How To Fix Cracks in My Outdoor Chimenea

Chimineas add a touch of Old World charm to your backyard.

A chiminea is a small outdoor fireplace with a tall chimney to help the smoke rise above people sitting nearby. Chimineas originate in Mexico, where the outdoor hearths cook food. Today, many chimineas are made of terracotta. This is the same material used in flowerpots. Clay chiminea forms are fired in a kiln. Water can weather a terracotta chiminea and shorten the ornament's life. Tiny droplets of water soak into any tiny cracks. In cold weather, the water freezes and expands, widening the crack.

Things You'll Need

• Steel brush
• Two-part epoxy
• Wax paper
• Craft stick
• 120 grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Clean away any loose bits of pottery from the crack with the steel brush. Use the brush carefully so that you do not remove too much fresh terracotta.

2. Mix the two parts of the epoxy on wax paper with the craft stick. Mix only as much as you think you will need. You can mix more epoxy. However, once the epoxy is mixed, any unused adhesive must be discarded.

3. Spread the epoxy in the crack with the wooden craft stick. Allow the epoxy to dry as long as the instructions of your specific epoxy recommend.

4. Sand the epoxy flat against the surface of the chiminea.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent further cracking, seal the terracotta with a clear moisture-resistant glaze.

References

• Dancing Fire: Chiminea Care and Usage
• Hearth: Clay Chiminea Use and Care