how to repair chimney problem

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 11:55 AM

Hey all, I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction of repairing my Chimney. I just notice this problem when I was up on the roof hanging Xmas lights. Below are some pictures of the current state of my Chimney.

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 12:05 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum....
wow... you've got quite a mess there, huh?
if it were me, i'd tear it down to the roof and redo the whole thing.
where are you located? weather?

DM

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 12:08 PM

Thanks for the welcome and reply! I am located in South NJ we just got hit with a big snow storm so I have to wait till after winter.

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 12:22 PM

is this chimney used at present? fireplace or home furnace?

DM

Daniel Holzman · 12-21-2009, 12:27 PM

Hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like the chimney is made from concrete block with cement parging. You should check to see if the part of the chimney that is below the roof line is made of the same material. Based on the amount of damage, it seems possible that the chimney is built from block not designed to resist heat and moisture, in which case you would need to replace the chimney fromthe bottom up. Looks like it was "repaired" once before, that metal band certainly does not look like original material.

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 12:32 PM

Yea its made out of concrete block, the chimney is no longer in use except for the output line for our hot water heater.

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 01:29 PM

we had one like that at our old place.... i tore it down to the attic floor and floored over the remainder and then we got a new roof on. we also got new HWH and furnace that vented from the side of the home.
the wife loved all the extra storage space in the attic! (and not having to squeeze around the old brick chimney)

DM

MJW · 12-21-2009, 02:20 PM

We have taken these down many times. Get rid of that old chimney down below the roof line and use a storm collar on the pipe. Rebuild the roof where the chimney was. Now you just have the pipe that is in use sticking out. This should have been done when the new roof was put on, but it can be done after also. I can't believe a contractor would leave that old chimney stand like that and just tar around it........

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 03:51 PM

Now would I have to get rid of the whole Chimeny? It runs from my basement all the way up to my roof.

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 04:16 PM

i took mine down to below the attic floor, left the rest.
repaired hole, re-roofed and was done with it.

DM

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 05:25 PM

Yea I think thats what I am going to have to do this spring is just tear it off. Now my current hwh outputs through the chimney do you know if I could you the same hwh and have it out put through the side of the house or if I would have to buy a new hwh?

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 05:32 PM

go to plumbing and post that as a new question there to be safe.
the guys there will be happy to answer that.

DM

rchrivera · 12-21-2009, 05:52 PM

Thank you for all your help!

DangerMouse · 12-21-2009, 06:01 PM

n/p it's why they pay us the big bucks....

DM

12-21-2009, 11:55 AM	#1
rchrivera Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 11	how to repair chimney problem Hey all, I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction of repairing my Chimney. I just notice this problem when I was up on the roof hanging Xmas lights. Below are some pictures of the current state of my Chimney. Attached Thumbnails

12-21-2009, 12:05 PM	#2
DangerMouse the Musigician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 10,404	how to repair chimney problem Hi and welcome to the forum.... wow... you've got quite a mess there, huh? if it were me, i'd tear it down to the roof and redo the whole thing. where are you located? weather? DM __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

12-21-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
rchrivera Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 11	how to repair chimney problem Thanks for the welcome and reply! I am located in South NJ we just got hit with a big snow storm so I have to wait till after winter.

12-21-2009, 12:22 PM	#4
DangerMouse the Musigician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 10,404	how to repair chimney problem is this chimney used at present? fireplace or home furnace? DM __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Click To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

12-21-2009, 12:27 PM	#5
Daniel Holzman Civil Engineer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 3,583	how to repair chimney problem Hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like the chimney is made from concrete block with cement parging. You should check to see if the part of the chimney that is below the roof line is made of the same material. Based on the amount of damage, it seems possible that the chimney is built from block not designed to resist heat and moisture, in which case you would need to replace the chimney fromthe bottom up. Looks like it was "repaired" once before, that metal band certainly does not look like original material.

how to repair chimney problem