[cgraham1]

I just had my chimney cleaned. As part of te service I was told that I needed to have the top of my chimney resealed around the flue. It is a manonary chimney with 13x13 clay tile liners. Is their anyone out there who can tell me how to do it myself?

[KISS]

Warning: It's not an easy job

You will need 3 toos minimum. There is a tool that can be used to remove morter from the bricks. I didn't need this. You need a trowel and you need a pointing tool to make the edge.

You'll need pprtland cement and water and something to mix in.

You will also need a sealer for the cement and muratic acid.

Remove the bricks and the loose grout. You may have to relay them.

Mix only the amount of cement you can use in a short time. The cement gets troweled in a pyriamid pattern on the bricks. The brick needs to be set down level.

Remove the excess morter and then use the pointing tool after it has dried some to do the cracks.

The top can be a little difficult to do. You have ti slope the cement, so that water drains. Remove any excess morter.

The next day, you will have to use muratic acid. This is dilute hydrochloric acid avaialable at a hardware store. Follow all precautons and etch the brick to remove the junk.

After it dries at least a week, you have to seal the cement top and also do the grooves with a cement sealer.

Wait until that dries and caulk the chimney to liner area.

It's a rough job. I did one about 3 years ago.

[hkstroud]

I was told that I needed to have the top of my chimney resealed around the flue.

What does that mean? Have you been up there to see for yourself? If that means that there are small cracks or gaps between the flue liner and the mortar and possibly small cracks in the mortar and the mortar is well adhered to the brick you could seal the cracks and around the flue liner with silicone or parge the mortar and seal around the flue liner with roofing cement. Be very careful on ladders and be careful with roofing cement. It will jump out of the bucket to get on your clothes.