Is this flex liner usable, and a crown question.

[Kvic]

Another long time lurker who's found good information here, and now having recently had a Buck 91 insert installed, needing to go from lurking to asking. There were a couple of hiccups with the install, and the installers will be coming a week from now to remove the liner and fully insulate and properly reconnect to the stove. After the stove was installed, I was preparing to install a block off plate and realized the chimney was leaking. Today while putting a tarp over the chimney, I decided to take the top off the chimney cap to check some measurements, and looked inside the pipe and looks like it may have been damaged during the install. Based on the picture, is it still usable? Was planning on sending pictures to the install manager tomorrow anyway, but figured I'd check here to see what others thought since I wanted to ask about the crown as well.
Have gotten a couple of estimates on repairing the chimney, and had similar conclusions; repoint some joints, seal the crown with crown seal, waterproofing the brick, and reseal the flashing. One to to reseal with silicone, the other Flash Seal.
Also have a patio that needs to be lifted and sealed, and while getting an estimate for that from a different company, the estimator, who started his career in concrete/masonry, suggested having a stainless chase cover put over the crown instead of rebuild (I know from reading some posts that there are differing opinions on this, but for my budget probably the best longevity option). Really need to have both projects done, but not enough money to pay for both as estimated. Being an avid DIYer, I always like to do what I can where I think I can do a proper job, and having some construction background from earlier in life, I really enjoy doing things like this as well. At first I was looking at doing the crown seal myself, but after the recommendation on the chase cover think I will go that route and contract out the repointing but do the waterproofing myself. So the questions on the crown are: should I still put crown seal/crown coat or similar on the crown before or just fill the cracks and put the SS cover over it, and does the gauge of the stainless make a big difference? Other than the cracks, the crown is solid. Looking at ordering the cover from Rockford, and possibly having it powder coated if they'll do that to chase covers like they do for caps.
Appreciate any help/thoughts. Thanks.

 

[bholler]

Another long time lurker who's found good information here, and now having recently had a Buck 91 insert installed, needing to go from lurking to asking. There were a couple of hiccups with the install, and the installers will be coming a week from now to remove the liner and fully insulate and properly reconnect to the stove. After the stove was installed, I was preparing to install a block off plate and realized the chimney was leaking. Today while putting a tarp over the chimney, I decided to take the top off the chimney cap to check some measurements, and looked inside the pipe and looks like it may have been damaged during the install. Based on the picture, is it still usable? Was planning on sending pictures to the install manager tomorrow anyway, but figured I'd check here to see what others thought since I wanted to ask about the crown as well.
Have gotten a couple of estimates on repairing the chimney, and had similar conclusions; repoint some joints, seal the crown with crown seal, waterproofing the brick, and reseal the flashing. One to to reseal with silicone, the other Flash Seal.
Also have a patio that needs to be lifted and sealed, and while getting an estimate for that from a different company, the estimator, who started his career in concrete/masonry, suggested having a stainless chase cover put over the crown instead of rebuild (I know from reading some posts that there are differing opinions on this, but for my budget probably the best longevity option). Really need to have both projects done, but not enough money to pay for both as estimated. Being an avid DIYer, I always like to do what I can where I think I can do a proper job, and having some construction background from earlier in life, I really enjoy doing things like this as well. At first I was looking at doing the crown seal myself, but after the recommendation on the chase cover think I will go that route and contract out the repointing but do the waterproofing myself. So the questions on the crown are: should I still put crown seal/crown coat or similar on the crown before or just fill the cracks and put the SS cover over it, and does the gauge of the stainless make a big difference? Other than the cracks, the crown is solid. Looking at ordering the cover from Rockford, and possibly having it powder coated if they'll do that to chase covers like they do for caps.
Appreciate any help/thoughts. Thanks.

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Nope that liner is junk. Is that pic from the top or the bottom?

 

[Kvic]

Nope that liner is junk. Is that pic from the top or the bottom?

From the top. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[bholler]

From the top. Thanks for the quick reply.

Never mind at first I thought the liner was upside down. But I looked closer and it isn't. But honestly I would seriously think about whether you want guys who thought that was acceptable doing the work.

This is also why I don't like the 2 ply smooth wall liners

 

[Kvic]

Never mind at first I thought the liner was upside down. But I looked closer and it isn't. But honestly I would seriously think about whether you want guys who thought that was acceptable doing the work.

This is also why I don't like the 2 ply smooth wall liners

So the liner is ok, just shoddy work?
Yes, unfortunately they were the only ones local that said they install Buck stoves. Company has decent reviews, but I think the crew was new.

 

[bholler]

So the liner is ok, just shoddy work?
Yes, unfortunately they were the only ones local that said they install Buck stoves. Company has decent reviews, but I think the crew was new.

No the liner is destroyed.

 

[Kvic]

No the liner is destroyed.

Sorry, the "never mind" threw me off. This is what I need to know when talking to the production manager. Thanks again.

 

[Kvic]

How about this one? I'm sorry, I have no idea if this is acceptable or not (I would say no, but I'm definitely not a professional on this). This is the replacement, 8" insulated on site pipe through 13x13 flue. Looks like several kinks in different places, and then the water park slide. They pushed it through and probably twisted when it got tight. Looks like if it was pulled through like some videos I've seen, this wouldn't have happened?

Didn't think to ask about upgrading to heavier wall, so I'm sure the cheapest they could get.

 

[begreen]

That doesn't look good. Same crew?

 

[bholler]

Just looks like cheap crappy liner they pushed down the chimney. I don't really see any damage.

 

[begreen]

I was thinking those hills and valleys where it got twisted would be creosote traps.

 

[bholler]

I was thinking those hills and valleys where it got twisted would be creosote traps.

Absolutely but a rotary cleaner will clean it.

 

[armanidog]

Would they be able to untwist it and straighten it out some? Anyway to pull it from the top?
It looks like a wormhole going to another planet.

 

[bholler]

Would they be able to untwist it and straighten it out some? Anyway to pull it from the top?
It looks like a wormhole going to another planet.

Possibly it's hard to say. That's one of the reasons I don't use light wall

 

[bholler]

This is a 10" mid weight we fought with allot to get in. Still looks great.

 

[Kvic]

Yes, same crew. It does look ok from the top to that point which wasn't really visible until I zoomed in. Something looked off, but the sun was so bright couldn't really tell.

So the second picture isn't as bad as it looks, or just the nature of the cheap liner?

Sending pictures to the production manager in a bit once I find his email and see what he says.

 

[Kvic]

Project manager is coming out tomorrow to take care of another issue and will check the liner then. Turns out they installed the surround panels wrong, which he said he would fix himself instead of sending the other crew.