Starting Chimney Rebuild

Posted on | July 20, 2010 | 16 Comments

I’m so excited we are starting on our chimney rebuild starting tomorrow. Tonight, we have our first Historical Society meeting to approve the work and our brick choice. Anything outside of the house that is considered a change and not a repair needs to be approved by the town’s historic society because I live in the historic district. (We have other rules but I’ll save that discussion for a future post). Currently, my chimney is brick with a stucco layer over the top. The stucco was layered over the top as a cheap repair. We are planning on rebuilding the chimney in full brick which will be considered a change.

The chimney you see in the photo will get ripped down starting tomorrow. Our mason already dropped off the scaffolding this morning. The job should take about a week. This is what Greg sent me about what we are having done,

“Substantial mortar and/or brick deterioration has eliminated the possibility of a tuck pointing (tuckpointing) restoration. The structure is torn down to the flashing area near the roofline, and then the chimney rebuild commences (+ new crown).”

I wrote my first big check on Monday—the job came in at $4,500. It felt amazing to start a big project. I’m super excited and I know it’s going to look amazing. I’ll keep you up-to-date on the progress. Hopefully, I get some good brick removal photos and video tomorrow.

Category: house renovation

Comments

16 Responses to “Starting Chimney Rebuild”

Virginia
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:05 am
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this chimney project since I have 4 of my own that need fixing. How many flues are in it? Are they going to line it and if so, with which method?
So many questions! I need new roof as well so I’m at the chicken and the egg part as far as which is better to do first.
0 likes
Katy Elliott
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:08 am
We have four flues. The lining part is part two of the project. Here in marblehead chimney sweeps add liners. The rebuild part is done by a mason. I have heard from other people their chimney people are all in one group but not here.

We’ll get estimates for the liners after the chimney is complete in about two weeks.

Then it’s a new roof!
0 likes
Lesley Sargent
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:18 am
fun to follow – but it doesn’t seem the average person could afford to buy and renovate a historic house. Too bad – guess I have to live vicariously through you Katy!
0 likes
S@sha
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:30 am
So the flue repair is what will make all of your fireplaces functional (or safer), and this is partly cosmetic and partly structural? When you post pictures next winter of a roaring fire in your den there will be many envious blog readers!

Do you know what kind of roof you are going with?

Also, in response to Lesley’s comment, I think that average people can afford to buy and renovate an historic house. They just have to renovate as they can afford it. I think all of your posts regarding the slow progress and the huge amount of labor that you have been putting in yourselves illustrates that it can be done and is what makes this blog so interesting. At least to me.
0 likes
mary
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:35 am
Exciting! I can’t wait to see the progress and end result. And I have to say, I was expecting a bigger cost than $4,500! That sounds really reasonable for what you’re having done. Masonry work is always so expensive…
0 likes
G
July 20th, 2010 @ 11:54 am
The $4500 is a good price if you look at like this: $500 in materials, $800 tools/rentals, 2 guys 3 days work, and 30% of the total is just for insurance (all approximations). I contemplated doing it myself but if a single brick (out of 400) gets dropped and falls on someone, there is no way I could live with myself.
0 likes
christie chase
July 20th, 2010 @ 12:39 pm
Progress on an old house is so exciting and so cathartic! Good luck!
0 likes
Katy Elliott
July 20th, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
Hi Lesley,

Believe me we are average. But it does take a lot of patience, saving, and scaling back. We have been in the house 2 years and this is our first big project.

Our renovation will take us years…but we love it!
0 likes
moparbrownstoner
July 20th, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
Very exciting. Congratulations. Hope all goes smoothly. Wow, imagine a fire in the fireplace this winter.
0 likes
Jennifer
July 20th, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
Good luck, Katy! I can’t wait to see how it goes…
0 likes
Lesley
July 21st, 2010 @ 1:18 am
I do love following you. I’m stuck in Arizona, but have relatives in Marblehead and quite a strong connection to Maine. Thanks for your terrific blog!
0 likes
Patsy
July 21st, 2010 @ 10:37 am
It’s so great that you’ll be able to enjoy your fireplaces, they are non-functional in so many old houses.

Hope it goes smooth as silk!
0 likes
michelle
July 21st, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
we’ve lived in our home built in 1894 for 4 years now. we have 3 chimneys including the one leading to our furnace that could use some attention (repair & lining). can’t wait to see how yours turns out! we’ve never used any of the 3 fireplaces in our home since we’ve been here. have you used your fireplace(s)?
0 likes
Katy Elliott
July 21st, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
Hi michelle,

Nope we’ve never used ours. But hopefully this winter!
0 likes
Kristin
July 22nd, 2010 @ 9:01 am
hooray – totally excited for you! i think you should redo your project list just for fun and put “chimney repairs” in really big letters so that you can purposefully put a REALLY big X through it!

can i ask who you’ve used or will you wait until it’s done to tell us?
0 likes
Katy Elliott
July 22nd, 2010 @ 9:20 am
Kristin,

I’m going to wait till he’s done before I share his name. I want to make sure he does quality work.
0 likes