Advice on chimney repair

Hello, my parents house is in need of repair work on the chimney. It is a 60 yr. old brick chimney with the standard tile liner. The bricks above the roof line are loose and the moter is bad. We had 3 estimates.
(1) re-point the bricks and install new flashing

(2) Tear down old chimney below roof and install new sectioned metal liner, replace roof boards,flashing etc.
This option would just have the metal pipe sticking through the roof with rain cap.

(3) Tear chimney down to roof line and rebuild with new bricks. Install new stainless 1 piece liner and connect furnace and water heater. Install new flashing, insulate liner, add rain cap.

Option 3 sounds the best and safest, but is by far the most expensive. What do you guys think?

 

If this is a 60 y.o. chimney which you plan to use for burning wood, Option 1's repointing brick and installing new flashing will not address the need for lining the chimney and a new crown and chimney cap. It also does not address the need to replace rotten roof sheathing. Option 2 addresses more of the issues, but a metal pipe sticking out of the roof will likely not be very aesthetic. Option 3, if not using the fireplace for burning fires, would require lining if using as a vent for water heater and furnace. Check local building codes before venting. There are some considerations such as the furnace's need to be vented through the wall to the exterior. Check with manufacturer. Requirement for metal liner if venting water heater due to condensation. Flue size is also a factor. Again, check with local building codes.

 

The chimney will not be used for wood burning. The furnace is newer but does have to be hooked to the chimney. What do you think about the metal liner. One company would install a liner that comes in sections and is not stainless and the other is one piece stainless. The one piece sounds like the better option but again at a much higher price. I guess you probably get what you pay for.

 

go with the stainless, in the long run it will last the best. furnaces tend to put out a lot of water vapor.

life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies.

 

Gas appliances venting through a masonry chimney require a liner.