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Question
I am considering buying a house (fixer upper) whose best
feature is its massive rock fireplace. This house resembles a rock cabin. While I have both a cracker-jack licensed home inspector and a good friend who is a contractor who are willing to look at the house for me, I don't think they have the expertise to analyze what's up with the fireplace.
The interior mortar between the stones on the fireplace is cracked in at least two places. I have not been on the roof to assess the chimney top.
My biggest concern is whether the cracks in the fireplace could in any way be indicative of foundation problems. I did not see one crack in the slab foundation of the home and all of the carpetting had been pulled up.
I'm thinking I should hire a a certified chimney sweep with a camera if I make a bid on the house...Think this is a good idea? Any idea of what this costs?
Could you give me some possible scenarios of why the mortar would crack and how serious it could be. This house was built in 1975.
Thanks,
Laura
Hi Laura,
You are certainly correct. You should hire a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep with a video scanning system to perform a Level 2 inspection on this chimney system.
Costs vary widely with different companies.
You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney at www.csia.org.
Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.
Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com
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Answers by Expert:
Bart Ogden
Expertise
I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.
Experience
Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas
Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee
Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps
Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate
Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems
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