Attic Concrete Chimney Fire Blocking Old Homes

A small amount of efflorescence is common.

Attic concrete chimney fire blocking old homes.

As a framer i have to install fire blocking regularly. The drywall that is your ceiling is a form of fire blocking. The metal factory built hearth systems are found mostly in houses built after the 1950s. 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. Types of fireplaces in older homes. 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. 2 many chimney leaks are from cracks in the chimney crown.

But imagine what happens if you do put a solid piece of wood at the bottom and top of the wall in between all of the wall studs in this house. By old we mean houses more than 60 years old. The allure of a home with a past and especially a historically relevant past can be hard to resist. Some could be caused by rainfall soaking into the brick.

If fire blocking or stopping is not in place the space between each of the wall studs acts like its own high velocity chimney. 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. But if the amount of efflorescence on your chimney is excessive it may be cause for concern. Most masonry chimneys are made with bricks though there are also block chimneys.

The fireplaces and chimneys in older homes are almost certainly masonry based. 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. 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.

The bottom block stops the fire from getting into the wall. Look carefully at old windows on old homes for signs of staining mold or other damage.