That was fun.
DW and I are fixin to redo the whole room, including the mantle which was in very bad shape. I naively expected the plaster to go all the way down to the brick face, but it stops above about a foot early as in the pics. Was this normal for 45 yr old construction?
I can actually see the felt paper from the outside of the house if I look up into the cavity.
Anything I should do here while its open before the new mantle goes in? I’d like to airseal a bit – I’m thinking sheet metal sealed down somehow(?), but looking for alternatives/advice. I think insulating might be more trouble than its worth.
The mortar has some cracks which seemed to be filled with a black glue/caulk of some sort, but I’m sure this is the first time this has been opened in 45 years. I was thinking of getting a mason or chimney guy in to give it a once over -any tips one what to ask him/her to check? Would a mason be appropriate? I’m not thrilled with the brickwork I’ve had chimney guys do in the past
Also found a nice chisel they left back there for us.
Replies
situation like that, I hang a header so it is not in direct contact with the masonry. That gives something to fasten plaster and matle onto. Keep an inch of free clearance. Somebody didn't know what they were doing.
As for the black "cualk - what I can see f that looks like it could be creosote leakage, but that would be rare. Tjhe fact those cracks are there suggests to nme that the mortar used to daub over the brickwork there was too wet and shrunk. Do have a mason look at it.
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Its hard to tell from the pics but it does appear that no framing is touching the chimney - just the side trim and those 3 vertical pieces touch the firebox. The old mantle actually extended into that void and that piece of wood you see at the top of the void is the part of the mantle shelf that wouldn't come out.I was thinking it would be easiest to airseal by continuing the drywall the rest of the way down with some blocking behind to attach the new mantle to. What do you think? Piffin, thanks for the advice - I'll get a mason in here.
I agree with Piffin. Looks like creosote to me too. That's not a good sign, and indicates that your fireplace may need some serious rebuilding. If it's creosote it means that those cracks are leaking smoke from the firebox. I also noticed a black stain at the upper right corner that the mantle covered, is this from escaping smoke?
Have a good mason look at it. Find a new mason. Call a brick supplier and ask them to refer a good mason. Preferably one who has been around long enough to have built many all brick fireplaces. He'll know what to look for.
All wood framing is supposed to be 2" from the fireplace masonry. If you insulate, mineral wool insulation is the stuff to use.
Woodroe - thanks for the advice. I don't know anyone who has used a mason so I'll try the brickyards. Sounds like I opened a can of worms but I'm glad you guys are here to catch it.Overall the wood looks good without any bad smoke stains that I noticed - though the front center of the mantle (no pic) is darker. But its shellac too, so I don't know that its the best indicator. Which pic did you see the stain in? The wood running across the top is a fresh cut - had to use the sawzall carefully - so any black on the front of that piece is just dirt from after the cut.
Bob I have fixed a few fireplaces with probs. similar to yours
how old is the fireplace? 45yrs. wellany way the damage is in
the smokebox which is very common,I couldnt tell from the pics
if it was creasote coming out of the cracks or a shadow. The last
smokebox I fixed I replaced it with a premade unit from suprior clay
it is a terra cotta premade chimmney throat . durn thing weighed
a few hundred pds. but made for a slick installation.both of my
masonry suppilers can get them, allthough its a special order item
also I have cracked the buggers open and replaced the damaged area
inside the chimneywith refractory brick and resealed it wish
I was up there could really use the work!!!!!! Dw
DW - thanks for the info. Glad to know this isn't so uncommon. I could use you up here too. The chimney flue is a little weird - I thought they all went straight up. This one goes up out the damper a bit and then takes a left turn (right angle), then up. The chimney has two flues - fireplace and boiler. I think that's the reason for the turn. I can't imagine that the draft with that crook is all that great.Does this sound okay?
come to think of it I have met some guys from your neck
of the woods that fix and reline chimneys they installed the
{Golden Flue} cast in place chimney system that is supposed
to be a good but expensive fix. cant think of their co."s name
now though. p.s. Here in Va. tech. land Boston collage is a
dirty word I just live down the road apiece from it.
sorry babies got to screaming im to durn old for this--the crook might be the cause for a lot of this prob.
sorry deleted the wrong post--- I thought you where from Mass.--
Forgot that ma. is mich.should have know better.
No, MA is massachusetts.I think MI is Michigan.
uchhh well smarter than i thought i was. hehe
I dont know squat about the masonary stuff but I want my chisel back!
Doug
I think those other guys know more about these matters than I do, but 2 thought's come to my mind (and it didn't hurt a bit, lol). I would use canned polyurethane foam, like Great Stuff, to fill the opening between the brick and the framing. And as for chimney leakage, wouldn't a chimney liner be a much simpler solution?--------------------------------------------------------
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