Mason for Chimney Rebuild

[secondcurve]

Hello:

I have a block chimney that needs to be ripped down and replaced with a brick chimney. I also need the chimney cricket rebuilt. The inside fireplace box appears salvageable. Any mason recommendations for the east side of the lake? Ideas on cost for this type of project? $20,000? It’s easily accessible so that is a plus.

Thanks

[TomC]

I have had Jim Huston from Moultonboro (603) 253-7680 do several projects for me at different properties of mine. One was a chimney and he did top notch work. He's a classic New Englander who doesn't have much to say - just gets things done.

Do you need to replace the block because it is compromised, or you just don't like the look? They make 1" thick veneer bricks (real brick) that can go right over block and the result looks fantastic.

[secondcurve]

Hi Tom:

The blocks are compromised at this point and it need to go. Are materials for a chimney expensive? It seems to me most of the cost is labor. I had a similar job done during the financial crises and it was about $13,000 for a full rebuild. I’m thinking this job will be a lot more. Jim Huston is a good suggestion. I’ve never met him but I’ve heard the for a lot of years now that you bring it up. I’ll give him a call.

Thanks

[ApS]

Not only are chimneys expensive, they're inefficient because most of the heat goes up the chimney, while burning more wood.

Heatilator is still in business, but a wood stove is even better. ("More bang for the buck").

That's why Benjamin Franklin introduced his cast-iron, pot-bellied, Franklin Stove).

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Hi Tom:

The blocks are compromised at this point and it need to go. Are materials for a chimney expensive? It seems to me most of the cost is labor. I had a similar job done during the financial crises and it was about $13,000 for a full rebuild. I’m thinking this job will be a lot more. Jim Huston is a good suggestion. I’ve never met him but I’ve heard the for a lot of years now that you bring it up. I’ll give him a call.

Thanks

For our chimney rebuild, the materials were less than 1/4 of the overall price.

We received a wildly different set of estimates, though, as well as different ways each would have gone about the rebuild, so it's definitely worth connecting with a few different masons and checking out their past work.

I found finding the right one more difficult than I would have expected, so good luck!

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[TomC]

when building my house, the quote for a greatroom stone hearth/fireplace with brick chimney from basement through 2 floors and out the roof was - gasp - $80K. Much of it was the foundation on which such a heavy structure must sit. I went with a woodframed chimney and face stone with veneer brick and it was much less complex and expensive. One cannot tell it is not fully brick and stone.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

For our chimney rebuild, the materials were less than 1/4 of the overall price.

We received a wildly different set of estimates, though, as well as different ways each would have gone about the rebuild, so it's definitely worth connecting with a few different masons and checking out their past work.

I found finding the right one more difficult than I would have expected, so good luck!

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

Would you mind expanding on the range of quotes you received?


Thanks,

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Would you mind expanding on the range of quotes you received?


Thanks,

It was a much smaller job than what you're asking for: I needed about 1/3 of my chimney repaired (~10 feet) with only around a dozen new bricks but all new mortar, top cap, sealant, etc. The range, and this was about six years ago, ran from $2500-5000...literally a 100% difference.

We ended up going with someone on the lower end ($3k) who did an excellent job and who explained exactly why he'd be doing what he'd be doing given our situation.

A note that we had a stainless liner that had already been installed for our woodstove. I can't recall how that affected things, but I know it was a consideration for how the job was completed.

It still looks perfect/new.

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[TheProfessor]

There are two generations and multiple Hustons that do masonary work.
All are good.
If you don't get a prompt reply from one - go to the next one.

[Biggd]

Most are going with a wood framed chimney, which can be covered with brick, stone, or wood veneer. It seems like real brick and stone chimneys are only going on high end builds because of their expense.
I had a brick chimney built on a new home almost 20 years ago and it was 14K. I can't imagine what the cost would be today?

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Most are going with a wood framed chimney, which can be covered with brick, stone, or wood veneer. It seems like real brick and stone chimneys are only going on high end builds because of their expense.
I had a brick chimney built on a new home almost 20 years ago and it was 14K. I can't imagine what the cost would be today?

Yes. You are correct. It is definitely more expensive. I thought about an alternative but I am trying to do it correctly for the long term so my children don’t have to deal with a rebuild in the future.

Thanks