I did a search and didn't find anything or even where would be the best place to post... I try here.
I have a two story house with a full masonry fireplace (two of them). One has the Quadrafire 4100I in it, the other is an open fireplace and not used - really ever used.
The chimney is about 30' high and the house roof is steep, otherwise I'd be up there for a closer look myself (at 72, I don't get on the roof anymore, and never on this roof).
A year ago I found a brick in the yard and looking at the external chimney (has three flues, also one to the basement), a "used" brick just like the type used for building the chimney/fireplace inside and out. I looked at the mortar at ground level, and it looked fine to my untrained eye. I figured the brick must have came loose from the top of the chimney, there is some flare out decorative (I figure) work at the top. Then, this year I see a brick sticking out at the very top, almost at 90 degrees to the chimney wall to which it was part of, I think part of the "extra" brick that's up there for eye-appeal, not structural. This corner of the chimney is the side the unused fireplace flue goes up, so that side has seen the minimum of thermal "stress".
I plan to have the chimney (6" stainless for 4100I Insert) cleaned, including the cap, this spring by a professional. Most do brick work too, I'll check on that and get the brick work fixed up top too.
Any suggestions on what to look for? I don't have a "trusted" chimney sweep/repair so I will be on my own in evaluating the proposed work. I'd not be surprised if they would want to "re-point" the whole works for a $2K figure, or other high price. What I have in mind is something like $250 to clean the stainless steel lined chimney (that should take them about 15 minutes) and reinstall the loose/missing bricks - plus do some general brick mortar reconditioning in the top 5' of the chimney. Given I've seen chimney experts and roofers on my roof with nothing more than an extension ladder, and the ability to walk up/around on the steep roof the brick work shouldn't take more than an hour.. okay make the total cost at $350 being acceptable too.
Any experience, advice?
I have a two story house with a full masonry fireplace (two of them). One has the Quadrafire 4100I in it, the other is an open fireplace and not used - really ever used.
The chimney is about 30' high and the house roof is steep, otherwise I'd be up there for a closer look myself (at 72, I don't get on the roof anymore, and never on this roof).
A year ago I found a brick in the yard and looking at the external chimney (has three flues, also one to the basement), a "used" brick just like the type used for building the chimney/fireplace inside and out. I looked at the mortar at ground level, and it looked fine to my untrained eye. I figured the brick must have came loose from the top of the chimney, there is some flare out decorative (I figure) work at the top. Then, this year I see a brick sticking out at the very top, almost at 90 degrees to the chimney wall to which it was part of, I think part of the "extra" brick that's up there for eye-appeal, not structural. This corner of the chimney is the side the unused fireplace flue goes up, so that side has seen the minimum of thermal "stress".
I plan to have the chimney (6" stainless for 4100I Insert) cleaned, including the cap, this spring by a professional. Most do brick work too, I'll check on that and get the brick work fixed up top too.
Any suggestions on what to look for? I don't have a "trusted" chimney sweep/repair so I will be on my own in evaluating the proposed work. I'd not be surprised if they would want to "re-point" the whole works for a $2K figure, or other high price. What I have in mind is something like $250 to clean the stainless steel lined chimney (that should take them about 15 minutes) and reinstall the loose/missing bricks - plus do some general brick mortar reconditioning in the top 5' of the chimney. Given I've seen chimney experts and roofers on my roof with nothing more than an extension ladder, and the ability to walk up/around on the steep roof the brick work shouldn't take more than an hour.. okay make the total cost at $350 being acceptable too.
Any experience, advice?
