Chimney Leaning

needhelp · 06-05-2008, 09:37 PM

Our chiminey is leaning about 2 inches away from the top of the roof line. The estimates to jack it up, etc. are way out of my budget. My insurance agent said something about applying adhesive to the chimney, straightening it "somehow" and "banding" it to the house itself. After about a year, remove the band and the chimney should stay.

This chimney is never used - but even to take it down and repair where it was is many thousands of dollars.

Has anyone ever heard of this -- done it -- seen it done -- tried it and failed? Anything?

I really don't want to spend my child's education money on a chimney we never use.

Any help or suggestions at all would be great. Thank you.

yesitsconcrete · 06-06-2008, 05:29 AM

easy fix - have your agent do it for you,,, then, when it fails/falls, make a claim,,, everone wins

or tear it down yourself letting your kids help thereby earning some of that college $$$.

ps, no, it don't work,,, still believe in leprachauns, too ? ?? ?

CraigFL · 06-06-2008, 05:34 AM

We need to know what kind of chimney and why it's leaning... If it's brick, are the morter joints crumbling? Is the base sinking? Are there major cracks throughout the brickwork? Is it freestanding next to the house--i.e. the house siding isn't part of the chimney siding?

A picture or sketch would help too because if it is going to be tied into the house, significant structural support is required.

inspectorD · 06-06-2008, 05:52 AM

Get another professional out to take a look. The footing under the chimney is most likely at fault. If the footing was poured after the foundation was dug out, then the footing may not be on solid soil. I have seen it done before where it is lifted into place with jacks and re-supported. There is no easy fix, except to push it over. Then you need to fix the siding where it was.

Ask around , someone may know someone who needs brick.
Or re-use it for an outdoor BBQ.

Good luck.

needhelp · 06-06-2008, 07:17 AM

It is brick, attached to a brick home. It appears that it was just set on a concrete slab (carport) and that is settling. The bricks are tied into the house up about 8 foot and then they just stopped doing that. There are some brick faces popping off at the top and some of the bricks have fallen out around the top 3 rows or so.

I've attached 2 pictures. Thank you for your help.

inspectorD · 06-06-2008, 04:18 PM

You need to find someone who does foundation repair and lifting to fix this. They may also fix the spalling of your brick, but that is not the priority.

yesitsconcrete · 06-06-2008, 11:39 PM

occasionally i saw some fireplaces that were leaning where someone had placed a cable thru the chimney al a old time post & beam barn strengthening,,, as i recall, the cable transferred dynamic load to the house framing - translation, everything leaned from then on,,, 1 eventually fell over ( to the right as i recall )

glennjanie · 06-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Hello NeedHelp:
The chimney is gone, kaput, not worth saving. You will be money ahead to tear it down and close up the empty hole that will be left. Advertise in the local paper that you have several thousand used brick for the taking. (they do the tear down and clean-up in exchange)
There is a move on now for 'Green Building' and this would fit the description just fine. If they use your used brick, the brick kiln would not have to be heated up for their house.
Glenn

chimneyed · 04-19-2009, 05:27 PM

the chimney is not in that bad of shape - save it. stop the leaning issue and re-set the loose rows of brick and make sure the crown keeps water out. you can hold off on the spalling bricks for awhile. but the money you put into it will pay off with yourhouse value.
the work should be less then 2500

DaveyDIY · 04-19-2009, 06:00 PM

How old is the house?
How long has the chimney been leaning or when did you notice it?

I doubt anyone will take it down for free just for the brick
--especially when they see the brick falling apart
I see free brick on Craigslist all the time
I picked up a truckload myself - all stacked & cleaned