Replies

1. 
   EricPaulson | Mar 26, 2009 03:34am | #1

   Space between the flue and the chimney, or flue to flue should not be packed tight with mortar. Does not allow expansion of the flues.

   I don't like the framing up against the masonry, whick looks awfully inadequate. Could be code issues there.

    

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 03:39am | #2

   Eric, Entirely correct on all fronts. House was built in the teens.

   A fireplace on all three floors.

   I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I thought the old geezers knew their stuff.

   When you heading to Cold Harbor ??

1. 
   EricPaulson | Mar 26, 2009 03:44am | #3

   Waiting on the call from Andy!

   Sorry we missed each other in RI. maybe anther day. 

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 03:45am | #4

   Yes I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the gang from SmithFest.

   Did Dieselpig attend too ?

1. 
   EricPaulson | Mar 26, 2009 03:51am | #6

   DP pulled a Piffin.

   I saw him and touched him; even spoke to him.............from there on out he was an aberration.

   Had a few reported sightings beyond that. 

2. 
   FatRoman | Mar 26, 2009 12:16pm | #9

   Walter,How much expansion space is needed between the flues?Old geezers? Piffin put this in as a kid? :)Looking forward to more of this thread.Best,Steve'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

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1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 12:34pm | #10

   Steve,

   Typically masons leave an airspace around the flue tiles so that the exterior isn't going to move with the tiles expansion / contraction movements when the fireplaces are in use.

   I think an inch is the norm  , and two inches space between bricks and the framing.

   I'll include my flashing work here later on , but the bulk of my job on this house will be in another thread starting next week - not sure what to call it.

   Speaking of geezerness  - I'm probably older than he is !

   Walter

1. 
   Piffin | Mar 26, 2009 02:01pm | #13

   "Speaking of geezerness - I'm probably older than he is !"Well, you certainly look like it!;)But I don't believe I could take all those hip replacement surgeries and still be climbing ladders. You have the recuperative powers of a thirty something!I'm not really all that old. Some guys just started referring to me that way because of having a lot of posts here at BT, and maybe because I have done so many different things, it is hard for some to believe I packed it all into one lifetime of work. But I have so many years of 10-12 hour days and I get bored doing the same thing over and over...Looks like it was old lime mortar in that stack, which is a bit more forgiving - probably why it survived this long with solid pack 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 02:07pm | #14

   I'm on my way up there now to get some more set up done on the North side for my slate re laying project.

   The house is from the teens so I don't think it's lime mortar. I think infrequent usage played a big role in the failure being this far down the road.

   I'll have some pictures tonite of their lead flashing install - I hope it's like I asked for.

3. 
   Henley | Mar 26, 2009 03:01pm | #15

   It's shocking how often that mistake still happens. There are several around here with chimney block. You
   can see the tell tale crack running from footer to cap. Often it comes with the optional "creosote factory" too.

1. 
   stevent1 | Mar 26, 2009 06:49pm | #16

   Walter,Thanx for sharing this. Some of the older homes here are the same. The masonry was the structure and the carpenters set the joists with firecuts on the walls as the house went up. So if the chimney was built first the carpenters may have framed to close to the brick. Just a hunch.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 27, 2009 12:06am | #17

   Chuck,

   Glad to see you're still here , I hadn't seen your name lately in the  recent visitor column.

   Thought some folks might like to see a retopping and reflashing job.

   I'll be adding more to this one and starting a seperate thread for the big roof job starting on the North side of this same house.

   Hope you're well and having a good early Spring.

   Walter

2. 
   theslateman | Mar 27, 2009 12:42am | #18

   The masons did just as I asked to make my work easier once they're done.

   This chimney will be parged with stucco to match the others and the house.

   Several shots here of the lead counter flashings over the old galvanized base flashings.

    

    

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3. 
   theslateman | Mar 27, 2009 12:46am | #19

   A couple more shots of the flues and the house itself.

    

    

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4. 
   DavidxDoud | Mar 27, 2009 12:52am | #20

   seems like the house would look more at home in California than Maine - style of the time - thanks for the pictorial -
   D"there's enough for everyone"

5. 
   theslateman | Mar 27, 2009 12:59am | #21

   David,

   Thanks for looking in.

   I'll be starting another thread later on my roof project there -something like  Where the mighty Penobscot flows or some such title.

   Yes it's a different style than most of our homes here.

   I'll have to look up it's history in an excellent book on Bangor's architecture written by our local arch. historian

   Walter

6. 
   EricPaulson | Mar 27, 2009 02:34am | #22

   Save for those diamond pattern leaded windows.............if that house had a water table at the bottom and cedar shingles on the walls it would not look at all out of place. An old school house in fact!

    

   How's the other chimney?

   Mason's are doing a nice job. 

7. 
   theslateman | Mar 27, 2009 02:52am | #23

   Eric,

   I'm not sure about the other chimneys. My only involvement is to redo the base flashings and the slate around it.

2. 
   EricPaulson | Mar 26, 2009 03:48am | #5

   Looking again, there is at least a brick wide around the flue.

   I'm curious as to what the masons will do with this. have you spoken with them? Part of the reason the chimney disintegrated may have to do with is lack of mass.

   I'd also be curious to see the confluence of flues leading up from the three fire places.

    

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 03:55am | #7

   Eric,

   I've shown the crew how I want them to install the lead counter flashings so it's easy for me to come in after them to redo the cricket and roof flashings in 20 oz. copper.

   They are working directly for the owner so it's not my place to dictate how to proceed. The owner of the masonry co. asked me to reflash into the roof , over the phone - so I haven't met with him there  only his crew.

   Walter

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 03:56am | #8

   I'll take some more pictures tomoprrow  - they should be part way up by now.

3. 
   Pelipeth | Mar 26, 2009 01:42pm | #11

   Thanks for the test and Eric for the answers.

1. 
   theslateman | Mar 26, 2009 01:53pm | #12

   Thanks for looking in.

   I don't often see them built this way. This is a really fine home , but the mason subs weren't totally aware back then.