Expert: James Ball - 7/30/2009

Question
I have a 100 year old house with a red brick chimney that is just as old.  The Chimney runs from the basement up to the attic and at the attic level takes a 45 degree turn (in two directions, both North South axis and East West axis) to bring it to the center of the roof line and then goes through the roof in the center.  I have an oil fired furnace and I would like to take the existing chimney down from the top to the floor of the attic, then using a metal chimney, run a new one from the basement, inside the remaining portion of the brick chimney (first two floors) and once I hit the attic it will be exposed and run it directly through the pitched roof.  Is this doable? Or can I use a liner on the existing brick portion, changing to a metal chimney to run it through the roof line?

Answer
Hello Vince,  I am not sure but it sounds like you want to drop the existing chimney to the attic floor and the re pipe it straight up? for just the oil flue? do you have a fireplace in this chimney? hard to say with this limited info.
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 point you in the right direction and may be able to give you a price.
Hope this helps
James