Rhode Island’s freeze-thaw cycles are brutal on chimney structures. Water gets into small cracks during fall rains, then freezes when winter temperatures drop. Ice expands, making those cracks bigger. When it thaws, more water gets in, and the cycle repeats all winter long. Your chimney extends above your roofline where it stays cold, unlike the heated parts of your house. Every temperature swing puts stress on masonry, crown concrete, and flashing materials. What starts as hairline cracks in fall can become major structural problems by spring. That’s exactly why we use vapor-permeable materials designed for New England weather. They allow trapped moisture to escape while blocking new water entry, breaking that destructive freeze-thaw cycle that ruins standard repairs. It’s the difference between a fix that lasts one season and one that protects your home for years.