The chimney...

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The chimney...

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mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 6:22 pm Post subject: The chimney...

Some of you will know that our parlour chimney failed the day before the really cold weather started last winter. The old chap has apent the last two days knocking out brickwork to expose the flue.

It's turning into a major domestic archaeology project. It's impossile to tell what we can remove and what's 'part of the house'. So frustrating. Absolutely fascinating though: trying to work out what surrounded the original range, what was here before that, what's mid-twentieth century...

Wish I had someone on hand who knew about these things!

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 6:29 pm Post subject:
Have you found any bicycle parts? We did when we opened up the kitchen inglenook! Like yourselves, it was very much a "knock a bit out and see what happens" as we didn't really know (but suspected) that there was a whopping big space behind the piddly little opening. EV

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 6:32 pm Post subject:
No bicycle parts. Sadly there's no gap either. SOme is clearly just fill, but it's very hard to work out what's essential.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 10:12 pm Post subject:
When you say the flue failed,do you mean it has collapsed within through age and continual use? Or the mortar has been burnt away and discolouring is happening to the walls in the rooms?

Effie

Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 1087

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 10:19 pm Post subject:
Ohh, Ty Gwyn, you're another Lampeterian!

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 11 10:23 pm Post subject:
Are you one also? I`m only a blowin,even though i`ve been here nearly 25yrs, I`m from the Glorious South

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 11 7:23 am Post subject:
The flexible liner has a large hole in it. Well, it had, but it's out now!

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 11 12:29 pm Post subject:
Nice place Lampeter.

County4x4

Joined: 18 Dec 2008
Posts: 80
Location: Carnforth, Lancashire

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 11 2:02 pm Post subject:

You'd be surprised at what sweeps find in chimneys! Compromising pics of one of the householders with someone other than their other half are surprisingly common - though I've not come across any yet!

Do you know if the liner was particularly old? Installing them upside down is very common, as is using the wrong grade of stainless for the intended use. Another short cut to killing one before its time is burning wood and coal or smokeless at the same time.

Andy

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 11 2:25 pm Post subject:
A friend who is a builder haas agreeed to come and help sort it out. He's very experienced and I've seen his work: he also won't charge us a fortune! So, by the time the cold weather gets here we should be warm again.

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 11 2:40 pm Post subject:

Yay. Sorted.

Reminding me of when we took out the lounge fireplace in our modern bungalow and fitter put in a multi-fuel stove.

We did all the demolition to save money. We were told that the modern concrete fireback (which was cracked) should be removed by one hard thump with a sledge hammer, the fireback would split and the vermiculite insulation behind it fall out.

Did it heck. Previous owners probably DIY'd and it was filled behind with solid concrete. Lots of work with hammer drill got some of it out, followed by the builder with a jack hammer.

Explained why it had cracked though, no give for expansion.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 11 2:57 pm Post subject:

earthyvirgo wrote:

Have you found any bicycle parts?
We did when we opened up the kitchen inglenook!

EV

Real bicycle parts, or chains and gears from chimney furniture for raising and lowering pots over open fires, or for turning spits?

Henry

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