Chimney Brace

[RobS]

Anyone (Wroughtn Harv?) have any experience with a chimney brace. We discussed with our brick guy the other day the possibility of a decorative one and he's recommending one for function since the chimney will be so tall. We're thinking of a decorative iron piece running horizontally from the chimney to the roof slope.

My concern is the structural integrity of the whole thing. I assume chimneys and frame houses move somewhat in the wind and such. If they move at different rates there could be considerable loading on the attachment points. Something will give and I don't much want a hole in our roof /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I've got a buddy who will likely help me with the fabrication but I have no idea how to size the thing. Any thoughts appreciated /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[beenthere]

I've heard of braces for a metal chimney, but from your comment about your brick guy, it sounds like you are asking about a brace for a brick chimney. I would think they would be solid enough in their construction to not need a brace. If not, are you supposed to use the house roof to keep the chimney from falling over?

If I were to run a brace, I would run it down from the roof peak (ridge), and tie it in through the roof ridge vent, where some movement could be tolerated without making another hole in the roofing. Maybe a wrought iron brace looking like a clothesline, with some "unmentionables" flying (in iron, of course) on the line. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I think your concern is valid, about the movement in a wood roof, more so from the wood drying and shrinking over time, than moving about in the wind. I'd be concerned about a chimney (if brick) that needs support.

Do you have any pictures? of the roof where the chimney will be if not already started?

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Can you give us some more information?

Now I hope you aren't building a masonary chimney coming up and out of a frame roof???????

A lot of cities won't allow that. They understand that rock and or brick up there above the roof will kill one of their finest during a fire.

If your chimney is supported where it leaves the framing of the wall properly then I don't see why you would need braces or guy wires to support it.

Like I said, more information please.

 

[RobS]

Here's a quick sketch of a what I'm talking about. We've seen some on period homes and thought it would look nice on ours. Due to the height and pitch of our roof, the chimney will be quite tall /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif