By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
We're concerned about the condition of our neighbor's chimney. It's about 10 feet taller than their roof and appears weak and damaged, with crumbling mortar and bricks sticking out in several places. If it falls, it will land in our back yard, possibly with someone under it. Our contractor agrees that it is unstable and should be repaired or removed. We've asked the owner to make repairs, but he says he doesn't have the funds. How can we convince him that this is a dangerous situation and should not be ignored? -- Brent
Dear Brent,
An unstable masonry structure in a residential area warrants immediate attention. The safeguarding of persons is a responsibility of property ownership and should not be contingent upon financial convenience. If funds are not available to repair the chimney, then removal would be a lot cheaper and probably a lot more practical. From your description, this chimney is probably not reparable anyway. Therefore, removal should be regarded as a necessary prerequisite to eventual replacement. If the owner cannot be persuaded of the need to eliminate a public safety problem, perhaps someone in authority should be doing the persuading.
An agency of your local government is most likely empowered to address building safety problems of this nature. Contact your local building department and determine who is authorized in this regard, and then file a complaint in writing. For added emphasis, a certified mailing would be advisable. Hopefully, they will send an inspector to the property and issue a safety citation. If, for any reason, their response is slow, make an appointment with your city councilman, county supervisor, or equivalent elected official.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted our "