Steelform smoke chamber to liner connection

[Vern Heiler]

1963 home with steelform fireplace. I don't understand what holds the liner tile up even though it has been there for 50 years, but it does not appear to be a problem. The gap at the corner of the steelform smoke chamber to liner connection has me more concerned. The wood framing through the roof in the attic has had a fire in the past. New wood sheathing (too small) suggest the problem has been addressed. Is the gap still a problem that needs to be repaired? Was it the reason for fire in the attic?

[Dom D'Agostino]

Photo 2 looks like water damage, not fire.

[Vern Heiler]

Photo 2 looks like water damage, not fire.
The wood is charred at the end of the header.

[Vern Heiler]

You know Dom, I'm re-looking at this and wondering where the smoke went? The wood looks just like a piece of half burnt fire wood or charcoal, but you may be right!

[Mark Reinmiller]

1963 home with steelform fireplace. I don't understand what holds the liner tile up even though it has been there for 50 years, but it does not appear to be a problem. The gap at the corner of the steelform smoke chamber to liner connection has me more concerned. The wood framing through the roof in the attic has had a fire in the past. New wood sheathing (too small) suggest the problem has been addressed. Is the gap still a problem that needs to be repaired? Was it the reason for fire in the attic?

I also think that looks like water damage.

[James Kollhopp]

Looks like a combination of water damage, and perhaps some type of resin being drawn out of the wood? Saw something very similar in my girlfriends attic.

Can you smell any burnt wood or smoke in the attic?

[Vern Heiler]

Looks like a combination of water damage, and perhaps some type of resin being drawn out of the wood? Saw something very similar in my girlfriends attic.

Can you smell any burnt wood or smoke in the attic?
No. That is why I am in agreement with the moisture damage, never seen it look so charred before though.

What about the gap in the steelform smoke chamber to flue connection? Anybody!

[Bob Harper]

The gap between the first flue tile and the terminus of the steelform's smoke chamber must be sealed. This is one of the major defects in these fireplaces. They did not engineer them to mate up with the normally used nominal flue tiles but rather the true sizes, which are larger. Thus, the supporting edge is often too small.

A gap is a gap, whether from a missing flue tile, cracked flue tile, or missing mortar joint.

The 'burn' patterns suggest the fire started above. Possibly a roof ignition or framing too close to chimney. Regardless, all damaged wood should be cut away and replaced. New work should meet stated clearances. Some signs of moisture damage, too. Did you test this darkened area with a knife or screwdriver? Try to scrape some char away and smell it? Is the wood sponge or crunchy at the darkened areas?

[wayne soper]

Kinda looks like heat from the chimney caused the sap to bubble out of the wood along with water stains, but wasn't there to smell it:D

[Billy Stephens]

Kinda looks like heat from the chimney caused the sap to bubble out of the wood along with water stains, but wasn't there to smell it:D

Yeah I'm Smelling Something. ;)

[Raymond Wand]

Creosote staining.

[Billy Stephens]

Creosote staining.
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[Raymond Wand]

More wasted bandwidth.

[Vern Heiler]

The gap between the first flue tile and the terminus of the steelform's smoke chamber must be sealed. This is one of the major defects in these fireplaces. They did not engineer them to mate up with the normally used nominal flue tiles but rather the true sizes, which are larger. Thus, the supporting edge is often too small.

A gap is a gap, whether from a missing flue tile, cracked flue tile, or missing mortar joint.

The 'burn' patterns suggest the fire started above. Possibly a roof ignition or framing too close to chimney. Regardless, all damaged wood should be cut away and replaced. New work should meet stated clearances. Some signs of moisture damage, too. Did you test this darkened area with a knife or screwdriver? Try to scrape some char away and smell it? Is the wood sponge or crunchy at the darkened areas?

I did not scrape the area and now wish I had. I have supplemented the heating of my house with a fireplace for many years and the look of the wood was convincingly burnt. The wood had all the bumps and cracks of charred wood in my fireplace, though the pic's did not show it. The charred looking wood was on the back side of the framing and hard to get a picture of. This was a pre-listing inspection and the owners said they had only used the fireplace once since they bought the house, and I think they have owned it for 5-8 years. I recommended a full inspection by a licensed chimney sweep and pointed out the gap at the flue and the suspect wood framing.

Thanks for the steelform information and I will surely poke and scrape next time.

[Billy Stephens]

More wasted bandwidth.

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