chimney with bad brick mix

[Jim Baird]

This 40 yr old chimney has leaked from time to time lately into the fireplace.

A roofer pointed out to owner that he had brick problems there, and recommended a mason.

Mason looked, called for two men, two weeks, estimated cost to cut out and replace 60 bad brick, $16,500.

Looks like original mason used a mixed bag of reclaimed brick, and the softies are disintegrating.

Could this column be lathed and stuccoed over with a new cap?

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[kurt]

Yeah, it's a pile of mush in there, but $16K for chopping out 60 bricks and replacing them?!? Is there some compelling reason why so much?

I'd fabricate a nice sheet metal cap that drains, hemmed edges, and a drip profile with a kick at the bottom. It'll hold together for a long time if you can just get the water off.

[Jim Katen]

$275 per brick.

I don't think so.

[Tom Raymond]

Drop a zero and you'd be close to the cost to tear it down to the roof line and put it back up.

[Marc]

I wouldn't recommend covering that mess up with the moisture retarder integral to lathe, even with my scant knowledge of brick/mortar.

Marc

[kurt]

Sheet metal. The longer I'm in the gig, the more I like sheet metal solutions for water issues.

[mjr6550]

I'll do it for $8250 and throw in the travel for free.

[Jim Baird]

Thanks for the replies. Mark, I would pass along your offer but was thinking of bidding 5K myself.

Those here don't appear to think stucco would help, that good cap with good drip function is what is needed. I have seen lots of stuccoed chimney columns on older houses.

[Bill Kibbel]

When the spalled bricks have eroded back about 3/8", patch them with Lithomex.

[kurt]

Brick refacing in action.

Personally, I wouldn't bother on a chimney; chimneys usually fall apart from the inside out, and rebuilding works better, but repairing brick faces is not all that complicated.

This is my house.