Chimney Cracks

[anita.archambeau@outlook.]

Building Officials,

I am in the process of purchasing a home in the Chicago area. During the home inspection, it was noted that there was interior water damage on all three floors where the outside chimney is located. The fireplace is a glass-enclosed gas fireplace. Upon inspection on the outside, there are cracks along the joints.

After speaking to several professionals, I am getting a lot of conflicting advice. From the need to inspect inside the chimney which would require a clean and 3D scan, not needing to clean the chimney because it is a glass-enclosed fireplace, to the need of just having a masonry inspect and provide quotes to tuckpoint where the chimney meets the house (because they believed that is what is causing the water infiltration).



I live 300 miles from Chicago, and it's difficult to manage this especially when I'm given so many different directions to approach.

PLEASE help me!!

 

[cda]

Welcome

Not into fireplaces, have not used mine in a couple of years.

1 How old is the house??

2 I would be worried about the water damage. Having to try to fix that.

3. Water damage,,, How to stop the water from getting into the house.

4. Not sure what they mean by “ glass enclosed”??? The chimney stack has to be lined with something?? Do not think it is glass.

5. My thinking 1 Walk 2 if you want it sounds like you need a mason and chimmney expert to work together an estimate, which I would give to owner and say reduce by this much. 3 Reduce the price and take a chance

 

[anita.archambeau@outlook.]

Welcome

Not into fireplaces, have not used mine in a couple of years.

1 How old is the house??

2 I would be worried about the water damage. Having to try to fix that.

3. Water damage,,, How to stop the water from getting into the house.

4. Not sure what they mean by “ glass enclosed”??? The chimney stack has to be lined with something?? Do not think it is glass.

5. My thinking 1 Walk 2 if you want it sounds like you need a mason and chimmney expert to work together an estimate, which I would give to owner and say reduce by this much. 3 Reduce the price and take a chance

1. The house was built in 2001.
4. I meant that the area where the logs are located -it has a glass front. I do not know what the stack is lined with.

Thank you!

 

[cda]

1. The house was built in 2001.
4. I meant that the area where the logs are located -it has a glass front. I do not know what the stack is lined with.

Thank you!

That seems like a short time to have problems already.

Is this kind of a stand alone as not in a track/ residential neighborhood ??

Or part of a subdivision/ neighborhood ?

Like i said my two concerns Water damage repair and Keep any more water from coming in.

 

[anita.archambeau@outlook.]

It is a custom-built home located in a residential subdivision. I have a masonry contractor viewing the cracking on Wednesday morning. I was told that tuckpointing (the crack) could stop any water from entering the home.

But your additional concern is the water that had already infiltrated and created some drywall repair needs?

Thank you so much for replying!

 

[cda]

1 Why having problems, what I would call so soon.

2. Yes not just the dry wall, but has the water done anything else you cannot see?

3. If the inspector saw this, what other problems are there, that he may have not seen??

4. Did the inspector write up any other major problems?

5. Will the current owner pay the price for repairs, or reduce the price???

6 Will the mason guarantee no leaks, or guarantee to come back and fix leaks at no charge??

Sounds like going to dig out the old cement and put in new.

There may be others that comment in the next few days.

 

[ADAguy]

iS IT A WOOD BURNIng FP or just Gas? Either one should not leak.