Chimney Re-lining
Background
I suppose that this is the classic story of a project taking on a life of its own.
Yes we knew that both chimneys would need relining (fireplace and water heater),
Yes we knew that we had to add 6 feet onto the top of the chimney,
Yes we knew that we wanted a fireplace in the living room and the existing (circa 1900) fireplace was dysfunctional and had to be rebuilt,
No we didn't plan on venting the boiler up the side of the masonry chimney and out the top, but it wasn't working too well on the side of the driveway. Aesthetically, it was ugly as the side of the house was smoking, dripping and turning the motion light on all the time.
No we didn't plan on doing all of the above before the siding.
I started calling contractors. The chimney sweep had me call Chimney Savers of Plainfield. Bob, the owner stopped by with his crew and red truck. I showed him the setup and the roof. They have a system where they insert an inflatable form into the chimney and pour a cementous fill in the space. This would be done for both the fireplace and the basement flue. My ultimate plans for the basement flue were for a wood boiler, this made his poured in liner much better that an aluminum or stainless insert. He was supposed to send me a price, but I never got it. It probably would have been in the $5,000 range.
The next contractor was also experienced, but he had a different system. He only did stainless inserts. This he said would last "forever". I remarked that forever was a long time, and he agreed. Since the stainless insert could not be connected inside the fireplace, he would have to hammer out the old lining and replace it "the old fashioned way" by gaining access from one side.
This house, again, is special. Only here would access be easier from the inside.
Outside is a major problem. The original chimney is natural stone. Next to it (on the right from the inside) is the brick, 1 flue addition to the basement. On top of that is wood siding, boxed in by the previous owner to give the house the contemporary look. Since the inside of the chimney was poured against the house, it was thin and poor. From the inside we had the ability to jackhammer the inner wall out for access to the inner clay lining.
The clay flue lining was disintegrated. Holes in the sides could be seen from the top. In the 2nd floor when the chimney was in use, you could usually smell smoke. On the 2nd floor you could touch the liner through the rough rubble pour the chimney was made with. There were 3 existing flues. Along the driveway from north to south,
8x8 kitchen- this was abandoned (on left above)
8x12 fireplace- bad shape, holes near the joints (on right above)
The flues have already been removed.
And a flue that was added later for the oil fired furnace in the basement.
The thin one was in the worst shape. It was crumbling before we took a jackhammer to it. The hard part was getting there. We had to hammer out the brick side. It was hard, ugly work.
New liners coming in
Then we had to build from the bottom up. Starting with a cleanout door. The pipe had to be set in cement grout, then the front had to be bricked up and plastered over.
We got as far as the existing roof. The next phase will be above the roof when the scaffold is up.