"TomR" wrote in :

I own a property that has a badly damaged chimney. My guess is that
the only real option is to have a new chimney built to replace it.
But, just in case, I thought that I would post here to see if there is
any possibility of repairing this one rather than replacing it.

This is a side-by-side twin home, so this is actually two chimneys
instead of one -- one for each house. The height of the chimney is
about 10 feet up from the roof line. Here are two photos:

http://tinypic.com/r/t8rtac/5



http://tinypic.com/r/9unmvb/5



Is there any chance that this chimney could be saved by removing the
existing stucco, then maybe doing a complete re-stucco (that included
filling in between the bricks, etc) using wire lath, and add a new
cap? If so, is there a special type of cement that would be used for
this?

Or, if removing this chimney and building a new one is the only
option, do they make cement chimney blocks that are preformed for a
double chimney like this one? The only preformed cement chimney
blocks that I see are either square or rectangular, but only for one
chimney not two chimneys like this one.

Does anyone have a rough ballpark figure of what it might cost to have
a new double chimney built (about 10 feet high) to replace this one?
This is in southern New Jersey.


If someone claims they can fix that mess:

- Get it in writing (including warranty).
- Make sure they are bonded and insured and that their
workers are insured.
- In the contract, make sure they will get permits
and inspections.

There's a LOT of liability in this one - for the tenants & workers.