If you’re considering changing or renovating your home’s chimney, you may wonder if it is safe to remove it yourself. Removing a chimney on your own can be a very dangerous project. Before taking on this daunting task, it is best to research chimney safety and find out if it is safe for you to attempt the task. The process of removing a chimney on your own can be very dangerous and may not be the safest way of changing or renovating your chimney. Find out why a chimney’s removal should only be handled by a professional contractor, how much it actually costs to remove your chimney, and where to find a good contractor for your project.
Why You Should Get Chimney Removal and Chimney Breast Reconstruction
Before you even begin the process of chimney removal, it is a good idea to have an inspection performed to make sure that there is no dangerous debris underneath your roof. If there is a possible hazard, it is wise to call in an expert right away. Chimney inspections should be done periodically throughout the life of a chimney so that you will know if something needs to be fixed or replaced. Otherwise, you could end up with dangerous and deadly materials on the roof of your house. A qualified contractor can offer you helpful advice on what to look for during your inspection.
Chimney Removal Safety
During a chimney removal, safety is always the number one priority. Removing a flue yourself could prove to be extremely dangerous, especially if you are not an experienced chimney cleaner. This is especially true if you decide to use flue gallows or creosote gallows instead of regular chimney brushes or sweepers. Gallows brackets and creosote gallows can severely injure or kill you if they come into contact with the burning gases or embers.
If you decide to hire a professional chimney cleaner, make sure to ask what protective gear he or she would wear while cleaning your chimneys. If possible, get information about special masks or goggles that would protect you from the flying embers. Professional chimney cleaners also use breathing masks made from fiberglass and fireproof material so that they would not breathe in any fumes released from burning fuel. You would not want to get into the line of fire, right?
If you are planning on removing your chimney on your own, it is a good idea to prepare yourself for a bit of heavy lifting. However, with the proper tools and safety equipment, you should have no problem with this type of task. If you’re planning on doing the task with a partner or two, try to plan the task on a weekend so that you will have someone available to help you lift and place everything back into place. With the help of a partner, you will be able to do the structural chimney removal job much quicker.
A lot of people opt for the do-it-yourself approach when it comes to removing their chimney. However, the reason why you should hire a professional chimney removal service is because there are things that you might not notice. For instance, there are creosote deposits that can accumulate around the base of the flue leading up to the roof structure. This type of thing can only be discovered with extensive inspection of the chimney by a trained eye.
When it comes to the actual process of chimney removal and chimney demolition, you need to choose a professional company that is both reliable and experienced. You can ask around your friends or acquaintances if they have any reliable contractors. Alternatively, search online for reviews and testimonials about the company that you’re thinking of hiring. The best way of finding a reliable contractor is by reading customer testimonials. You can also ask them for references so that you can get an objective view on their services. If they cannot provide you with enough information or fail to meet the expectations that you’ve established during the initial meeting, then it’s better to move on.
The other important thing to consider is the total cost of removing and chimney breast re-roofing. Since you have already done the initial inspection, it’s important to discuss the overall cost of the project with the contractor. If you’ve estimated the total cost using your own guesstimate, be sure to include the final expenses incurred because it will help you calculate whether you have the capacity to pay the expenses. Lastly, determine how long the project will take based on the specifications and timeline provided by the contractor. There is no harm in asking for estimates from different companies to ensure that you will be able to get the best chimney removal and chimney breast re-roofing prices.