Chimney Removal (Step By Step)
Dec/10/07 11:32 PM
First of all the above photo is posed, it is in fact, me practicing my golf swing with a sledge hammer. To do a chimney removal you should be wearing a dust mask, eye, and ear protection as well. If you have any doubts about your ability to do this yourself, I would recommend hiring a professional as this is dirty, dangerous work.
Total time: About 12hrs (with 2 person clean up)
Tools I used:
Large Sledge Hammer
Small One-handed Sledge Hammer
Hammer and Masonry Chisel
Pneumatic Chisel
Saws-All Reciprocating Saw
Getting started:
I would recommend starting from the top and working your way down, dropping the bricks down the chimney as you go Or as in my case, since I am replacing the roof, just push them off the roof.
Also what I did a little different was, since it was raining, I started inside on the first level. Using a heavy sledge, I busted out a course of bricks from one side to the other. The chimney’s connection to the roof and the flue protrusions locked the chimney in place. If your chimney is completely
square all the way up or is not connected to the roof, I would not recommend doing it this way. Using a pneumatic chisel (Kobalt Brand $20 at Lowe’s) I systematically chiseled out the bricks letting them drop to the floor. I did this until I was about 3 courses shy of the ceiling. My biggest tip here is to not let the bricks fall on your toes. It hurts like hell. After I had access to the inside, I used a saws-all to cut the metal pipe that was used to vent the water heater in the basement.
Step 2:
I went up on the roof and began disassembling the chimney cap.
This was one of the easiest parts, since the mortar had ben exposed to the elements. It practically fell apart with just a few punches with the pneumatic chisel. Again, here is where you would want to drop the bricks down the chimney to protect the roof. I on the other-hand, fashioned a chute
to protect the edge of the roof then just pushed off the bricks with a broom. After I removed the courses down to below roof level, I pulled out the chimney liner. It was at this time I deemed it unsafe in the rooms below and disallowed anyone access to the kitchen area.
Step 3:
I went into the second floor and knocked down the plaster and lath to gain access to the chimney. Using the pneumatic chisel, I removed as much of the chimney as I could, before I began chiseling the flue protrusion that was, in fact,
holding the chimney in place. I made sure no cords or hoses were wrapped around my feet and began to chisel out the protrusion,
with just a few bricks removed... FOOM! the remainder of the chimney dropped away. I wish I had a video of it because it was an awesome site. After that I made short work of the intact portions with me trusty sledge hammer.
Step 4:
Clean up, I recruited my wife for this portion. While cleaning up she noticed that the floor tiles had been cracked where the chimney landed. We joked about how you probably can’t find tiles that ugly anymore, and how we’ll just have to replace them all. But that is another story...