Hello,
I'm seeking some expert advice on how to approach the situation we've ended up in. The question is whether we should consider the chimney solution we've ended up with as a risk construction or not.
We had a masonry fireplace with a corresponding chimney. We were not entirely satisfied with the design of the fireplace, mainly because the fire was positioned too low and too far back. A standard insert would have made the fire even less visible.
This is what it looked like:
View attachment 184492
View attachment 184493
We pondered for a long time over what to do. We contacted one of the larger chains in the country in this field and had a home visit. Their view was that anything was possible. We raised the question of whether we should keep the chimney or set up a new one. Their recommendation was to keep it but to ensure its functionality by installing a stainless steel pipe inside. We chose to follow their advice and didn't think much more about how it would all proceed.
When they arrived, they began breaking away the fireplace hood. More and more material disappeared. After a while, I realized that the chimney pipe goes straight up; I had (foolishly enough) always thought the chimney was entirely separate 'behind the fireplace' and that the hood 'connected to it.' I asked the workers if they were really supposed to remove more—would this really hold? But they assured me... although I noticed that they increasingly shifted to breaking/pausing/breaking/pausing as they continued.
At the time, I was down with the flu and, of course, forgot to take pictures. I've attempted to sketch it as best as I can.
View attachment 184505
After they finished their work, only two of the chimney walls remained at the 'base.' About two bricks wide on one side, and maybe 2.5 on the other. Just shy of 2 meters up, the chimney transitions from 2 to 4 walls within a few inches. When I saw how it looked when they were done, I became shocked and scared. That evening, after the workers had left, I put two upright studs as support just in case (I know it probably wouldn't have helped anything).
The next day, I once again raised my concern with the workers. They listened, but not much more. I informed them that I would be happy to have them spend a few extra hours securing the construction due to my concern.
Then they started the chimney reconstruction and installation of the fireplace insert. The reconstruction was done using lecablocks. No reinforcement whatsoever. I can't see that the reconstructed chimney could relieve the chimney in any way more than marginally...
This is how it looked when it was almost finished.
View attachment 184507
Not sure, but had I been healthy at the time, I would probably have asked them to take down the entire chimney. I'm not a structural engineer, but I dislike thinking about what tensile loads there must be on some of the mortar joints in the chimney due to the 'overhanging load.'
In connection with the fireplace being pressure tested, I tried to speak privately with the chimney sweep about the solution—but he was more of the opinion that they knew their job.
I have not paid for the work yet.
I'm considering bringing in an independent expert for an inspection to see.
Do you think I'm completely off track? Am I unnecessarily paranoid? Should the chimney collapse—then it will almost certainly collapse inwards towards the middle of the house... it would probably hit our long load-bearing beam in the middle from the side. I can say that I would not want to be home if that happened.
//Hyvvä
I'm seeking some expert advice on how to approach the situation we've ended up in. The question is whether we should consider the chimney solution we've ended up with as a risk construction or not.
We had a masonry fireplace with a corresponding chimney. We were not entirely satisfied with the design of the fireplace, mainly because the fire was positioned too low and too far back. A standard insert would have made the fire even less visible.
This is what it looked like:
View attachment 184492
View attachment 184493
We pondered for a long time over what to do. We contacted one of the larger chains in the country in this field and had a home visit. Their view was that anything was possible. We raised the question of whether we should keep the chimney or set up a new one. Their recommendation was to keep it but to ensure its functionality by installing a stainless steel pipe inside. We chose to follow their advice and didn't think much more about how it would all proceed.
When they arrived, they began breaking away the fireplace hood. More and more material disappeared. After a while, I realized that the chimney pipe goes straight up; I had (foolishly enough) always thought the chimney was entirely separate 'behind the fireplace' and that the hood 'connected to it.' I asked the workers if they were really supposed to remove more—would this really hold? But they assured me... although I noticed that they increasingly shifted to breaking/pausing/breaking/pausing as they continued.
At the time, I was down with the flu and, of course, forgot to take pictures. I've attempted to sketch it as best as I can.
View attachment 184505
After they finished their work, only two of the chimney walls remained at the 'base.' About two bricks wide on one side, and maybe 2.5 on the other. Just shy of 2 meters up, the chimney transitions from 2 to 4 walls within a few inches. When I saw how it looked when they were done, I became shocked and scared. That evening, after the workers had left, I put two upright studs as support just in case (I know it probably wouldn't have helped anything).
The next day, I once again raised my concern with the workers. They listened, but not much more. I informed them that I would be happy to have them spend a few extra hours securing the construction due to my concern.
Then they started the chimney reconstruction and installation of the fireplace insert. The reconstruction was done using lecablocks. No reinforcement whatsoever. I can't see that the reconstructed chimney could relieve the chimney in any way more than marginally...
This is how it looked when it was almost finished.
View attachment 184507
Not sure, but had I been healthy at the time, I would probably have asked them to take down the entire chimney. I'm not a structural engineer, but I dislike thinking about what tensile loads there must be on some of the mortar joints in the chimney due to the 'overhanging load.'
In connection with the fireplace being pressure tested, I tried to speak privately with the chimney sweep about the solution—but he was more of the opinion that they knew their job.
I have not paid for the work yet.
I'm considering bringing in an independent expert for an inspection to see.
Do you think I'm completely off track? Am I unnecessarily paranoid? Should the chimney collapse—then it will almost certainly collapse inwards towards the middle of the house... it would probably hit our long load-bearing beam in the middle from the side. I can say that I would not want to be home if that happened.
//Hyvvä
Tricky, the images are only visible when I am logged in. I'll contact the administrator. Otherwise, I'll re-upload the images tonight.
Now we have fixed it so that the images are visible to everyone.
(Apologies for the late reply - been traveling, etc.)
The Lecablocks were partially built close against the open sidewalls, which may stabilize somewhat. However, the parts adjacent to the chimney opening's top were built from the sides upwards, and I find it very hard to see how they could bear any forces. If they were subjected to any forces, I believe the Leca blocks would crack. I never saw any reinforcement bars or similar.
The insert stands on a Lecablock base. From the insert, a pipe is extended to the chimney opening and sealed partly with stone wool.
The Lecablocks were partially built close against the open sidewalls, which may stabilize somewhat. However, the parts adjacent to the chimney opening's top were built from the sides upwards, and I find it very hard to see how they could bear any forces. If they were subjected to any forces, I believe the Leca blocks would crack. I never saw any reinforcement bars or similar.
The insert stands on a Lecablock base. From the insert, a pipe is extended to the chimney opening and sealed partly with stone wool.
If the chimney is unstable, I would not want to climb up and clean it. The best placement for a chimney flue is in the ridge or very close to the ridge, both aesthetically and to make easy roof protection possible. Such placements arise when furniture arrangement takes over (TV placement). It's a shame you've already spent on it; I would have demolished it and arranged for a better placement.
Japps. Was considering tearing it down, but as mentioned, I was persuaded to keep it.
In hindsight, of course, it's tough to think back to that discussion - I remember well how the thoughts went between keeping it versus tearing it down.
For us, I think the placement in combination with the stove and floor plan works quite well. We have a fairly open floor plan, and now you can see the fire from large parts of the ground floor. Even if we had been free to choose, we probably would have ended up with the same placement.
In hindsight, of course, it's tough to think back to that discussion - I remember well how the thoughts went between keeping it versus tearing it down.
For us, I think the placement in combination with the stove and floor plan works quite well. We have a fairly open floor plan, and now you can see the fire from large parts of the ground floor. Even if we had been free to choose, we probably would have ended up with the same placement.