Saving an Existing Historic Chimney
SupraDave
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Anyone have any ideas on this one? There is an existing Historic Structure where the chimney from an old fireplace (abandoned) is about to fall over due to age. We need to save the chimney because the Historic District Commission in the town will not approve the removal without much debate and a lengthy process.
I’m scared that attempting to repair the chimney from the exterior would cause the chimney to fall. (A good wind would cause it to go)
I thought about filling the flue with concrete down below the roof level to create a solid mass, but am worried about the weight.
Any good ideas out there?
Replies
We need to save the chimney because the Historic District Commission in the town will not approve the removal without much debate and a lengthy process.
I have a house in one of these districts as well - same senario as yours, you cant tear anything down without lengthy debates.........
But you can let it fall down, which is what I see going on in some outbuilding cases. HO doesnt want to repair so they just let it rot to the ground.
You could go up in the middle of the night and push it over, end of the chimney! Can they make you put it back up!
Is it something you want to save? I assume its not being used. No masons around to get a good apprasial of the chimney and its future?
Doug
But you can let it fall down, which is what I see going on in some outbuilding cases.
Yeah, that is a thought, but the possibility that it crashes through the roof would discorage me from letting it get too far gone. BTW the Historic Distric also has a Demolition by Neglect Ordinance so if they are aware of a possible problem due to lack of maintenance they can force action. Not all Jurisdictions have this, but ours does... I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would have done? Thanks.
Instead of re-pointing, if it's really bad- you might want to take it down to just below roof line,salvage all the bricks, clean them, then rebuild it back using the same bricks.
Your Preservation Commission will love it!
Thanks, this is a definate option, probably costly, but cheap compared to the time (read $$) it would take to get approval for removal.
Not to mention the structure will remain more aesthetically correct if you do maintain the chimney. Good luck.
Walter
where are you at Supra?or should I say where is the building located?you mentioned T.J.- are you located in Hoo land.
Not Hoo Land, a little south of UVa. N.C.
oooohhhh Closer to my neck of the woods
Here's your new chimney / flue design, courtesy of Mr. Jefferson - http://www.thomasjeffersonpapers.org/cfm/doc.cfm?id=arch_MHi12&mode=popuplg&pop=arch_MHi12&user=
;o)Jeff
I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would have done?
He would have probably sat down and wrote a strongly worded letter to our president, which of course would not have been understood and then out of frustration Mr Jefferson would have crawled up on the roof in the night - layed a piece of ply down to protect the roof and shoved the damn chimney over! Tom didnt screw around.
Seriously, where do you live, fill out your profile, you dont have to give exact - just a little vague reference.
Doug
Profile updated, I'm in N.C. Tar Heel Country.
I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would have done?
He would have probably sat down and wrote a strongly worded letter to our president...
Involving the federal government would have been the LAST thing Thomas Jefferson would have done.
Ragnar
Your probably right! They knew better back then.
Doug
Your probably right! They knew better back then.
They certainly did! I wish we could bring them back for a few terms.
Regards,
Ragnar
I sure would like to see a pic. if possable, I've done quite a few of these type jobs, are you doing some work to this building now? or are ya,ll just worried about the chimney falling for liability reasons,
Interesting note here, did you know repairing chimneys was one of Gov. Ahhnolds first jobs here in the states when he migrated from Austria.
We are working on the metal roof and the roofer suggested knocking it down, but the Historic District would not approve this, if it fell over by an act of "God" though, hmmph...now that is a thought... I'll probably fall off the roof in the pitch dark trying to push the darn thing over though... Maybe we'll call that mason.
Is the chimney just sinking and leaning away from the building? My daughter & son-in-law had this problem with a massive stone chimney on a farmhouse in North Carolina. They found a company that had special hydraulic jacks that were permanently mounted in the ground. When all was ready they applied pressure with a pump and straightened the chimney in less than 5 minutes. They then repoured the foundation under it. That was about three years ago. No problem since. The chimney was nearly six inches away from the house at the top. I can probably find out the name of the company if you're interested.
Not sinking... it is leaning a little, the mortar is falling out of the joints, I know they can be repointed and we can get a mason to price, thanks for the reply.