Expert: Bart Ogden - 6/18/2007

Question
QUESTION: Any experience w/ Thermocrete. Is there any downside to using this for flue repair / sealing?

ANSWER: Hello Kurt,

Thermocrete is not a lining system and is not listed as a lining system, although many times it is mis-represented as a lining system.

The experience we had as a dealer with this product was very poor.  We had numerous failures.

Be very careful when considering this product.  Although it might seal bricks on the interior, it is NOT a lining system.

NFPA 211 States "ALL chimneys SHALL be lined."

This system doesn't qualify.

I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep 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


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

QUESTION: Thank you for you fast response. Just curious how Thermocrete can claim they are "tested and listed by Warnock Hersey to the Stict Standards of UL 1777" if they are not really a flue liner? Is this a misleading statement? Is the main problem it is very difficult to perform a proper installation, or is the product not what you would advise. Thanks again.   Kurt

Answer
Kurt,

It is often misrepresented as a chimney liner system and it is not a chimney liner system.

The main problem we had was with repairing voids between flue tile joints.  The product had poor adhesion qualities and delaminated from the flue tile interior on numerous occasions.  After tracking product application for 2 years, we had failures in almost every system we installed.

Again, it's not a flue lining system.  Never has been and never will be until it's tested and listed as such.

The UL1777 standard can be obtained by contacting UL.  

I would NOT recommend using this product to repair broken flue tiles or as a lining system.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com