Placerville, El Dorado County
California, USA
The chimney fieldstone grout at the Institute of Forest Genetics in Placerville, CA, had deteriorated, leaving gaps not only between the fieldstones, but also between fieldstones and the red brick foundational structure. To seal these voids, a low-pressure high-flow grout material was used. This is a type of grout with a fluid consistency that allows it to flow into and fill narrow spaces, without the need for excessive manual manipulation. Its low pressure application makes it particularly suitable for fragile, historic structures.
We repointed the fieldstone above the roof in progressive layers, to contain the flow of the grout sealant. We used a masonry mortar product adjusted to match the existing color and texture as closely as possible.
To further mitigate water intrusion, the cracked mortar flue cap cover was removed, and both flue openings were recapped. We prepared and coated the rectangular top surface of the chimney with a waterproof slurry mortar, for additional protection against water intrusion and further spalling and deterioration.
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