Replies

1. 
   jimblodgett | Jan 27, 2009 06:53am | #1

   Is there a clean out door at the bottom?

    

1. 
   Cyan | Jan 27, 2009 06:57am | #2

   Small one, few feet off the ground.

1. 
   jimblodgett | Jan 27, 2009 07:07am | #3

   It's pretty easy to drop bricks down through the chimney and remove them through the clean out door.  Keeps the mess inside the chimney, and of course, near that door. 

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 27, 2009 05:16pm | #11

   Normally, yes, but a three flue chimney is a LOT to be dropping to a small cleanout. I foresee blockage 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Cyan | Jan 27, 2009 08:03pm | #12

   Thanks guysWe have a professional house moving company raising the structure. It's pretty straight forward, but owners are required to prepare the building for the lift.... which includes removing all chimneys. (Provincial fire regulations evidently). I would like to save a little money by doing as much prep work as possible. I have a builder engaged for the big stuff.The chimney is plastered upstairs which will have to go regardless. Worried about falling bricks and the hardwood floors primarily. Downstairs will be gutted so no problem making a mess. I also wondered if throwing them all down the hole might lead to a blockage. The idea of sliding then up and out is intriguing however... might give it a shot. Sounds like a combination of all your ideas is the way to go.Thanks again, Lorne

2. 
   Piffin | Jan 27, 2009 08:08pm | #13

   Since it is plastered and exposed it will be a cinch.Do follow somebodies suggestion top make that hole in the cellar larger to avoid things choking up. Then start at top and chute to the dumpster as much as possible.
   Find out WHICH flue drops all the way to the basement first and try to see if it is a straight flue by placeing a light at bottom and looking down.You will very definitely want good gloves eye protection, and dust masks. The black soot is not healthy to get in your lungs. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

3. 
   DanH | Jan 28, 2009 12:55am | #15

   Yeah, try to haul out the clean, whole bricks vs dropping them, and definitely if you get chunks of 2-3-4 bricks don't drop those. Reserve the flue for the cr@p that would make a mess otherwise.Consider putting plywood or rubber mats on the nicer floors, just in case, and use plastic to partition off the area to limit the spread of dust.
   The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

2. 
   MikeRyan | Jan 27, 2009 08:36am | #4

   Don't start from the bottom!

    

    

   Sorry, adding to what was already said, but pulling out the cleanout door to make a larger exit space will keep everything contained.  Place a piece of 3/4 ply and taped visqueen in front of the opening.

   Another idea is to back the dumpster as close to the chimney an possible to avoid haveing to move the material twice

1. 
   Cyan | Jan 27, 2009 10:28am | #5

   Thanks guysThis makes good sense. Clean out is in basement however... which would involve humping the bricks back up 7ft of stairs to the dumpster. I'm thinking I can sluice the top stuff off the roof straight into the bin, then do as you suggest to get it under ceiling. Should be pretty straight forward process to the floor level.... Lorne

2. 
   ruffmike | Jan 27, 2009 04:53pm | #9

    As Hunter Thompson once said

   I would not advise it to anyone, but it worked for me.

    Before our house was raised (about 4 feet) I had to remove the chimneys it was easy 'til it got into the walls and couldn't be reached.

    I went down below, and with a sledge hammer took a couple of swipes at it.

    After the dust cleared (about a half an hour)it was a simple process to carry the bricks out.

    100 year old chimney built by the seaside with poor sand mortar.                            Mike

       Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.

3. 
   johnpjackson | Jan 27, 2009 11:51am | #6

   Ohh!!!! Now I get it. I thought you meant raized, in which case I wondered why you cared about the interior!! :)

   Now I'm sure you mean you're raising it up off the foundation?

   I wonder about that someday, if my double walled brick foundation begins to get too powdery...

1. 
   jpeeks | Jan 30, 2009 05:00am | #22

   Ha Ha I was thinking the same thing.

4. 
   DanH | Jan 27, 2009 02:30pm | #7

   Keep in mind that often the chimney is actually the surface of the interior wall, so it will be exposed as you work. (And occasionally the structure actually bears on the chimney -- something to look out for.) If it's been framed around you'll have to open up at least one wall to get too it, of course. If not framed around then you'll probably have plaster to remove, but try to remove several courses of bricks first, then pry the plaster loose in large chunks.

   As the others have said -- knock the loose cr@p down through the flues. But it works out pretty well to hump the clean bricks out in buckets, rather than dropping them. In snow country use a plastic child's sled to haul the bricks from house to dumping place.

   Usually the mortar is pretty soft, from the action of thee acids in the flue gasses, though often the top has been repointed and is the hardest part to crack (literally). It's not unusual to be able to simply lift the brick out (with maybe a slight hammer tap) once you get below the roof.

   When it goes right it's amazing how little of a mess it makes.

   The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
5. 
   junkhound | Jan 27, 2009 04:52pm | #8

   If ya dont want to hump the bricks up the stairs, build youself a 20 ft chute with a 1x12 and 2x12, line with a roll of sheet metal - chute'em right into the dumpster or truck.

6. 
   Piffin | Jan 27, 2009 05:14pm | #10

   Houses get moved and raised with chimneys in them regularly. Is there some extenuation circumstances that dictate removing it?

   Are you raising the house as a DIY project or have professionals?

    

    

   Welcome to the
   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

7. 
   mike4244 | Jan 27, 2009 10:38pm | #14

   Set up a safe scaffold so you can remove the coping and bricks.Start at the top,send bricks down in a bucket on a rope .If you rent a scaffold also get an outrigger and wellwheel to send the bricks down.Any loose mortar can be pushed into the flue.

   Make sure the fireplace opening is boarded up tight first.Usually just a tap on the brick with a 3Lb hammer will loosen the brick.The fireplace can be put back with most of the material saved if you wanted to.Then you would clean each brick with a brick chisel and wire brush when they are on the ground.

   Before you set up inside, cover the floor with either masonite or homosote. Keep a shop vaccumn handy and clean up dust often.The dust is gritty and will scratch the floors if left there. Once you get off the roof the rest will go fast.Wear a dust mask ,goggles and heavy gloves.

   mike

1. 
   DanH | Jan 28, 2009 12:57am | #16

   And if there are any thimbles with the tin covers on them, don't trust those to keep the dust under control. Solidly duct-tape plastic over the thimbles.
   The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

8. 
   PaulO | Jan 28, 2009 02:42am | #17

   put down 3/4" plywood floor protection to save the floors

1. 
   LIVEONSAWDUST | Jan 28, 2009 03:45am | #18

   I seem to recall a story in FHB on back page (great moments) where somebody removed their chimney.......BOTTOM FIRST, Anybody recall that? 

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Jan 28, 2009 04:38am | #19

   I read that taking a chimney down is the #1 killer of home owners. Do Not Take it down from the bottom. Don't Just Don't
   Read the Darwin Awards online for details.

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 29, 2009 11:24pm | #20

   The primary killer of HOs is stairs, specifically piling junk on them and then trying to naviugate teh junk 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

9. 
   WorkshopJon | Jan 29, 2009 11:40pm | #21

   CYAN,

   Been there and done it.

    

   A forty foot chimney should take about two hours.  The tools you need are two drywall buckets for when you get below the roof line (two are easier to carry than one. A really cheap (think made in China $7.00 HF special) impact gun, AND start from the top down using a pointed bit. Oh, clothes you can through away.

    

   WSJ

10. 
    dockelly | Jan 30, 2009 07:08am | #23

    Hey Cyan,

    Read all 23 posts prior to responding. Did the same thing last year at the Jersey shore. I got on the roof with a 2lb sledge and masonry chisel. Never had to swing the hammer. Just picked off the bricks and threw them into the yard. Once I was indoors I used a demolition hammer I had rented, made quick work of the project. I should point out, the chimney was completely exposed, not running behind some wall or plaster. There was a lot of dust, wear a mask.

    Kevin

1. 
   Cyan | Jan 30, 2009 07:40am | #24

   Thanks everyoneI'm confident I can pull this demo off now. Just waiting on building permits before swinging ( or perhaps not swinging) hammer.Lorne