Chimney & Fireplaces/Chimney on siding

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Expert: - 7/21/2008


Question
Hi - We are having our house re-sided, and in tearing off the existing cedar
shingles we discovered that one of our chimneys was built on top of the
siding. The chimney also butts up against a window, and the result is that
there is quite a bit of rot in the sheathing where the chimney and window
meet, as it appears that water has been running down the chimney and
sitting on top of the window. (The window wasn't flashed.) My question is
whether we should consider removing the chimney altogether (it vents an
extra fireplace that we do not use) so we can start over, remove all the siding,
and make it right, or if there is a way to flash the chimney somehow so that
we don't have this water issue again. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!!

Answer
Jessica,

You can check with your local code authority about clearance requirements for chimneys in your area, but you will most likely find a requirement of at least one inch and most likely a two inch requirement. In either case, flashing will not address the issue and your guess will be the right one. Remove and replace or just remove for safety. Good luck.

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Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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