Strips That Prevent Mold From Growing on a Brick Chimney

Mold

• Mold, moss and other fungal matter can thrive on a brick chimney, especially in climates that receive lots of rain and many days of cloud cover. Dirt and organic matter blown up the roof and inside the nooks and crannies of bricks provide mold with a food source. Left unattended, mold can spread over the surface of several bricks, creating a large patch easily seen from the ground.

Issues

• Mold growing on your chimney is more than just unsightly; it can also cause lasting damage. Over time, mold can stain and discolor bricks, making your house look older and dirty. It can also be a hazard. It does not eat into a brick, but it can open the door to physical damage to your chimney. Seeds blown up to the chimney can find purchase in the mold and dirt it grows on. When the seeds sprout and start to grow, they send out roots searching for nutrients. Over time, the roots can displace and damage the bricks and your chimney. Mold is slick; it can make working on your chimney or the roof more dangerous because of the risk of slipping and falling.

Strips

• Choose between two different metal strips to prevent mold from growing on your brick chimney. Copper and zinc strips both release ions when exposed to water, like during a rainstorm. These ions sheet down the bricks of your chimney, killing mold on contact, which gets rid of established mold and mold spores that are just starting to grow. The ions offer some residual protection between rains. In addition to mold, copper and zinc, strips also prevent moss and mildew from growing on brick.

Considerations

• Install the strips around the top of your chimney. If mold growth has been a serious problem on your chimney in the past, install several rows, spaced about 3 feet apart, wrapping around your chimney down to its base. In addition to preventing mold on your chimney, the strips can also be installed on shingles to protect your roof. If you want to install the strips on a clean chimney, purchase copper sulfate at a home improvement or nursery supply store. Combined with water, it kills mold and other fungal growths on chimneys and roofs.