I have an exposed chimney in my living area (I can walk around it) that I’m wondering if I could have removed. It’s large, 2×4 ft., and has 3 flues. The house was built in the 70’s and at one time had a oil and separate wood furnace in the basement. A wood stove was attached to the center flue in the living/dining area. The wood furnace and stove are long gone. The living/dining area is quite small so a wood stove there is over powering. Removing the brick chimney would free up a lot of space or could be replaced with a zero-clearance fireplace of some kind. But the heart of my question is how difficult is it to have a chimney like that removed (without destroying my house)? It’s a ranch styled house so I imagine it’s about 22 ft tall from the very bottom (basement floor) to the top.
Appreciate any ideas.
Replies
how difficult is it to have a chimney like that removed
First, see this is your first post, so welcome.
Not difficult at all as you phrased it, just write a check. <G>
Most asking for advise here are DIY, so will assume that is one of your options.
My dad removed a similar chimney when he was 75 YO. Simply started at the top, knocked bricks loose with a 32 oz cross peen, dropped the bricks above the roofline down the flues, he was an a 12/12 roof.
Then the inside part started, dismantled the bricks in the attic and threw them out the attic window.
Taped plastic over the doors and over everything else in the room the chimney dropped down thru and took those out in a wheelbarrow. Later built a table over the concrete hearth in the basement.
Recall he said it took him 2 days, but he didn't work too hard at it as was retired. Took another week to chip all mortar from the bricks and stack them.
The stack of bricks is still in Mom's backyard.
It might or might not have structural issues, like did they use it to support a beam anywhere? You'd need somebody to do a little exploratory demolition (holes in the ceiling or floor) to tell for sure. In any case, taking it apart will be messy, and especially, dusty. Figure on using a lot of plastic sheet and tape.
-- J.S.
Since you want to put in a zero clearance, does this mean you want to save the top for the flue?
That could be complicated, it could almost be easier to build a fireplace where all this is now of real masonry.
Bewfore you do all this, consider that most people on this topic are trying to ask how to do away with fireplace to use a wood stove or furnace that is more efficient. Most fireplaces are net wasters of heat. IMO Better to do away with it entirely.
As mentioned, esasy to do one piece at atiome.
A home built in the seventies should not have structrual members let into the masonry, but you never know. It wouldn't be a ruination, just need some posts placed while working. The major prt of this will be the rebuild of the holes at each floor level and the roof - assuiming you don't want to be left with a blue tarp ...?
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Normally when such a chimney is removed it's about 80 years old and the mortar has gone punk. Then it's simply a job of prying the bricks loose, starting from the top, and hauling them out. Usually an easy one-day job for two people (one prying, one hauling).
But this house is only 30 years old, and the mortar is probably still in pretty good shape. Likely you'll need a hammer-drill or small jackhammer to disassemble it. (And you'll make a fair mess in the process.)
Actually, it might work to saw it out in sections. You could get one of the concrete cutting services to come in and use their hydraulic chain saw to lop off manageable-sized chunks, perhaps. But first it would have to be knocked down below ceiling level.
happy?
I have not done it myself (fortunately), but in the last year I have worked in two different houses where an interior chimney was torn down through three floors to the basement.
In each case it took two guys less than a day. The mess was major league, and the hard part is the clean up.
Obviously, you would want to bring the chimney down below the roof level first, and get the roof fixed up before you do any further demo.
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