Chimney liner installation for Northdale homes

The brick around the liner still has a job

A metal liner carries the gases, but the masonry around it holds the liner, supports the top plate and keeps weather out. The Florida Building Code sets a 4-inch nominal wall thickness for masonry chimney walls.

One major liner maker's instructions set a similar minimum for the masonry shell before its liner can be installed. A thin or damaged shell is a problem the liner cannot solve on its own.

We look at the brickwork, the joints and the crown alongside the flue, and tell you if any of it needs attention first.

The label that records what the flue is for

A relined flue can carry a small permanent label near the connector. Florida's code requires one when the new lining material sits outside the standard lining list. The label states which appliance and fuel the flue is for and warns against connecting other types.

Liner makers supply a label of their own, with the brand, the manufacturer, the installation date and the intended use recorded on it.

We fill in and fix the label on every liner we install, so the next person who works on the chimney knows what it was built for.

Clearance between the chimney and wood framing

Masonry chimneys inside the house or within an exterior wall keep a 2-inch airspace to combustible framing under Florida's code, and chimneys standing entirely outside keep 1 inch.

There is an exception for chimneys fitted with a lining system listed and labeled to UL 1777 for use in contact with combustibles, installed to its instructions. On older homes, that exception can matter. Some older homes have framing or subfloor tucked tight against the brick, which is why the check matters on relining jobs.

Our specialists check the clearances they can reach and explain how the chosen liner listing relates to them.

Questions to ask before choosing a liner quote

Relining quotes are easier to compare when each one answers the same questions. The liner material alone says little about the job.

• Which fireplace or appliance is the liner sized for, and what size was chosen?
• Is cleaning of the existing flue included before installation?
• Does the liner listing require insulation, and is it included?
• How will the bottom of the liner be connected and sealed?
• Which top plate, cap and crown seal are included?
• Will the liner be labeled with its date and intended use?