I have been doing some remodeling in a house, one section at a time, as the HO can afford it. The next thing she wants done is to remodel the bathroom. The wall on one side is coming out to make it bigger, but my situation involves the corner on the opposite wall. There is an enclosed area built out that houses the old brick chimney. We could gain an area about 3 ft. square if it were not there. The chimney is no longer used and I am wondering if it would be a huge task to remove it??
It starts in the basement, goes through the ground floor, on through the attic, and out the roof. I am appealling to anyone who has actually done this type of thing and I would appreciate any advice, or warnings, etc., that you could give me. Is it too much trouble for only gaining 9 sq. ft.? She is really wanting to have it done but I want to give her practical advice as to whether it is worth the cost.
Do you start at the top and just start sledgehammering it, and keep working down? Is there going to be rebar in it? The house was built in the upper Midwest around 1900. I really don’t know what to expect! Thanks for any help you can give!
Duey
Replies
I did just that in my own house to gain space during a kitchen remodel. Old chimneys usually come down pretty easily, since the mortar seems to be a little soft/weak. Start at the top, and work your way down. The bricks take up a LOT more space than one would think when disposing of them.
Without actually seeing it, I would guess that 2 guys should be able to take it down in 1 day. The biggest part of the job is hauling the bricks out of the house.There shouldn't be any rebar in it, but I've seen a lot of strange stuff over the years.
Never done this myself, but there was a 'Great Moments In Building History' story about removing a brick chimney in FHB not too long ago. Can't seem to find my hard copy of it; search the archives on the FHB page.
The guy took the chimney down from the bottom. The theory is, you knock out enough of the supporting bricks at the bottom, and then the whole thing just slides down the chimney chase and collapses into a pile of rubble in the basement.
Read the GMBH article first, I'd say....
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
How big is the interior of the chimney?
I once had to remove a chimney that was 2.5 stories high. The interior chases were staying, the client just wanted the space in the basement. Once I could not reach any further down from the attic, I climbed inside the chimney and started prying, rocking, and kicking the bricks down through the center of the chimney. Eventually I reached the basement and was able to climb out. To remove the large pile of bricks from the basement I attached a block and tackle to the rafters and used a 5 gallon bucket to send the bricks up through the chase, into the attic where they could be thrown into the dumpster.
This saved a considerable amount of time and mess in the residence. Prepare to get dirty.
Jon Blakemore
I have actually removed a couple. Being that it was built around 1900 probably no flu, so I would suggest starting on the roof, then just kick the ones down the chimney. Remember to break a hole in the basement to remove the fallen brick. Oh one ore thing wear a mask very dusty.
Duey,
An old one will usually come down real fast. Start at the top. Using a small ($12) air chisel with a pointed tip really speeds things up. Throw off every brick you can to the ground from above the roof. Carry the rest out in 5 gallon buckets.
It is a dirty job. Having a helper to carry the buckets out really helps. With two people it should take less than a day IF you use an air chisel.
Jon
Do you start at the top and just start sledgehammering it, and keep working down?
That's the way I've done it. Other than I start with a two pound hammer and a masonry chisel. You want (really want) to build a plywood chute to catch the bricks. If they are going to a dumptser, build a chute that you can move to the dumpster (i.e. a short chute that will go out a window, or down to the edge of the roof, then a separate "catcher" over the dumpster.
I do not like pitching the bricks back into the chimney, especially when it ends in the basement (hauling them up the basement stairs past the ground level where they could have stopped instead gets me . . . )
You want decent, but replacable gloves, as an unlined chimney will have creosote build up. It is not fun to get on your skin.
If you cannot comfortably stand on the roof and reach the chimney top, build scaffolding (it's not just for your safety, it's also for your back, the client's roof, etc. . . . ) If scaffolding is going to be complicated, go get a tow-behind manlift (like a Genie tmz 50). The rent is usually not bad for the one day you need it.
Do not forget a tarp for after you get the chimney below the roof line (nothing like a 36 x 36 hole in the roof to bring on a week of rain in a 5 year drought . . . )
A young, strong, (dumb is your call) helper is also a very good idea.
Since this is a "limited" remodel, only remove down to the current work. So, if this is a second-floor bath, only work down until you can get the new floor joists in. This will help slow "project creep."
Oh, and all this is presuming an interior chimney, exterior chimneys are a differnet kettle of fish altogether.
If the house "looks different" (in a bad way) after removing the chimney, that can be fixed, if you can find a cultured stone supplier with a brick that is similar enough. You just rebuild the chimney in 2x & durock, and lay it up in the c.s. brick--voila, chimney reappears (ah, if only it were that easy . . . <wistful sigh>)
Had the opportunity to experience taking a chimney down about 4 years ago in the 1927 bungalow I'm selling in Portland, Oregon.
Started on the roof with a 5 gallon bucket attached to a rope, a 2 lb sledge and a brick chisel. Tossing the bricks from the roof as some have suggested is fun....old bricks of the right sort make great sounds when they hit a hard surface, but cleaning the mess up is not fun. Plus thought I might try to salvage as many bricks as I could for a garden pathway.
Time and the elements must have softened up the mortar as the bricks above the roof line came apart quite easily. Put the bricks in the bucket and lowered it down to the kids and a wheelbarrow. Roof part done in 30 minutes. Attic another 30.
Built a chute out the closest window to the ground for dumping the 5 gallon buckets and offered the opportunity to some friends to "knock an old chimney down". It's not something one gets to do very often......Got a few takers and we had some fun knocking the it down.
Most of the chimney came down easily brick by brick. They were a little disappointed when I told them I wanted to salvage the brick but smashed brick makes for a lot of cleanup. They were good sports and pitched in with the hauling the brick out of the basement too. Main level and basement .. mayby an hour and half with cleanup. Stacking the brick took longer. Paid the kids to clean the brick the next summer.
Words of advice:
mmm
Edited 6/23/2004 1:32 pm ET by the mark
We're one.... which frige has the stock....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Did one in my own house last year. The house was built circa 1895 so all that was required was a good slam with a sledge and the mortar seperated. Then all you do is unstack the bricks. Your biggest concern that I could see is if the chimney is built into the house walls. It shouldn't be but if you can see where the chimney goes through the basement/1st floor or in the attic it should give some signs. Mine was self supporting placed between floor joists. Be careful if there is an old stove liner, it could be laced with aesbestos.
Enjoy.
Helped my (ex)BIL do this on their house ca 1905. Central chimney, not used after condensing furnace was installed. He had already knocked it down below roof level when he reroofed, so we started in the attic. It mostly came apart with light taps from a hammer or just wiggling with a gloved hand -- the acid in the smoke does a number on the mortar -- but occasionally we had to use a chisel. Carried the bricks out in 5-gallon buckets, then hauled them to a place out back on a child's plastic sled (winter time). Knocked the loose mortar down the flue.
I think it took about a half day for the two of us, not working especially hard. The chimney was plastered on the outside, and we'd work until we were a foot or two below the plaster edge, then pry off big chunks of plaster. It made remarkably little mess, except when we got into the basement where the loose mortar and a lot of soot had settled.
duey- there all good advice here but the sledge hammer thing, get's messy and real old swingin' . i use a air hammer gun home depot husky brand with compressed air and can get reasonably surgical with it diffrent points. it sells for around 46.00 and provided you have a compressor. it saves any brittle, horse hair ,plaster you may have on inside too. the process takes demo to diffrent places with diffrent application's. my two ¢..........slainte' bear
There's another post today on similar problem, a lot of good advice on working safely. First of all it is worth taking it down. You will need to add some framing, sheathing , 30lb felt and shingles. Shingles will not match the rest of the roof unless the main roof is very new. The sun will fade the color somewhat, depends on the color and type of shingle. Dark colors seem to me fade faster than light colors.
If you can easily reach the roof with a ladder, take the time to make a level staging on the ridge. Find the pitch of the roof, cut triangles out of a 2x10 , you need four . Nail a scrap of plywood under the triangles to distribute the weight on the shingles, this keeps the shingles from getting damaged too. Nail a piece of 3/4" plywood on top of this for you to stand. The whole thing can be made up on the ground and carried up to the roof. Now that you have a level area to stand, tap each brick lightly with a 3lb hammer. Most bricks, old or new will come loose with a single light tap.
I place poly on the ground with a layer ( 4 to 6 " ) of sand on the poly, about 8'-0" square. I throw the bricks on the sand. Read the other posts for more info.
There will not be rebar in it. When you get far enough below roof line, frame sheath and shingle roof.Then protect your floors inside with heavy cardboard, homosote or what ever you have. Clean area inside very often so mortar dust etc does not become a problem. I keep a shop vaccum , broom and dustpan and a trash can nearby.When you get past the floor make sure you can either lock the closet from the outside or put the framing and sheathing in right away. Kids and pets could fall thru the opening. I have several old keyed locks I keep around for locking kids and critters from getting hurt.
Take your time , have materials on hand, work safe.
mike , ex-chimney remover
Did this in my house. Below roofline, no more red bricks. Just "c" shaped grey cinder blocks with clay square liner. From 1942, so old and dry 2 good wacks with sledge and it all came tumbling down.
if I'm seeing that correctly, you swung at the bottom of the pile with your sledge and let the rest of it, which appeared to be about to the ceiling, come crashing down as you ran to get out of the way?
that has got to be the stupidest and most dangerous way to take it down and I hope no one takes your advice on that.
it's dangerous to both yourself and the house, with those blocks crashing down on the floor.
You weren't there and thus you are lacking in information to form an intelligent summation.
To shorten the download time of the video clip, you don't get the "whole picture". You do not see how it was a guided landing. I was in no danger. The subfloor was being replaced anyway. Surprisingly, only the linoleum was dinged and not the wood below it. The "C" shaped blocks did not weigh much at all, lighter than dried 2-by lumber.
I guess all those lumberjacks who for centuries have been chopping down trees from the base have been stupid.
Mostly, I posted the clip as entertainment than anything for else.
Mostly, I posted the clip as entertainment than anything for else
well it was certain entertaining to watch a fool at work
Yep, just as I said... you are lacking in information to form an intelligent summation. Or just plain lacking.
I'm not going to keep arguing with you, you want to knock down a stack by blowing the bottom of it out while you run away have at it.
natural selection at it's finest.
I could give a rip what you do in your own house, but it's fullish and stupid to come here and give some guy looking for a safe way to tear his chimeny down your advice.
some harry homeowner like yourself could see that clip and figure that's what they'll do, cause some dope posted it on the internet and it worked for him so...
Edited 6/26/2004 10:33 am ET by CAG
natural selection at it's finest.
It hasn't yet....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
IIRC, a recent last page article in FH told the story of a guy who did the same thing.
Edited to add: I could not open the attachment earlier. Having now seen it I can see what the fuss is about. Doesn't seem to be prudent.
Edited 6/27/2004 12:03 am ET by Jon Blakemore
<sigh> There's always some armchair jackarse who makes comments from afar, never really knowing what they're talking about nor site conditions.
You fit the bill....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Ya, don't let it bother you none. Most of these guys have been around enough to see most if not all. Good points made from all involved.
Normally we just let stuff fall and go on to the next threads and eat a bagel with good java.
Best to ya
be a chimney
If only I could find a decent bagel around here.
Careful....
Seems as though rez's day olds get to yur plate...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
"be a chimney"
Are you recommending smoking dope or dope smoking? in this context?
;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
site conditions be damned, you swung at the bottom of the chimeny in the hopes it would fall over, so unless you got a 20' handle on that sledge and you dont have to run away, it's a damn stupid idea.
you compare it to felling a tree? let's see, a tree is one piece, and will generally fall as one in a nice sweet arc, a chimeny made of block is many pieces, with mortar joints to fail as it falls, no real arc there, dropping the block to the subfloor ain't the brightest idea either. your comparision don't float.
There's always some armchair jackarse who makes comments from afar
yeah, and you're that very jack ####, armchair? bite me, you're the one riding the desk chair all day from your profile.
so until you get a clue, I'm done with you, you want to knock the base of chimeny out and run like hell, go for it, I don't have a problem with that, what I have a problem with is some armchair jackasz coming in here and giving people advice that could potentially harm them, their house and what ever else happens to be around the falling debre.
You meran the part whjere he says that he's an internet dip?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Lumberjacks don't make the backcut first and then stand in front of the tree while they take out the wedge, so that analogy is just stupid.
If you're so confident in the "guidance" system you used, you've had more than ample opportunity to describe it. You simply accuse others of ignorance of the situation.
I'll cut you a little slack and presume you meant to post this in the "what have you done stupit lately" thread. If you really intended for entertainment purposes only, then you should have explained that in the original message. Posting that clip as serious advice is irresponsible.
What you should do is edit the original message to add that it was for entertainment purposes - something like "Look what dopey thing I did and got away with, but don't you try this at home" would be appropriate.
Oh, and my experience? 12yrs bricklayer, mostly building 'em, but took down quite a few, too. It's not a lifetime, but long enough to know better than what you proposed.