Shotty thimble work, Need help, includes pic

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

MJWorker

New Member
Apr 7, 2011
2
NE PA
I had a "mason" install a chimney for me. I didn't find out after the job was done, that it's wasn't done correctly. I believe that there should be 12" of brick all around the thimble, but as you can see. It is far from it.

Does anyone know, once it's fixed, how close the drywall can be to the thimble? The current brickwork is flush with the studs so I can put Sheetrock right up to it.
 

Attachments

  • Thimble2.jpg
    Thimble2.jpg
    110.7 KB · Views: 386
In canada you would be required to have 18" of brick around that tile and you would have to leave the brick exposed. Not sure on all the us codes but you won't be able to cover the brick with sheetrock as that is combustable and have to keep it away from the thimble.
 
Drywall is considered combustible because of the paper face and back. That bottom stud needs to come out and more brick added to get your 12".
Then you could use cement board to go over the brick and up to the thimble. If you skim coat it, you can blend it with drywall easily.
I would also not go all the way to the thimble with the cement board, I would leave a 2" gap and use one of those round metal shields to cover the gap.
 

Attachments

  • thruwall1.gif
    thruwall1.gif
    10.6 KB · Views: 311
I thought that the mason knew what he was doing when I contracted him. He did a good job on the block chimney, but he tried to pull one over on me with this brick work.
 
I don't want to bash masons because most of them do great work building masonry structures. The problem is that a lot of them don't know anything about building codes relating to chimneys and simply build chimneys the way they were taught 20 years ago. He probably thought there was nothing wrong with what he was doing.

Keep this in mind: If your local building official approves the work, legally there is nothing incorrect about it, whether it meets the specific code or not. Also, keep in mind that the 12" requirement may or may not be adopted in your area. Some places don't have any requirements and you can do whatever you like and still be "legal".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.