Chimney rebuild in Beach Park

How tall the rebuilt chimney has to be

Height is set by rule. Under Florida's residential code, the rebuilt top must clear its own roof penetration by 3 feet or more and rise at least 2 feet above any part of a building standing within 10 feet.

In BIA's chimney design note, height ranks with flue area as one of the two factors that matter most, since a taller stack pulls harder. A rebuild that ends a course or two short can leave a chimney drafting poorly for no visible reason.

We measure the roof and the surroundings before any rebuild and show the finished height on the estimate.

Wall thickness in the rebuilt section

New chimney walls go back at a nominal 4 inches or more, built of solid units or of hollow units filled solid with grout, which is the minimum in Florida's residential code.

That figure assumes a flue lining inside. BIA's historical guidance shows that unlined chimneys called for walls twice as thick, which is one reason every rebuilt flue is lined. Thin spots left by earlier patching in the retained section below are pointed out, because the new work rests on them.

Our crew builds the new walls to the code thickness and fills every joint, so the rebuilt section is solid rather than a shell around the flue.

Rebuilding after a chimney fire

If the chimney is on fire, get everyone out of the house and call 911 once you are outside. Nothing should be done to the chimney until emergency responders say it is safe.

A flue fire can damage tiles and masonry in ways that are hard to see from the ground. The chimney stays out of use until it has been inspected from top to bottom.

Once responders are done, our crew inspects the chimney and explains whether it needs repair, relining or rebuilding.

Questions to ask before choosing a rebuild quote

Put the same questions to every contractor who quotes the rebuild, including us. The answers show whether the quotes describe the same job.

• Where does the removal stop, and how was that line chosen?
• What happens if the brick below the line is weaker than expected?
• Which brick grade and mortar type will be used?
• How will the flue be lined in the rebuilt section?
• What crown, cap and flashing are included?
• What will the finished height be, and does it meet the code?