Thoughts on my chimney repair options??

[Eddie Werner]

I am closing on a SFR in about 20 days and during the inspection it was noted the cracked mortar joints throughout the chimney were just filled with caulk.

Is it better to grind out all the caulk, repoint and seal it or just apply a thin coat of surface bonding cement to the entire chimney and seal it twice with a drylock masonry sealer?

Thanks, Eddie

[Justin Escajeda]

Agreed with Ronald, I own a masonry restoration company, and you would be surprised how much people repoint with caulking.  Grab a $40 4" grinder and tuck pointing wheel and grind it all out.  Repointing correctly will give you the ease of not ever having to deal with it in your lifetime (even chimneys), go the extra mile and buy some siloxane hp water repellant.  Spray on after pointing, this stuff just beads water right off the masonry and has a life of 3-4 yrs.  Like Ronald said, make sure your cap is good too, if not use Portland cement with an acryl 60 additive mixed in with it.  Hope it works out for you.