My Chimney Failed Inspection.....Thinking About Taking It Down And Building A New One

[Uncle]

I just got the bad news this morning. The chimney inspector said the lintel and damper are not up to code. I should add the fireplace is over 200 years old. Its a 25 foot interior chimney and I am seriously thinking of taking it down myself. I spoke to the construction department where I live and they said I could take out a homeowners permit and do the work myself.

My questions are...

How much would a new one cost me to build?

What type of unit should I put in it? I was going to go with the Hearthstone Clyde but now I'd like to ask the experts here what they would go with?

Has anyone done this? If so what is involved?

 

[begreen]

The damper is coming out, have you asked a mason what it would take to fix the lintel?

 

[Uncle]

I have the mason coming next week. But from what I understand this chimney can not be used. The mason is coming over to give me a quote to replace it. I know its going to be sky high because these guys have a ton of work since "Sandy" hit this area last year.

Thanks Begreen, thats going to be the first thing I ask him.

 

[begreen]

If replacing, I would strongly weigh the alternative of going all metal in stainless class A.

 

[bholler]

why is it unusable? cant you get a liner in it? because the lintel and damper can be fixed and lining it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than rebuilding

 

[Uncle]

If replacing, I would strongly weigh the alternative of going all metal in stainless class A.

I am going to look into that, what would it entail?

 

[bholler]

it would entail tearing out the masonry and putting in a class a connected to what ever appliance you choose. but I am curios why it needs taken down it is rare that a chimney cant be saved at all

 

[Uncle]

why is it unusable? cant you get a liner in it? because the lintel and damper can be fixed and lining it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than rebuilding

Its over 200 years old, its shallow with only a 14 inch depth. We can't get a 6 inch liner in it. But I won't know for sure until the mason comes next week.

 

[bholler]

oh was it a coal fire place? they usually have pretty small flues. id have a chimney sweep look at it first tearing down an interior chimney is a huge pain in the ass and if you can avoid it I would. just because it is 200 yrs old doesn't mean it needs taken down we reline quite a few really old chimneys that we can fairly easily bring up to code

 

[bholler]

if it is an old coal fireplace id lean towards putting a gas insert in there and a wood burner wit a class a else where there are gas units made for old coal fireplaces that are really shallow and work well. just my opinion because tearing it down will be a big project most old interior chimneys support structure also so that is a whole other problem

 

[ClintonH]

I know liners can be made in rectangular shape as well: I'm not sure how they price out but "waste not, want not." There are specifications so they match a comparable 6" liner for draft/ventilation for standard appliance needs.

 

[Uncle]

it would entail tearing out the masonry and putting in a class a connected to what ever appliance you choose. but I am curios why it needs taken down it is rare that a chimney cant be saved at all

What would the class a be encapsulated with if I wanted it to remain in the interior of the house?

I think because to repair the lintel would put the chimney in danger of collapsing.

 

[bholler]

the lintel can usually be replaced with not to much trouble a class a is a fairly simple install you need 2" of clearance for almost all of them fire blocking at each floor that you buy from the manufacturer. the class a will by far be the easiest part of the project if you go that way yo can just build a stud surround around it and drywall it

 

[Uncle]

if it is an old coal fireplace id lean towards putting a gas insert in there and a wood burner wit a class a else where there are gas units made for old coal fireplaces that are really shallow and work well. just my opinion because tearing it down will be a big project most old interior chimneys support structure also so that is a whole other problem

It doesn't look like it supports structure. But I would open the walls and have a structural engineer look at it. I also plan on doing some structural renovations while I have it all open.

The only gas I can get where I am is propane and I really don't want to go that route.

I think to tear it down would be about a weeks worth of work. Although, I've been wrong before...lol