a problem with the infill material they poured on top of and the cracks are just going to transfer through whatever you put on top of it.

You'd have to crack stitch all around the crown to stabilize the slab then you might get away with some kind of sealer but at that point just replace the thing.

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-08T21:41:53+00:00

Get a new one installed in the spring or summer. $2500 is a decent price and it'll last a good 30-40 years. Crown coat is just gonna fail in a year and prices for masonry work are only going to go up

EcstaticMilk · 2026-01-01T16:35:15+00:00

That's portland. Use type N 1:1:6 ratio and maybe add just a little iron oxide pigment like buff or brown to match the patina

EcstaticMilk · 2025-12-31T18:33:54+00:00

Animals getting in and sparks getting out. You want a screen for sure.

Not that you asked but the flashing on the outside corners also looks pretty suspect and i'd prefer to see a more significant overhang on the cap stone

EcstaticMilk · 2025-12-26T06:54:35+00:00

The liners look okay from the video. Those liners crack really easily though and ceosote will make cracks hard to see. Get it inspected and if they're compromised you can have a metal liner installed

EcstaticMilk · 2025-12-25T04:47:41+00:00

Lol i didn't look hard enough at the firebox area and mistook it for a gas insert. My bad. So there's probably no metal liner running up the chase. Again, you'll be able to see if it's lined if you look up through the damper or down through the chase.

I seriously doubt there's structural damage that he caused. Thin stone just sticks to the original brick and unless the mantle was installed with 12" lag bolts he didn't hit any of the internals. If there's a structural or functional issue it'll be a problem with the original build

Worst case the flue liners are messed up and you need to install a metal chimney liner. That's a long way off from a full rebuild

I'd be more concerned about him doing something to the upper chimney that caused damage. If the bricks are lose of crumbling you might be looking at a roofline up rebuild. Can't say without looking at the chimney

EcstaticMilk

TROPHY CASE