My home was built in 1971. There is a brick fireplace that runs up the entire wall. The mortar is cracking and breaking in chunks(about 1" thickness) where the fireplace attaches to the wall. I decided I should chip out all the mortar and just put new mortar in; however, one side isn't really that bad. Do you think I should take the mortar out of it to anyway? I was told that mortar won't stick to mortar. Has anyone had to repair between a brick fireplace and wall and did you like the outcome? Any suggestions? Picture attached. Thank you.
Brick to drywall
brickfireplacemortar
Related Topic
- Venting a direct vent fireplace into an existing wood burning stove flue
- Removed Outer Brick on an Old Fireplace. Need Advice on how to re-finish
- Why did concrete screws feel loose when installed in a brick wall
- Brick fireplace – pulling away from wall
- Finishing around brick veneer fireplace
- Convert recessed brick mortar to concave mortar design to decrease water intrusion due to high winds
- Replace fire bricks in fireplace
Best Answer
It looks like you have movement. I like using quarter round at joints like this. I would make some measurements of the gaps--they could have happened long ago but a picture of a tape measure and the date saved or printed off and saved inside a cabinet close will help you see if it is getting worse.
It could be rot. Bad flashing around fireplaces and some rotten studs or header across the fireplace are not uncommon.
It could be ants, termites or beetles having their meals on the structure.
It could be soil movement.
I listed them in the order I have found the most often over the years. If it doesn’t change in the next 6 months check it in a year. If there's no change again it's just settling that happened in the past.