Replies

1. 
   JON_NEUBURGER | Jan 25, 2001 02:09pm | #1

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   Hi. I'm interested in converting my oil furnace that now vents thru our interior chimney (circa 1870 brick and mortar) to a Buderus G115 boiler that vents out the side of the house (without a power venter). Then, in our living room, where the chimney runs thru,I want to either put a woodstove into the flue (to be lined with a stainless tube), or, my wife would like to have our chimney built out into a fireplace in the living room.

   Any comments on the Buderus reliability (with the side venting) and has anyone ever heard of retrofitting in a fireplace to an existing chimney??

   Thanks for any input,

   Jon Neuburger

2. 
   dogpadl | Jan 07, 2003 01:27am | #2

   I'm interested in finding more info about converting an existing double chimney (built about 1930) into a fireplace.  I need to keep one flue/stack for existing boiler & water heater venting located below in basement.

   The "new" fireplace will be located on 1st floor and the existing chimeny extends up through a 2nd floor.  Can this be done in a cost efficient manner? And without dismantling the whole chimney & interrupting the existing slate roof?

   Any input would be greatly appreciated.

1. 
   kennedy136 | Jan 07, 2003 02:15am | #3

   Chelle,

           Speaking as a 4th generation bricklayer turned general contractor I would have to say, Not likely.  In all probability the chimney would have to be dismantled and rebuilt.  There is probably not enough room for a firebox nor enough to pour a hearth.  In addition the flue you wish to save would likely have to be displaced.  Even if it could be done it wouldn't be cost effective.

                                                         Mark

2. 
   rjw | Jan 07, 2003 02:56am | #4

   "an existing double chimney"

   Are there 2 flues there already?  There might already be some sort of firebox there, behind updated walls.

   Slate roofs in my area are usually only found on (then) upscale homes, so there might be something there already.

   OTOH, it might be a flue for an old ceramic room heater, and the flues for those won't do for a fireplace._______________________

   "I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different."  Oscar Wilde

1. 
   dogpadl | Jan 07, 2003 06:41pm | #5

   Yes, there are 2 existing flues and the house was built in 1930.  They have been retrofitted for exhaust venting from a boiler & water heater.  I'll check to see if we might get lucky with an existing firebox but am not optomistic because it was the service kitchen & the other side of the wall backs up to the butlery.  They probably were originally "designed/built" for venting for a stove & the original boiler. 

   Thanks.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jan 07, 2003 06:48pm | #6

   What about using a wood stove instead of a fireplace. I am not a builder, but I think that would be much easier to do and use the existing flue.

1. 
   dogpadl | Jan 07, 2003 07:13pm | #7

   The client wants a "fireplace" for aesthetics not necessarily for heat...otherwise, you're right. 

   Thanks.