Expert: James Ball - 5/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: We bought an older house.The chimney is block with no clay tile flue. Our question is can we line it with metalbestos? Is that a good choice? Is there another suggestion better suited for this situation? The top blocks are deteriorating and a new roof is needed but need to do this chimney repair before the roofer can proceed. We heat with an old steam boiler.

ANSWER: Hello Colleen, if the chimney is structurally sound then you can reline it with a flexible Stainless Steel liner (I use Ventinox) Metalbestos is not for inside of a chimney but use all by it self (but you could ask them). I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have they should be able to help.
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for getting back to me. I did get a licensed chimney sweep to give me an estimate. He uses Homesaver brand liners. What is your opinion about that brand? He also states it is not necessary to go down to the clean out door with the liner. What are your thoughts there? The chimney is brick and probably original up until it comes out of the roof where someone has replaced the brick with a common 7" cement block. We plan on rebuilding from the roof up with brick before placing a liner into it. We will replace the boiler in the future at some point when we can afford it. Many improvement jobs are needed to the house. One at a time as money allows. Natural gas is available and we may replace it with a gas unit. The roof project is to follow the liner as I said previously. Thank you very much
Colleen

Answer
Welcome back Colleen, Home Saver is a good liner but I use Ventinox (It is a welded liner seam, Home Saver is crimped) the base of the liner should have a "base tee cap" and you wont need the clean out door any more.
if you are doing Natural gas on an exterior chimney it will need to be insulated so have them do that now.
be sure the liner you are getting will hold what you might put in latter.
and the Sweep should be "certified" and licensed
James