Blanket insulated liner - Duraflex vs. Duraliner

[Ashful]

So, it turns out my troublesome install comes down to a simple blanket insulated liner. This is after having multiple people come out and refute the claims of the original chimney company (which I won't go into here / most of you have already heard most of it).

My options are: DuraVent Duraliner rigid with factory installed insulation, or DuraVent Duraflex flex liner with field installed insulation. The installer actually thought he could fit a solid pack free-standing chimney up thru my flue (yes, it's big), so I can't imagine I'd have any trouble with fitting the Duraliner rigid.

Height is 29 feet from the firebox floor, and was quoted as 21 feet of liner with 5 feet of connector pipe. The plan is to set it up for bottom-up sweeping, which I assume means a telescoping stovepipe.

Interested in hearing pro's and con's of Duraflex flex versus Duraliner rigid. Also interested in info on this telescoping stovepipe for bottom up sweeping, as I know nothing about them.

Thanks!

 

[begreen]

If you have the room and the budget, I would go with rigid regardless of manufacturer. It's heavier gauge and smoother inside.

 

[Ashful]

Weird thing is... this installer quoted my two chimneys combined at $3550, using a 11' of blanket-wrapped liner in one chimney, and 21' of solid pack chimney in the other. When I asked him to requote the solid pack liner as a simple insulated liner, he requoted at $3500. I'm having trouble understanding why 21 feet of solid pack is only $50 more (installed) than a blanket wrapped liner, flex or rigid.

These are only verbal quotes... still waiting on the written quote.

 

[begreen]

I'm having a hard time understanding how 21' of insulated liner gets up to $3500. I would expect it to come in around $2000. Rigid DuraLiner is about $163 for a 4ft length.

http://www.dynamitebuys.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1271

 

[Ashful]

Actually, your numbers are pretty close, begreen. He quoted the 21 footer as $2400 plus the 11 footer at $1100, for $3500 total. I think the 21 footer is a little more than the usualy $2k because of the difficulty of installation:

1. It's about 45 feet above the ground outside
2. They're working on a 12:12 pitch standing seam tin roof
3. They have to move a 3 foot square x 2" thick flag stone off the top of the chimney
4. The block-off plate requires a good amount of custom fab, due to the size of the smoke chamber.

I'd be tempted to do this myself, if not for the first three factors above.

 

[begreen]

I missed that. If the bid is for two chimneys, then given the constraints the bid sounds to be in the ballpark.

 

[Hogwildz]

I installed 27' Dualiner double wall rigid here back in 2006 myself. Liner cost about $1,000.00, labor performed myself.

 

[Ashful]

Hogwildz, how do you like heights? My chimney is UP there, because the first floor is a good six feet above grade in that area (walk in basement to the right in photo below).



I thought a 40 foot ladder would not reach, if placed on the grass, but it looks like a ladder could be stood on the steps:



That flag stone topper up there makes the job even less attractive for this DIY'er:

 

[DexterDay]

You have a beautiful home Joful... A BIG home. But a beautiful one.

 

[begreen]

Neanderthals don't worry about heights. Hog was a roofer, he's seen em all.

 

[Blue Vomit]

Hogwildz, how do you like heights? My chimney is UP there, because the first floor is a good six feet above grade in that area (walk in basement to the right in photo below).

View attachment 73351 View attachment 73352

I thought a 40 foot ladder would not reach, if placed on the grass, but it looks like a ladder could be stood on the steps:
View attachment 73355
That flag stone topper up there makes the job even less attractive for this DIY'er:
View attachment 73356

holy crap Dude,
Can I live in your gazebo? I could be like Kato Kaelin.

 

[Ashful]

Thanks, guys. I thought it was beautiful too, until I was the one who had to paint, clean, repair, heat it, etc. I've since decided the better way would be to live in a new house across the street from a big old pretty house.

So, I'm going to ask this guy to quote based on Duraliner, and a telescoping stovepipe (still know nothing about those), the goal being bottom-up cleaning. Might get a third quote, before I sign on the dotted line.

 

[Hogwildz]

Hogwildz, how do you like heights? My chimney is UP there, because the first floor is a good six feet above grade in that area (walk in basement to the right in photo below).

View attachment 73351 View attachment 73352

I thought a 40 foot ladder would not reach, if placed on the grass, but it looks like a ladder could be stood on the steps:

View attachment 73355

That flag stone topper up there makes the job even less attractive for this DIY'er:

View attachment 73356

I hated heights, until I became a roofer, then I was thrown on a huge 10/12 pitch for my first job installing cedar shakes. Learned to lose the fear real quick.
The sucky part of your job is the metal roof. Shingles would be much easier to walk. You can either make yourself a platform that rests on the roof to work off of(think angled framing on each side with a platform spanning over the peak), or make a chicken ladder, not as easy to work off of, but done that many times, or even rent a cherry picker and do it off the platform of the cherry picker.

The back side of the house looks like it might be a shorter distance to the roof? Or go with a ladder from the lower roof to the upper roof?
If ya have the cash, cherry picker would be the first choice. And safer choice.
Or if your having it installed by others, then sit back and let them deal with it.
The flagstone will have to either come off all together, or be turned sideways if possible and rest over the part of the chimney that is not being lined while installing the liner.
Not the ideal roof and set up there, but anything can be done with enough planning.