Chimney - metal flue or not.

jamesd

My chimney has been cracked for a while now, last time it was cleaned the cleaner said it needs to be rebuilt. I contacted an accessor and he surveyed it, said the flue linings were damaged and went through my insurance and got me a payment to get it fixed. I have contacted 2 chimney repair companies and both have surveyed, 1 said he'd fit a solid metal flue with a 25yr guarantee and then he would replaster the chimney itself and and other said he'd knock the chimney to the roof and replace the existing flues with the same and rebuilt the chimney. Both about the same price, metal flue lad about 1k less.

My fire is a stanley Erin stove, lit daily as heats and provides our hot water.

Any views on the best option?

jamesd

My fear is with the guy using the metal flue and replastering the existing cracked chimney and that once he goes at it that he finds it bad under the plaster and asks for more money.

I asked the 2nd guy about a metal flue and he said it'd cost an extra 1k and not needed once he rebuilds it all.

10-10-20

I'm not a chimney guy, but I'd take the approach of trying to work out whether the chimney block work is unstable or not, that's the key thing here. Did the assessor provide a report? By the look of those horizontal cracks, it would be my personal opinion that there's potemtially something structural going on... so you need to know whether to address that quickly or whether a liner pipe will suffice to repair what's damaged.

Are there any leaks at the ceiling level?

Esel

Can't see how there's only €1,000 difference in those quotes.

jamesd

No leaks or anything inside, nothing showing at all. No report from the accessor, all verbal, said the chimley has damaged flues and needs to be rebuilt.

Yes it's a small difference isn't it compared to the level of work involved with the full rebuild.

Mr321

The half of the chimneys in the country have cracks like that on them. It's probably mortar cracks that's come true to the plaster.

Personally I've no time for the metal flues. Their just tin, maybe ok for a chimney only lit the odd night in winter, if your burning solid fuel etc I prefer the clay flues already tempered to meet that type of heat.

The chimneys being knocked and built back up would need new flashing also but I guess that's in the quote?

jamesd

Yes he said new flashing included in the rebuild.

Looking to get a 3rd quote now just to have 3 prices.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122394091#Comment_122394091

Out of interest was there a TV ariel ever installed onto that chimney in the past?

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122393776#Comment_122393776

We're using a flexible metal flue liner on a Waterford Erin stove as OP for 25+ years and still fine. The original chimney here though had no liners. But if I was OP and the chimney was built from fireplace up with clay liners, I'd go with second approach.

jamesd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122395099#Comment_122395099

No never or anything else, all my ariels and dishes are on my garage.