Comments on: Getting Estimates For Chimney Repair http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html A daily design journal about new england life, home decorating resources, and renovating a 257-year-old house in Marblehead, MA. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:54:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Devon http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8992 Devon Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:19:13 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8992 My goodness those chimneys are fantastic. Good luck with the chimney repairs. Our chimney is (literally) pulling down one side of our house. I'm terrified to even inquire about the $$ of fixing, etc. May you have good luck on this one... My goodness those chimneys are fantastic. Good luck with the chimney repairs. Our chimney is (literally) pulling down one side of our house. I’m terrified to even inquire about the $$ of fixing, etc. May you have good luck on this one…

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]]> By: Mopar http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8984 Mopar Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:33:45 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8984 Passive ventilation means no fan. I believe regular chimneys use it to ventilate a fire in the fireplace. Or maybe there is some way to insert a fan in the chimney where you wouldn't see it? I've seen photos of stoves in old chimneys without a vent hood, but I don't know how they do it. Passive ventilation means no fan. I believe regular chimneys use it to ventilate a fire in the fireplace. Or maybe there is some way to insert a fan in the chimney where you wouldn’t see it? I’ve seen photos of stoves in old chimneys without a vent hood, but I don’t know how they do it.

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]]> By: nicole http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8980 nicole Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:43:47 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8980 yep, i agree with other posters - find someone reputable and get lots of bids. i've used angie's list to check out various contractors with good luck. we're having the two fireplaces in our home looked at next week and i'll report back with costs here in portland maine. might be pretty close to what you'll be looking at in terms of cost. yep, i agree with other posters – find someone reputable and get lots of bids. i’ve used angie’s list to check out various contractors with good luck. we’re having the two fireplaces in our home looked at next week and i’ll report back with costs here in portland maine. might be pretty close to what you’ll be looking at in terms of cost.

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]]> By: G http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8979 G Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:40:30 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8979 mopar - your vent hood question puzzles me. What do you mean by "the stove would vent through passive ventilation"? If you accidentally burn dinner and you have smoke everywhere, it's going to go up, which a vent hood would capture. What are you referring to as "passive ventilation" with no hood? mopar – your vent hood question puzzles me. What do you mean by “the stove would vent through passive ventilation”? If you accidentally burn dinner and you have smoke everywhere, it’s going to go up, which a vent hood would capture. What are you referring to as “passive ventilation” with no hood?

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]]> By: Ellen http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8978 Ellen Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:18:43 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8978 Katy, I find your blog beautiful and inspirational. I second what mopar wrote about finding a chimney expert that really knows the whole operation. We had simlar work done a few years ago on our 110 year old house: we did only the one liner that went to the furnace (due to cost), plus rebuilding the chimney from the top down to about 12 courses inside the attic, and a cap. The one firm did everything except the flashing (as they are not licensed roofer). I recall the total was about $7k. It's a big and kind of messy job, so make sure you really like and trust who you are working with. Good luck! Katy,

I find your blog beautiful and inspirational. I second what mopar wrote about finding a chimney expert that really knows the whole operation. We had simlar work done a few years ago on our 110 year old house: we did only the one liner that went to the furnace (due to cost), plus rebuilding the chimney from the top down to about 12 courses inside the attic, and a cap. The one firm did everything except the flashing (as they are not licensed roofer). I recall the total was about $7k. It’s a big and kind of messy job, so make sure you really like and trust who you are working with.

Good luck!

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]]> By: mopar http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8976 mopar Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:39:30 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8976 While we're on the topic, does anyone know anything about how you use a fireplace and chimney in a kitchen to house and vent a stove? I just assumed you put the stove in and as long as the chimney was open and appropriately lined, the stove would vent through passive ventilation. But we had a chimney guy in to look at all our fireplaces, and he talked as if a vent hood is absolutely required. I was kind of confused by what he was saying. And I guess there is an actual duct that comes out of the oven and goes up the chimney -- but our stove doesn't have such a thing as far as I know. I didn't really understand. I don't like stove vents. I think they are really ugly. Has anyone ever looked into this or done it? Thanks. While we’re on the topic, does anyone know anything about how you use a fireplace and chimney in a kitchen to house and vent a stove?

I just assumed you put the stove in and as long as the chimney was open and appropriately lined, the stove would vent through passive ventilation.

But we had a chimney guy in to look at all our fireplaces, and he talked as if a vent hood is absolutely required. I was kind of confused by what he was saying. And I guess there is an actual duct that comes out of the oven and goes up the chimney — but our stove doesn’t have such a thing as far as I know. I didn’t really understand.

I don’t like stove vents. I think they are really ugly. Has anyone ever looked into this or done it? Thanks.

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]]> By: Mopar http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8975 Mopar Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:28:11 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8975 Did you not get the estimate from the guy who will do the work? In Brooklyn, we have people who specialize in old chimneys. It's usually a one man operation with helpers. He does everything: Masonry, liners, removing and installing historic stone and wood mantles, caps, buying and selling mantles, you name it. So you wouldn't normally hire a general type of mason and a sweep, no. Also, be careful. The chimney business is famous for fraudsters. You of course want to be safe and get someone who knows what they are doing, and who won't charge you for unecessary work. Hopefully you can find a few referrals through word of mouth and get three bids from reputable people. Did you not get the estimate from the guy who will do the work? In Brooklyn, we have people who specialize in old chimneys. It’s usually a one man operation with helpers. He does everything: Masonry, liners, removing and installing historic stone and wood mantles, caps, buying and selling mantles, you name it. So you wouldn’t normally hire a general type of mason and a sweep, no. Also, be careful. The chimney business is famous for fraudsters. You of course want to be safe and get someone who knows what they are doing, and who won’t charge you for unecessary work. Hopefully you can find a few referrals through word of mouth and get three bids from reputable people.

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]]> By: Katy Elliott http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8971 Katy Elliott Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:03:54 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8971 Thanks for your sharing your stories! Our first estimate for a cap and rebuild of the chimney down through the roof a few feet came in at $4,500. I guess you need a mason for the rebuilding and a chimney sweeper to do the liners? I'll report back once I know more... Thanks for your sharing your stories!

Our first estimate for a cap and rebuild of the chimney down through the roof a few feet came in at $4,500.

I guess you need a mason for the rebuilding and a chimney sweeper to do the liners?

I’ll report back once I know more…

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]]> By: El http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8967 El Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:57:25 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8967 Katie, Thanks so much for publishing this. It's extremely informative to hear about the estimates. Katie, Thanks so much for publishing this. It’s extremely informative to hear about the estimates.

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]]> By: Celia http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/getting-estimates-for-chimney-repair.html#comment-8966 Celia Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:40:46 +0000 http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/?p=11172#comment-8966 80K sounds like a lot! We are in South Georgia, but our house is 75 yrs old with five fireplaces. We are renovating and opening up some of these for use (hopefully) this winter. We only have one wood burning and the others were used for coal, so we're having to possibly convert those later to wood burning, etc. We've had a few people look at our chimneys/fireplaces and it takes a lot of work. While it is EXPENSIVE... 80K still seems pretty high. Just make sure you get a few estimates/quotes and check their references, etc (which I'm sure you are!). Good luck and keep us posted. Love seeing the progress on your site! Good luck!!! 80K sounds like a lot! We are in South Georgia, but our house is 75 yrs old with five fireplaces. We are renovating and opening up some of these for use (hopefully) this winter. We only have one wood burning and the others were used for coal, so we’re having to possibly convert those later to wood burning, etc. We’ve had a few people look at our chimneys/fireplaces and it takes a lot of work. While it is EXPENSIVE… 80K still seems pretty high. Just make sure you get a few estimates/quotes and check their references, etc (which I’m sure you are!). Good luck and keep us posted. Love seeing the progress on your site! Good luck!!!

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