old chimney - wood built into chimney-- Why??

tcook555 · 05-14-2012, 12:41 AM

Greetings everyone, I tried doing my homework on this but came up empty. In my 200+ year old farmhouse there is a layer of wood built right into the chimney. It's in the basement near the base of the chimney. (see pic)

Has anyone seen this before? Was this common way back then? Why would they do this??

The wood is now rotting, yet there is at least 30' of chimney above it.

There is no chimney access in the basement, but on the first floor, right above it, there is a fireplace.

Thanks for any feedback on this!

**oh'mike** · 05-14-2012, 07:34 AM

Never saw that before---Why would they have done that?

TRUEPRO · 05-14-2012, 11:52 AM

It wasnt uncommon at all for rafter systems to be built in with brick chimneys in older houses (20s and earlier). By locking in the wood with the brick, it made the roof stronger. Now i cant really see how the wood is incorporated in with the brick because the slight blur but im sure there was a legitimate reason they did this. If you have any concern with the structural integrity of the brick then you prob want a foundation expert to come look at it.

GL

angryprinces136 · 05-18-2012, 07:25 PM