( sigh )
I have had a murderous time trying to find someone to tuckpoint a small section of our chimney. It is a small section, but near the very top of the structure (approx 25 ft). Throughout the year, no one would return my calls. One guy who did insisted on tearing the chimney down to the roofline and reconstructing from there.
My wife is at the point where she wants me to do it myself with the neighbor's ladder truck, and a caulking gun loaded with a tube of mortar repair. Despite my parasailing adventure when we vacationed in Mex last year, the idea of doing this makes me VERY nervous. Plus I am dubious as to the virtues of Mortar-in-a-Tube and what will keep it from just falling through the joint.
What I want to throw out here is, when should I start to worry about the chimney's structural integrity? I am concerned with a small section of the south side about 1 foot by three feet, with several joints open but most of them looking sound. I would rather try and wait until spring when I might be able to get a pro out here.
BTW, the fireplace involved is used only with a "gas log" and that is very infrequently. No wood fires.
Thanks