How do I work on the top of this chimney?

[patrickoneal]

We have a dealer about 4 miles away but this job is definitely a 3 day job - especially with the crown. Someone like bholler could probably do it in a day so that would mean at least a week for me!

Yeah, DIY jobs definitely take longer than a pro would. It would probably be too costly to rent a lift for a week.

The way I usually decide to DIY or not is to figure if I could do the job twice and still at least break even compared to hiring it out. I also consider the likelihood or serious injury or death. I'm clumsy, so when I need a new roof, cost doesn't even enter the equation.

If you end up using scaffolding, get some rope to make a handline and have some help on the ground, at least when you start working. Climbing up and down everytime you need another tool sucks. Just make sure they're clear of the work area in case you drop something. They might look silly wearing a hard hat, but a $5 hard hat vs a cracked skull is a good bargain.

 

[fire_man]

Yeah, DIY jobs definitely take longer than a pro would. It would probably be too costly to rent a lift for a week.

The way I usually decide to DIY or not is to figure if I could do the job twice and still at least break even compared to hiring it out. I also consider the likelihood or serious injury or death. I'm clumsy, so when I need a new roof, cost doesn't even enter the equation.

If you end up using scaffolding, get some rope to make a handline and have some help on the ground, at least when you start working. Climbing up and down everytime you need another tool sucks. Just make sure they're clear of the work area in case you drop something. They might look silly wearing a hard hat, but a $5 hard hat vs a cracked skull is a good bargain.

Good tips and we think alike. I gladly payed to have the roof shingled but I kind of like the idea of tackling the chimney myself. The cost of scaffolding does not look that bad, Roughly $200 per week or $271 for 2 weeks. Its actually cheaper than home depot's crazy 32' ladder rental charge of $200 per week or $400 for 2 weeks!

 

[bholler]

I like the idea of removing a course of brick since maybe then I might not have to add to the clay liner. But what's supporting the old crown and if I remove the top course what happens to that support?

The old crown should probably come off anyway

 

[fire_man]

The old crown should probably come off anyway

What supports the crown underneath ? Do you chisel the old one out?

We are talking 18 square feet and who knows how thick?

 

[bholler]

Good tips and we think alike. I gladly payed to have the roof shingled but I kind of like the idea of tackling the chimney myself. The cost of scaffolding does not look that bad, Roughly $200 per week or $271 for 2 weeks. Its actually cheaper than home depot's crazy 32' ladder rental charge of $200 per week or $400 for 2 weeks!

Thats because ladders get damaged much more often. And honestly a good ladder will cost more than a few bucks of scaffold. I dont know what they are renting but for what you wanted to do you would need at least a 325 lb rated ladder

 

[bholler]

What supports the crown underneath ? Do you chisel the old one out?

We are talking 18 square feet and who knows how thick?

I dont know what supports yours. Some chimneys are filled with rubble and the crown is just ontop of that. Some are done over plywood that is always rotted away. Some are over metal which is also often gone.

 

[fire_man]

I dont know what supports yours. Some chimneys are filled with rubble and the crown is just ontop of that. Some are done over plywood that is always rotted away. Some are over metal which is also often gone.

What is the correct way to support the crown while its being poured?

 

[bholler]

What is the correct way to support the crown while its being poured?

That depends on the structure under it. Sometimes sheet metal works well other times cement board is better. What ever you do you need a bond break between the top of the chimney and the crown and between the crown and the liner.

 

[fire_man]

Yes I was just reading about the bond break in this article

http://www.firewood-for-life.com/chimney-crown-replacement.html

They say to make the crown 4" thick. WOW thats going to be 14 bags (80 lb each ) of concrete for my chimney!!

 

[bholler]

Yes I was just reading about the bond break in this article

http://www.firewood-for-life.com/chimney-crown-replacement.html

They say to make the crown 4" thick. WOW thats going to be 14 bags (80 lb each ) of concrete for my chimney!!

The brick institute no longer recomend metal reinforcement in crowns. Fiber reinforced concrete is prefered

 

[patrickoneal]

Good tips and we think alike. I gladly payed to have the roof shingled but I kind of like the idea of tackling the chimney myself. The cost of scaffolding does not look that bad, Roughly $200 per week or $271 for 2 weeks. Its actually cheaper than home depot's crazy 32' ladder rental charge of $200 per week or $400 for 2 weeks!

Scaffolding is a hell of a lot safer to work off of than a ladder too. We're not even allowed to build scaffolding on one of our main customers job sites, we have to get it setup by Sunbelt or another approved supplier. I guess it's good in the end because those guys are intensively trained in safe methods of construction.

 

[Rich L]

You would be surprised.

bholler your right.I was working on a flat rubber roof once and I tried to get the paint roll off the paint roller without touching it.I flicked the roller real quick and the glue covered roller flew off and went through the outside of the chimney brick.The chimney looked sturdy but the roller proved otherwise.After that I'll never trust putting weight on a chimney.

 

[fire_man]

I'm missing something.

How can a chimney that can withstant Eastern MA winds ( 70 MPH+) fail in the presence of a paint roller? How did a paint roller go " through the outside of the chimney brick"?

 

[bholler]

I'm missing something.

How can a chimney that can withstant Eastern MA winds ( 70 MPH+) fail in the presence of a paint roller? How did a paint roller go " through the outside of the chimney brick"?

The fact is most of the time a chimney would be fine. But you need to be absolutly sure of that before you trust your life on it

 

[Seasoned Oak]

That chimney of yours fire man weighs at least 5 tons probably more . You couldnt damage it with 2 x 4 let alone a paint roller. You could strap the scaffolding to it just above where it meets the roof or the roof or the windows ,your choice. The chimney is already fastened to the house if its installed correctly.

 

[bholler]

That chimney of yours fire man weighs at least 5 tons probably more . You couldnt damage it with 2 x 4 let alone a paint roller. You could strap the scaffolding to it just above where it meets the roof or the roof or the windows ,your choice. The chimney is already fastened to the house if its installed correctly.

Yes it should be fine but you dont know that at all. I work on chimneys every day and i can tell you that there are lots of chimneys out there that look fine just like that but if you go on the roof and push on them they move allot. And yes it weighs allot which is why you dont want it coming down with you and your scaffolding. It is also allot more than 5 tons.

 

[fire_man]

That chimney of yours fire man weighs at least 5 tons probably more . You couldnt damage it with 2 x 4 let alone a paint roller. You could strap the scaffolding to it just above where it meets the roof or the roof or the windows ,your choice. The chimney is already fastened to the house if its installed correctly.

Seasoned Oak, I agree with you. But I don't understand how Rich L broke a chimney by flicking a paint roller at it

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Seasoned Oak, I agree with you. I was trying to understand how Rich L managed to damage a chimney by flicking a paint roller at it

Sounds like it was covered with Zbrick with hollow spaces behind the facade , only way i could think of . Your not going through solid brick with anything but a sledge hammer and even that wouldnt be easy.

 

[fire_man]

Yes it should be fine but you dont know that at all. I work on chimneys every day and i can tell you that there are lots of chimneys out there that look fine just like that but if you go on the roof and push on them they move allot. And yes it weighs allot which is why you dont want it coming down with you and your scaffolding. It is also allot more than 5 tons.

bholler did you ever come across a chimney that fell because of high winds? Just curious - some do look very flimsy when they are skinny and unsupported for a long height.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Apparently they dont fall that easily. I have rental with a chimney just like yours fireman. very wide and sticking up from the roof 8 feet or more. I took it down because i leaned on it one day and it moved too much for my taste. I was afraid it would come thru the roof one day as i could rock it back and forth. The neighbors house was the same way and that is still standing 20 yrs later. We have had some nasty wind storms here that have taken down large trees right next door .That said as far as taking risk, id put working off a ladder higher than strapping your scaffolding to the base of the chimney, but since there are other ways to secure it, no problem , strap it(scaffoldng) to the roof and patch the holes with elastic roof cement . Your scaffolding will put very little pressure on whatever you attach it to unless its sinking,or not level vertically or your hanging off the outside of it for some reason. Be safe ,forget the ladder.

 

[fire_man]

Apparently they dont fall that easily. I have rental with a chimney just like yours fireman. very wide and sticking up from the roof 8 feet or more. I took it down because i leaned on it one day and it moved too much for my taste. I was afraid it would come thru the roof one day as i could rock it back and forth.

Wow the fact it moved at all is amazing. I would have done the same thing and taken it down. It pays to get damage fixed on a chimney before it turns into a huge problem.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Wow the fact it moved at all is amazing. I would have done the same thing and taken it down. It pays to get damage fixed on a chimney before it turns into a huge problem.

I installed a direct vent kit on the oil furnace that was using it. I estimate just the top i took off at about 1.5 tons. that a lot of weight to be swaying back and forth above your house. Also there was a water leak where it went through the roof so it fixed that also, to remove it. House was built in 1885, dont know how old the chimney was.

 

[VirginiaIron]

I'm missing something.

How can a chimney that can withstant Eastern MA winds ( 70 MPH+) fail in the presence of a paint roller? How did a paint roller go " through the outside of the chimney brick"?

An item will never fall until it is ready.

 

[bholler]

Seasoned Oak, I agree with you. But I don't understand how Rich L broke a chimney by flicking a paint roller at it

The brick was probably eroded from the inside. It is not uncommon in unlined chimneys.

 

[bholler]

bholler did you ever come across a chimney that fell because of high winds? Just curious - some do look very flimsy when they are skinny and unsupported for a long height.

Yes but it is very uncommon.