Setting the scene

This example is invented to illustrate common decisions. It takes place in a brick Tudor Revival house with a steep front gable, a prominent exterior chimney and an original living room fireplace with a decorative tile surround. The fireplace has not been used for a couple of years, and no one remembers when the chimney was last swept.

Houses like this often have chimneys that have served more than one purpose over the decades, and the flue may be original clay tile. A first fire after a long gap is a classic setup for a chimney fire if creosote has built up.

What happens

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

Shortly after the owners light a fire, they hear a roaring sound from the chimney and see sparks above the roof. They leave the house and call 911. Firefighters extinguish the chimney fire from above and below. The living room and dining room are filmed with soot, and a dark haze stains the plaster around the tile surround and mantel.

  1. Firefighters advise the owners not to use the fireplace until it is inspected.
  2. A chimney professional runs a camera through the flue and finds cracked clay tiles in the upper section.
  3. The attic beside the chimney is checked for heat damage, and the framing nearest the chimney shows no charring.
  4. The tile surround is photographed and cleaned by a technician experienced with older glazed tile.
  5. Living and dining room plaster is test cleaned, then cleaned and sealed.
  6. The owners compare a stainless liner with a cast-in-place liner and choose one suited to how they plan to use the fireplace.

The chimney is relined, the tile surround and mantel are saved, and the rooms are cleaned rather than rebuilt. Because the chimney is visible from the street, the owners also confirm whether their house is designated before any work on the exterior brick.

Two directions the owners could have taken

Rushed

  • Cleaned the living room before the flue was inspected
  • Kept using the fireplace through the winter
  • Replaced the tile surround because it looked ruined
  • Assumed the exterior chimney could be rebuilt any way

Measured

  • Inspected and repaired the flue first
  • Kept the fireplace out of service until cleared
  • Test cleaned the tile before any decision
  • Checked whether exterior work needed review

Questions this example raises for a real owner

  1. When was the chimney last swept and inspected?
  2. Does the insurer consider the cracked liner fire damage or prior wear?
  3. Can the tile surround be cleaned without damaging the glaze?
  4. Will rebuilding any exterior brick require landmark review?
  5. Are there other appliances venting into the same chimney?

General information for Park Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.