Leaning Chimney

I just made an offer on a house that was once beautiful but has been gutted. It was partially rehabbed then abandoned- it is an estate so perhaps the person doing the work died. I can handle all the work except a very tall chimney that is leaning in noticably towards the roof after it gets above the eaves.



I talked with the neighbor, who has no interest whatsoever in selling the property, and he claims that the chimney was built that way. So I drove around town a bit, looking at chimneys, and a substantial portion do in fact lean in towards the roof.



It is a very tall, heavy pile of bricks and if it falls on the roof it will wreck the house. Is it true that chimneys are/were sometimes built with an intentional lean for some reason, or do I need to have this torn down to roof level and rebuilt?



Thanks for any insight,



Chris

Comments(19)

  • cjmazur21st August, 2007

    from the son of a bricklayer... leaning chimneys are not a good this.

  • ypochris21st August, 2007

    Any idea what it costs to restack/replace the top about 12 feet of substantial brick chimney that is perhaps 35 feet high?

    Chris

  • cjmazur22nd August, 2007

    sorry prices vary greatly.

    Mine has suffered a couple earthquake and I go quoted from 3K-7K

  • mcnattyp22nd August, 2007

    Not a direct answer to your question, but depending on the repair price you get quoted, you may consider demoing the chimney and putting in a high-efficiency gas heater that only needs a horizontal plastic pipe for exhaust. Of course if this is for a *fireplace*, then, well, ignore my post.

    NAT

  • ypochris22nd August, 2007

    It vents both the boiler (gas hot water heat) and a wood fireplace.

    Chris

  • koytoy16th September, 2007

    Brick chimneys usually lean towards the north.

  • koytoy16th September, 2007

    Brick chimneys usually lean towards the north.

  • ypochris17th September, 2007

    This one is leaning south, with a bit of a tilt towards the east also...

    Chris

  • Stockpro9918th September, 2007

    Sounds like it is directionally confused...
    [addsig]

  • jam20019th September, 2007

    Maybe just a large electromagnet would do the trick?

    I thought you said your offer expired? Did they then comeback with a counter, or something?

  • boardwalk12013rd December, 2007

    Chris
    Where is this project now after a few months of history.
    Mike R

  • boardwalk12014th December, 2007

    Thanks for the update.
    I know the feeling of waiting for the weather, the time flys by and the mortgage payments go even quicker. i will post soon of my horror stories in Point Pleasant NJ. Drop 400 on a Reddy space heater Kero. Jet power.
    Best of luck
    Mike R

  • d_random3rd December, 2007

    Would these wall units be in each room (ie LR and BR)? I had an old wall heater unit (only in LR) in a place that I replaced with central heat/air. It was terrible, as soon as you shut the door to any room it got cold. If you wanted any privacy you were going to freeze.[ Edited by d_random on Date 12/03/2007 ]

  • bgrossnickle5th December, 2007

    Thank God for Florida weather. I got a chill just reading these posts.

  • investors_rehab8th December, 2007

    Try a REIA club, there is one in SC in Myrtle Beach.

    http://www.carolinacoastreia.c om

  • lauralee10th December, 2007

    What large city are you close to in SC? Most of them have investors clubs and would be a great way to meet other investors.

  • dfowler3a10th December, 2007

    I live 20 minutes from Greenville and about 5 minutes from Spartanburg

  • lauralee10th December, 2007

    Try here:

    Upstate CREIA
    Email: debsisson @ www.charter.net

    Phone: 864-542-4202
    Address: 74 Westview Ave, Greenville, SC 29609[ Edited by lauralee on Date 12/10/2007 ]

  • dfowler3a10th December, 2007

    Thanks for the response everyone! I am going to join the Upstate Investor Club.

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