chimney woes

pavlovs_dog

we have recently bought our first home, and it has two open chimneys in it. we have had problems with wind dislodging soot etc, some rain getting in and birds using the chimney pots as a toilet, which have left a lovely speckled-dashed effect around the walls of the fireplace

The one chimney is much worse than the other. We tried installing a chimney balloon here but this has had minimum success. When the rain water gets in it now sounds like a beating drum as it hits the balloon. Where the balloon deflates slightly over time, it rises up and down the chimney breast in the draft that the wind creates.

Longer term, is having these two chimneys capped the only viable solution to stop these problems? We don't plan on ever having open fires so we wouldn't miss that option.

if we did try to get our chimney capped, what kind of tradesman would we need and what ball park figure are we looking at?

any help gratefully received

muckybutt

I wouldnt expect any more than £100 for materials and labour

pavlovs_dog

we are now seriously looking to get this resolved.

have had a closer look at our chimneys (by closer I mean i stuck my head out of the velux window in the loft ). we actually have two chimney stacks, both with more than one chimney pot on. at least one of the pots had already had a cowl fitted. the one stack looks like it would benefit from being at least partially repointed. we have had one roofer out to quote, who gave us a quote of £350 for (if memory serves) 5 cowls and the repointing. Given that access to our roof is not as straightforward as most terraced houses, this didn't seem too horrific at face value, although i don't yet have other actual quotes to compare it to. he mentioned that the cowls are essentially tied/strapped on - would this be secure enough? we live near the sea so get some fair gusts when the winds do pick up. I had always assumed these things were glued/cemented into place.

secondly, would it be prudent to get the chimneys swept either before or after have the cowls fitted to minimise the gunk that falls down?

thirdly, would we be better off getting a roofer or a chimney specialist (if such a thing exists any more) to offer us further quotes, or does the only difference lie in the skill of the individual tradesman?

finally, we've noticed that some of the guttering also needs some attention. is that a 'whilst you're up there can you quote us for X' type of job? From what I can see some brackets have come away, meaning the guttering is at an angle and that appears to be the coause of the excaping water. I'm not great with ladders so the thoughts of D.I.Ying something like this doesn't appeal in the least.

many thanks,

pavlovs

muckybutt

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

we are now seriously looking to get this resolved.

have had a closer look at our chimneys (by closer I mean i stuck my head out of the velux window in the loft ). we actually have two chimney stacks, both with more than one chimney pot on. at least one of the pots had already had a cowl fitted. the one stack looks like it would benefit from being at least partially repointed. we have had one roofer out to quote, who gave us a quote of £350 for (if memory serves) 5 cowls and the repointing. Given that access to our roof is not as straightforward as most terraced houses, this didn't seem too horrific at face value, although i don't yet have other actual quotes to compare it to. he mentioned that the cowls are essentially tied/strapped on - would this be secure enough? Yes, most if not all modern caps are secured with straps via a stainless steel jubilee type clip. we live near the sea so get some fair gusts when the winds do pick up. I had always assumed these things were glued/cemented into place.

secondly, would it be prudent to get the chimneys swept Yes and no, depends on how mucky they are if their not too mucky leave em but when the cowels are fitted place a plastic sheet over the fireplace and seal it with gaffa tape. either before or after have the cowls fitted to minimise the gunk that falls down?

thirdly, would we be better off getting a roofer or a chimney specialist Do you have any stove specialists in the local area or chimney sweeps that do roof work ? look for Hetas or National Association of Chimney Sweeps in the yellow pages(if such a thing exists any more) to offer us further quotes, or does the only difference lie in the skill of the individual tradesman?

finally, we've noticed that some of the guttering also needs some attention. Ask and you may be surprised ? otherwise ask neighbours if they know of a good builder or odd job chap. is that a 'whilst you're up there can you quote us for X' type of job? From what I can see some brackets have come away, meaning the guttering is at an angle and that appears to be the coause of the excaping water. I'm not great with ladders so the thoughts of D.I.Ying something like this doesn't appeal in the least.

many thanks,

pavlovs

As above.....

pavlovs_dog

many thanks muckybutt, it's much appreciated

docmatt

muckybutt wrote: »

I wouldnt expect any more than £100 for materials and labour

If you are happy getting up there and capping two chimneys for £100 you can come and work for us. :eek:

pavlovs_dog

docmatt wrote: »

If you are happy getting up there and capping two chimneys for £100 you can come and work for us. :eek:

on that basis docmatt, would you suggest the £350 figure we were quoted is in the right ballpark?

Jolaaled

Whilst you're considering costs/builders etc, you could try stuffing an old pillow or two up the offending chimneys.
I have a disused fireplace and the pillow that i rammed up there has stopped draughts completely.

HTH

muckybutt

Jolaaled wrote: »

Whilst you're considering costs/builders etc, you could try stuffing an old pillow or two up the offending chimneys.
I have a disused fireplace and the pillow that i rammed up there has stopped draughts completely.

HTH

Unfortunately that wont allow your chimney to breath, leaving it uncapped and bunged up at the bottom will eventually lead to you getting damp in the chimney. First you will know of it is when you get nice brown stains coming through the chimney breast.

pavlovs_dog

Jolaaled wrote: »

Whilst you're considering costs/builders etc, you could try stuffing an old pillow or two up the offending chimneys.
I have a disused fireplace and the pillow that i rammed up there has stopped draughts completely.

HTH

we've partially blocked both to stop draughts, but have left a gap for ventilation.

once we re-inflated the chimney balolon it stopped moving about in all but the strongest winds. the only other issue we have is when heavy rain turns it into a drum, but i'm working on the assumption that a cowl would prevent most if not all rain from getting into the chimney in the first place, thus solving that problem.

OH did suggest the pillow trick but I had stern words with him

muckybutt

docmatt wrote: »

If you are happy getting up there and capping two chimneys for £100 you can come and work for us. :eek:

2 x caps = £16 each retail + 1hr labour @ £30 = £62 !!! so call it £70 tops
http://www.chimneycowlproducts.co.uk/acatalog/Disused_Chimney_Terracotta_Cap.html
http://www.hotline-chimneys.co.uk/products.asp?category=Redundant+Flue+Caps&subcategory=C%2DCaps

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

on that basis docmatt, would you suggest the £350 figure we were quoted is in the right ballpark?

If you are doing all the chimneys and repointing then that sounds ok but just for two caps then you are being taken for a ride imo.