We bought our house last year and the inspector suggested we needed to repoint our 2 chimneys...
1 chimney converted for gas fireplace (fp)
1 chimney orginal wood burning fireplace (fp)
...which had hairline cracks in the mortar. the chimneys are otherwise in good shape. I'm finally now getting around to bringing in a mason to do the work. I've gotten 2 quotes to date (waiting on a 3rd). The 1st guy came out and didn't even bother to make an appointment to meet with me. He just put a quote in the mail slot which included the following work...
- supply and install 1 hooded cap for wood burning fp chimney
- wirebrush top of chimney
- repoint major holes
- water proof ground up
The 2nd guy was great...he came out and discussed all the issues and solutions, none of which required repointing. He suggested that I paint the chimneys with elastomeric paint which will seal those cracks. He did go on to recommend the following...
- erect scaffolding for both chimneys
- grind out and install new counter flashing
- remove top course on each chimney
- set up 2 course corbels
- install 2 custom chase pans
- install gas liner at top of flue
- install 1 hooded chimeny pot for gas fp chimney
- install mini box up cover and insulate top of flue for wood fp chimney
- install screens for pest prevention
- install 1 hooded chimney pot for wood fp chimney
Once this work is done, we will never be able to use the wood burning fireplace again but we're OK with that. At least this will stop the cold drafts from entering our home in the winter. We may convert it to gas later or just use candles in the fireplace. He also went on to say that it would take several days to custom manufacture the chase pans so we could use the scaffolding at that time to paint the chimneys with elastomeric paint. I should mention we live on the wet coast of the Pacific Northwest and get a lot of rain in the winter months.
My confusion is the extreme differences in work quoted. It seems, at least to me, that the 2nd guy knows what he is talking about but since I have no experience in masonry, I don't know if he's just selling a lot of unnecessary work. I plan on having this home for the next 20+ years and altough the 2nd guy was significantly more expensive (approx $3000 CAD) than the 1st guy (approx $750 CAD), I'd rather do it right now to save a major expense later than cheap out now. The only problem is...I don't really know what "right" is. I also don't know if the brick work would last any longer with the work done.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Ray
1 chimney converted for gas fireplace (fp)
1 chimney orginal wood burning fireplace (fp)
...which had hairline cracks in the mortar. the chimneys are otherwise in good shape. I'm finally now getting around to bringing in a mason to do the work. I've gotten 2 quotes to date (waiting on a 3rd). The 1st guy came out and didn't even bother to make an appointment to meet with me. He just put a quote in the mail slot which included the following work...
- supply and install 1 hooded cap for wood burning fp chimney
- wirebrush top of chimney
- repoint major holes
- water proof ground up
The 2nd guy was great...he came out and discussed all the issues and solutions, none of which required repointing. He suggested that I paint the chimneys with elastomeric paint which will seal those cracks. He did go on to recommend the following...
- erect scaffolding for both chimneys
- grind out and install new counter flashing
- remove top course on each chimney
- set up 2 course corbels
- install 2 custom chase pans
- install gas liner at top of flue
- install 1 hooded chimeny pot for gas fp chimney
- install mini box up cover and insulate top of flue for wood fp chimney
- install screens for pest prevention
- install 1 hooded chimney pot for wood fp chimney
Once this work is done, we will never be able to use the wood burning fireplace again but we're OK with that. At least this will stop the cold drafts from entering our home in the winter. We may convert it to gas later or just use candles in the fireplace. He also went on to say that it would take several days to custom manufacture the chase pans so we could use the scaffolding at that time to paint the chimneys with elastomeric paint. I should mention we live on the wet coast of the Pacific Northwest and get a lot of rain in the winter months.
My confusion is the extreme differences in work quoted. It seems, at least to me, that the 2nd guy knows what he is talking about but since I have no experience in masonry, I don't know if he's just selling a lot of unnecessary work. I plan on having this home for the next 20+ years and altough the 2nd guy was significantly more expensive (approx $3000 CAD) than the 1st guy (approx $750 CAD), I'd rather do it right now to save a major expense later than cheap out now. The only problem is...I don't really know what "right" is. I also don't know if the brick work would last any longer with the work done.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Ray