Annoying House Maintenance
Last year when we bought this house, the inspector told us we should have our chimney tuckpointed within a year. Tuckpointing, I learned, is replacing the mortar between the bricks of a chimney so it doesn’t collapse. Now it’s a year later, winter is coming, and I find there’s good reason I’ve put off this particular piece of maintenance.
First, it’s hard to find someone to do it. We have a two-story house with a high-pitched roof and three peaks, so it won’t be easy getting up there. I’ve asked four people. One said it was too high and he couldn’t do it. Another gave me an estimate of $1200 to $1400. A third waited two weeks to call me at 7:25 in the morning to tell me he was too busy. And the fourth I’m still waiting on an estimate from.
So it’s likely to be expensive, there’s not a lot of choice in who can do it, and finally, it’s not something we’re going to notice or appreciate if we do, only suffer for if we don’t. I shouldn’t complain. I was the one who wanted to buy the old house, as my husband G. Grod often reminds me. But it’s still aggravating.
May 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Just send Grod up there with some mortar and slap it in the gaps and bail. You need to just fill in the holes. And good luck. Just remember to tie a rope around his waste for an anchor. And don’t attach it to your car and decide to go to the store.