When we removed the unreinforced masonry chimney we found rusty small and loose metal brackets holding the chimney to the house! We replaced the second floor fireplace with a zero clearance gas fireplace and installed a reinforced concrete bond beam at 2nd floor level, with straps tying the chimney to floor level capped off with a metal chase top and caps.
Lightweight metal vent pipes were installed for both the downstairs fireplace and for the zero clearance gas fireplace. A concrete chimney was poured with reinforcing anchor bolts and the chimney was finished with paper and wire and stucco.
The second floor fireplace was finished with a tile job and this house is ready to ride out the next earthquake and look great doing it.
The existing masonry chimney on this Berkeley home serviced two fireplaces and was broken at the roofline. From a distance it looked just fine, but closer inspection revealed a dangerous horizontal crack at the roofline and an open void at the top of the existing chimney and cracked liners. Damaged chimney liners with cracks and gaps are a fire hazard.
Updating a Dangerous Chimney
2017-12-21