Services
Our approach to chimney reconstruction in Sanlando Springs
The findings and code rules that shape a chimney rebuild in Sanlando Springs.
How tall the rebuilt chimney must be
The Florida Building Code, Residential, sets a minimum height for chimney tops. The top has to clear the highest point where the chimney passes through the roof by at least 3 feet, and it has to sit at least 2 feet above any part of the house that lies within 10 feet.
A rebuild is the right moment to check that rule, since an older chimney may have been built short or cut down during an earlier roof job. Building to the required height keeps sparks and exhaust clear of the roof. We measure before we start and tell you if the finished top will stand higher than the old one.
Where a higher part of the house, such as a second story or a dormer, sits within 10 feet of the chimney, the extra height can be significant, and we show you the measurement behind the number.
Setting the flue lining in a rebuilt section
When a clay-lined chimney is rebuilt, the flue tiles in that section are reset or replaced along with the brick. The Florida Building Code, Residential, calls for clay liners installed to ASTM C1283, laid in medium-duty, water-insoluble refractory mortar with smooth, tight joints.
The code also keeps a clay flue within 30 degrees of vertical, requires the liner to be supported on all sides and keeps a narrow air space or insulation between the liner and the brick around it. We explain how your liner will be handled before the old section comes down, so the new masonry is built around a sound flue.
If tiles in the section that stays are cracked or out of line, we tell you before rebuilding over them, since a sound new top on a damaged flue leaves the real problem hidden below.
Access, debris and protecting the house
Taking a chimney down creates heavy debris. We plan a safe route to the roof, protect the roofing around the chimney and keep broken brick contained so it does not slide down the roof or into the gutters.
Tell us about anything fragile below the chimney, from plants and patio furniture to a skylight, when we visit. Debris leaves the property as the work goes, and at the end we walk the roof line and yard with you. Where a rebuild needs scaffolding or a lift, it is shown on the estimate so the price holds no surprises.
We also keep the fireplace opening sealed from the inside during teardown, so dust and mortar grit that fall down the flue stay out of the room.
