Chimney build issue?

**Aaron Scheuerer** · 03-13-2018, 04:39 PM

Hey guys I am a young inspector out of NJ and saw this home today. It is over 100 years old and I saw that the chimney runs through a dormer. I haven't had many inspections yet and am still learning but have never seen anything like this. Any thoughts about this build? Is it ok or something I should call out ?

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**Gunnar Alquist** · 03-13-2018, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron Scheuerer

Hey guys I am a young inspector out of NJ and saw this home today. It is over 100 years old and I saw that the chimney runs through a dormer. I haven't had many inspections yet and am still learning but have never seen anything like this. Any thoughts about this build? Is it ok or something I should call out ?

Is that a window behind the chimney? Seems like it would be an egress issue if that is a building. Maybe a natural light issue as well.

Kinda crazy.

**Aaron Scheuerer** · 03-13-2018, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Is that a window behind the chimney? Seems like it would be an egress issue if that is a building. Maybe a natural light issue as well.

Kinda crazy.

Yea it is a window. Thanks for the response!

**Gunnar Alquist** · 03-13-2018, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron Scheuerer

Yea it is a window. Thanks for the response!

Aaron,

I meant to type "Seems like it would be an egress issue if that is a bedroom".

Sorry about that.

**Aaron Scheuerer** · 03-13-2018, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Aaron,

I meant to type "Seems like it would be an egress issue if that is a bedroom".

Sorry about that.

Yep no worries I got what you were saying thanks!!!

**Elizabeth Chambers** · 03-13-2018, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron Scheuerer

Yep no worries I gt what you were saying thanks!!!

I would call it out for combustible clearances, just for starters. FYI though, I am not a HI yet.

**Jerry Peck** · 03-13-2018, 10:08 PM

Curious if the bricks in the chimney matched all the way up, or if there was a difference at about the lower overhang line or maybe several feet up?

If there is a difference in the bricks, it could be that the chimney was shorter, the dormer was installed, then it was pointed out that the chimney had to be 3 feet higher than the ridge of the dormer.

That would account for that window being installed where it is, and the chimney blocking the window.

If that chimney was already that height, then I would have concerns about the way the window was installed ... given that there is an apparent lack of working space to properly install, flash, and seal the window with that chimney in the way.

Just some thoughts.

**Darren Miller** · 03-14-2018, 02:45 AM

It that a plumbing vent in picture #2?

**Gunnar Alquist** · 03-14-2018, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by Darren Miller

It that a plumbing vent in picture #2?

I didn't even see that. Looks kind of like a B-vent (terminated under the eave). Even so, a plumbing vent or a B-vent adjacent to an openable window is not a good idea.

**Roy Lewis** · 03-14-2018, 09:30 AM

This may look better....

**Jerry Peck** · 03-14-2018, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

I didn't even see that. Looks kind of like a B-vent (terminated under the eave). Even so, a plumbing vent or a B-vent adjacent to an openable window is not a good idea.

I didn't see that in the shadow either, not on my phone or on my computer - and "a plumbing vent or a B-vent adjacent to an openable window is not a good idea" ... is worse than not a good idea, it is not allowed by the codes either - one of those 'that's not a good idea' things that are bad enough to make it into the codes and the codes say 'you are not permitted to do something that stupid' ... okay, the code doesn't say it in those words ...

**Gunnar Alquist** · 03-14-2018, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

... is worse than not a good idea,

Yeah, yeah. I shoulda used some kind of emoji to indicate I was kidding. JP is right.

**John Kogel** · 03-16-2018, 05:58 PM

A 100 year old house has multiple issues, always, and especially if additions were done the old way, whichever way was convenient with people often residing in the house.
I see missing mortar near the top, from exposure to the weather. The chimney cap, a concrete seal on top of the last row of bricks, is cracked and leaking. I know this, but don't have X ray vision,so would use a pole camera out one of the windows to get pics of the top of a chimney like that. It is probably brick lined inside, so will need a liner installed or abandon the chimney completely, option 2.

If there is 2" clearance from wood, bridged with metal flashing, then that is correct, not an issue.

They should add an extension to that vent, or replumb the whole house, best option.