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Old timer told me I was scrubbing too hard on stone chimneys
I was at a supply shop in Nashville last week and this guy who's been doing it since the 80s said I was basically sanding down the masonry with stiff wire brushes. He showed me his worn-out nylon brush and talked about how it cleans better without cutting into the flue tiles. Anyone else ever switched to softer brushes after years of using the stiff ones?
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jones.mason5mo ago
The stiff wire brushes definitely do a number on old masonry. I switched to nylon and even some softer brass bristles a few years back after noticing I was leaving those little scratch marks on the flue tiles. Made a huge difference in how the finish looks after cleaning, way less dust and mess too. It does take a little more elbow grease to get the heavy creosote off but the brick and mortar last way longer this way. Kind of a trade off where you save time upfront but pay for it later with damage you can't undo. Worth trying for a job or two to see if you like how the stone feels after.
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william8165mo ago
Yeah @jones.mason nailed it honestly. I used to think stiffer was always better but man the scratches are permanent. Once you see them in the right light you cant unsee em. Nylon takes more scrubbing for sure but the trade off is worth it if you care about the chimney lasting decades not just years. I ruined one old flue liner before I learned my lesson. Never again with the metal bristles on old brick.
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