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I’m working on a 50-year old cottage (build on piers) in the Berkshires. It has a beautiful fieldstone chimney on the gable side of the 1 1/2-story cape. However, due to settling or improper footing, the chimney is now leaning away from the house and pulling the house apart as it goes. It is 8-10 inches away from the roof at the top.
I am looking for a wise and economical approach to save the chimney without taking it all down and starting over. I’ve had estimates in the thousands just to take it down!
Here’s my best thought: strap long timbers vertically to the chimney, cut a roof truss in half, attach the bottom chords to the timbers, then use hydraulic jacks (pushing up on the hypotenuse) to slowly push on the triangles and force the chimney back to vertical. Then I’d hire cement pumpers to come re-level the footing. Maybe I’d leave the trusses in place, kinda’ like flying buttresses. I’m open to any suggestions; even one’s more hair-brained than mine!
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You'll need tremendous pursuassion. And holding power when the jacks need realigning and or repositioning.
Your idea isn't hair-brained because you're kahuna1.
You may consider using several sets of chain falls rigged to hold what you gain jacking. Also, a few lengths of stout angle bar as strongbacks could prove less forgiving in this endeavor.
I would think that staying whole is everything. Be careful. Use good blocking and be sure to have some big ass steel and oak wedges handy.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Dan-O
*Ii thinkmudjacking might do it.
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I’m working on a 50-year old cottage (build on piers) in the Berkshires. It has a beautiful fieldstone chimney on the gable side of the 1 1/2-story cape. However, due to settling or improper footing, the chimney is now leaning away from the house and pulling the house apart as it goes. It is 8-10 inches away from the roof at the top.
I am looking for a wise and economical approach to save the chimney without taking it all down and starting over. I’ve had estimates in the thousands just to take it down!
Here’s my best thought: strap long timbers vertically to the chimney, cut a roof truss in half, attach the bottom chords to the timbers, then use hydraulic jacks (pushing up on the hypotenuse) to slowly push on the triangles and force the chimney back to vertical. Then I’d hire cement pumpers to come re-level the footing. Maybe I'd leave the trusses in place, kinda' like flying buttresses. I’m open to any suggestions; even one’s more hair-brained than mine!