Attic Concrete Chimney Fire Blocking Old Homes

Some could be caused by rainfall soaking into the brick.

Attic concrete chimney fire blocking old homes.

A small amount of efflorescence is common. By old we mean houses more than 60 years old. Chimney inspection diagnosis and repair role of pyrolysis in increasing future fire hazard in a building how to inspect diagnose and repair chimney problems and safety hazards extensive photo illustrated guide to. The chimney crown is the cement part on top of the chimney.

Fire blocking designed to slow down the spread of fire from one floor of your house to the next. The fireplaces and chimneys in older homes are almost certainly masonry based. If fire blocking or stopping is not in place the space between each of the wall studs acts like its own high velocity chimney. 2 many chimney leaks are from cracks in the chimney crown.

The drywall that is your ceiling is a form of fire blocking. As a framer i have to install fire blocking regularly. Guide to fire stopping at chimney passage through building floors what are the fire stopping or fire block details needed where a chimney passes through building floors. Look carefully at old windows on old homes for signs of staining mold or other damage.

But more likely and more serious the problem is moisture in warm air from inside the house condensing on the interior of the chimney during cold weather. Doing this correctly can get tricky depending on the complexity of the building. Most masonry chimneys are made with bricks though there are also block chimneys. But if the amount of efflorescence on your chimney is excessive it may be cause for concern.

The bricks go up around the tile flue liners but at the top you need something to stop the rain and snow from just falling in around the tiles. The allure of a home with a past and especially a historically relevant past can be hard to resist. Typically inspectors are looking for fire blocking in the gaps between the foundation wall and the framed wall of your basement specifically at the top of that wall area. The bottom block stops the fire from getting into the wall.

Short circuits the fire blocking if for instance you install a soffit without separating it from the wall cavity fire is free to travel up the stud bay through the soffit and into the joist bays. Types of fireplaces in older homes.