H F Posted November 18, 2019 Author Share Posted November 18, 2019 7 hours ago, Ferdinand said: Trust that it doesn’t have a wooden beam going through the middle of it like our Jacobean Chimney did :-). Yes it did catch fire eventually. Thankfully not ? Chimney guy a no-show this afternoon. Sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 After a lot of advice and second opinions, we’re going to rebuild our chimney. On that note, doing some reading, there’s evidence to suggest it’s a good idea to have two lead trays: one towards the top near the flaunching and one lower down near the ridge line. Is that overkill? We’ve been quoted for just one tray. On that note, we have a few more questions. What are the best bricks for the job? Here’s our proposed scope of work: Remove chimney and pots. Integrate a lead DPC tray code 4 or 5, step side flashing and soakers, front flash apron, back flash gutter, finishing the lead with a patination oil. Rebuild using bricks with mortar pointing finish. New flaunching (using a 3 in 1 sand and cement mix with a frost proofer added). Advice, comments and suggestions please... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Our builder (old school) built ours properly which has a full lead tray before roof to stop damp within the brickwork going around the flashing, just found this........https://www.labcwarranty.co.uk/blog/how-to-ensure-your-chimney-is-constructed-correctly/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 15 minutes ago, joe90 said: Our builder (old school) built ours properly which has a full lead tray before roof to stop damp within the brickwork going around the flashing, just found this........https://www.labcwarranty.co.uk/blog/how-to-ensure-your-chimney-is-constructed-correctly/ Brilliant. We’ve actually used this link as our go to. What kind of bricks did you use Joe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Home Farm said: What kind of bricks did you use Joe? Same as the house, ordinary house bricks, Northumberland red (tumbled), from the way our west elevation soaks up the atlantic rain (bricks are not water proof) I am glad they were frost proof and I am going to seal them when we get a period of dry weather. I would be tempted to use engineering bricks and perhaps waterproofer in the mortar , see below. Engineering bricks have high compressive strength and low water absorption. They are used for their physical characteristics and not their appearance. They were traditionally used in civil engineering and are most suitable for applications where strength and resistance to frost attack and water are important. Edited December 19, 2019 by joe90 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 58 minutes ago, Home Farm said: Remove chimney and pots. Integrate a lead DPC tray code 4 or 5, step side flashing and soakers, front flash apron, back flash gutter, finishing the lead with a patination oil. Rebuild using bricks with mortar pointing finish. New flaunching (using a 3 in 1 sand and cement mix with a frost proofer added). Remove existing chimney structure to roofline and retain bricks where possible. Install DPC tray and weep vents and rebuild stack to minimum 400mm above ridge. Install Code 4 step side lead flashing and soakers, front flash apron, back flash gutter, finishing the lead with a patination oil. Complete stack with 2.No courses Class 2 engineering brick, re-use existing pots and flaunch. All mortar joints full filled and flush pointed with 3:1 mix with suitable frost additives. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 Thanks Joe and Peter. I’ve conveyed the points to our builder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 We’re struggling to find chimney pots as replacements for our chimney rebuild. We’ve searched online and we’re not finding what we’re looking for. It’s a red brick farm house, so we’re thinking of pots that are terra-cotta - the ceramic pots clash a bit. Any online store that you can recommend would be helpful. Never envisaged buying a chimney pot in the uk would be this tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 This is what we’ve got now. They don’t match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 44 minutes ago, Home Farm said: We’re struggling to find chimney pots as replacements for our chimney rebuild. We’ve searched online and we’re not finding what we’re looking for. It’s a red brick farm house, so we’re thinking of pots that are terra-cotta - the ceramic pots clash a bit. Any online store that you can recommend would be helpful. Never envisaged buying a chimney pot in the uk would be this tricky. how big are they ..? You’ll need to know the full height which could be another 10-12” on what is visible. All the big merchants will carry standard pots, they start at about £35-40 each. If you want something more ornate then a chat with WT Knowles wouldn’t go amiss .. Other option is a reclaim yard or eBay - loads on there like this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 @Home Farm have you got a reclamation yard near you? I have bought pots for jobs from one in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 17 hours ago, joe90 said: @Home Farm have you got a reclamation yard near you? I have bought pots for jobs from one in the past. Don’t think we do, but I’ll google to see if there any around us. Thanks for the suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 Thanks Peter. Have seen the WT Knowles link to my wife. You’re right, they really are ornate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 We've in the process of appointing a specialist builder to rebuild our chimney - it's the only way forward after having had a good look at it. On that note, we're waiting for the final quotation from the builder - what kind of guarantee should we request from them? What is standard in the Uk for such matters? And should I be requesting anything else in writing that I have not yet thought of? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Maybe a good idea to put up a copy of what your asking the builder to supply and do, that way people can see what needs to be added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Good idea - we've given him full instructions of what we want as part of the rebuild and we've requested that this is all itemised to avoid any issues down the line if they build something else or try to cut corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 What is the typical guarantee length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 3 minutes ago, Home Farm said: What is the typical guarantee length? errr ... none..?? I’ve not seen anyone guarantee a chimney rebuild as there are too many unknown factors. Are you having the pots capped or open with cowls..? I would ask them to rebuild with lead trays and weeps where required - other than that you are asking for someone to ensure it is structurally sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 8 minutes ago, PeterW said: errr ... none..?? I’ve not seen anyone guarantee a chimney rebuild as there are too many unknown factors. Are you having the pots capped or open with cowls..? I would ask them to rebuild with lead trays and weeps where required - other than that you are asking for someone to ensure it is structurally sound. None. Wow. So we'd have no recourse if they built something that started leaking straight away? We'll have cowls on the pots. We've given them a full list of criteria (based on comms from this thread) which includes the trays, weeps, flashing, etc. I appreciate this is a subjective question but the verbal quote we've received is £4,200 - is that high for a rebuild of a chimney? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Depends what it includes ..?? Is that reclaimed materials, all scaffold etc..?? A good company will warranty their work but a guarantee is something different especially with an old building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 (edited) On 15/11/2019 at 09:39, Home Farm said: I've got to say I'm getting tired of our DIY dramas at the moment. After the storms yesterday, we had a leak on our ceiling and we think it has come the chimney - took some photos of the stack and it looks like the lead isn't covering the chimney properly. Any thoughts? PS - I know we have to deal with the moss too. What I do not like about that flashing is that the flashing sits on the peak of the tiles and looking at the tile exposed below it looks like the tile has been cut to fit, thus any water sitting high on the peak can get blown over the peak and may then pass over the tile and start its journey into your house. Looking at that, assuming roof is otherwise good and will be in service for some time yet, I would remove the lead and form a new wider piece which can be beaten down into the trough of the tile so that any water needs to be blown up onto the peak first before it can leak down. I also like the hidden valley types but that would take a lot more work and messing to install and if you are fed up of projects you may not want to do that! I know I am late to this party but just my thoughts without having read other posters replies. Edited January 9, 2020 by Carrerahill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 5 minutes ago, Home Farm said: I appreciate this is a subjective question but the verbal quote we've received is £4,200 - is that high for a rebuild of a chimney? I rebuilt a couple of my chimneys...... they both took me about a full week each all in. I had a bit of help to Move stone and mix mortar but only about 1.5 days of extra labour the rest I did myself. I had my own scaffold tower and roof ladders which took half a day to set up. I reclaimed or used stone I had on site. it took me a day to pull the old one apart and get it all down. it took me 3 days to rebuild. I had to buy one new pot, other was fine, reused cowls. One pot / outlet was no longer in use the other was so I also put a new stainless liner down the one in use and vented the other. took another day to fluff around with cowls, paint, tidy up and remove scaffolding. I did not put lead trays in........ as they were not there...... but now I know better for next time ! the other chimney was a bit different...... this was just my own experience, I was not working quickly as I was using non dimensional stone. so seven days labour and materials - Sand, cement, lime, one pot and a few coats of paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Work on the chimney rebuild starts on Friday. Hopefully this foul weather blows over soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 January has been crazy for us... Chimney’s done. Phew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H F Posted February 5, 2020 Author Share Posted February 5, 2020 Thanks for all the suggestions and advice: More photos and video available here: https://myhomefarm.co.uk/rebuilding-a-period-chimney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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