Pulling down a block chimney?

[Richard]

2 lb hammer, cold chisel, and a ladder. It's easy to knock blocks loose and pitch them on the ground. The chimney is probably anchored to the house, so pulling it all over at once is probably not a good idea.

That's kind of my thoughts.... or maybe an air chisel. Rent a dumpster, toss what you can as you bring it down (unless you're going to reuse bricks?) Cart dumpster away and go to Phase II, whatever that may be for you.

 

[oosik]

Brick by brick. It's surely tied into the house in some fashion. Rent a scissor lift and a dumpster. Use electric or air impact hammer. Go at it .............

 

[Oaktree]

2 lb hammer, cold chisel, and a ladder. It's easy to knock blocks loose and pitch them on the ground. The chimney is probably anchored to the house, so pulling it all over at once is probably not a good idea.

That's what I did with a similar vintage one on my garage. The mortar had deteriorated to the point where most of the blocks didn't need much persuading to come off.
The OP's is a bit higher and more elaborate than mine, I'd go with scaffolding or a lift on that project.

 

[oosik]

Around 1986 - while out exploring - my son and I came upon an old homestead. It had a brick and mortar chimney. The "bricks" were chiseled chunks of basaltic lava. They were 6" x 8" and 4" thick. I can't imagine the time it took to hand chisel all those blocks. The homesteader probably had several older children and MANY really sharp tools. I wonder what they did in the mean time - waiting for enough chunks to be chiseled into shape.

 

[Doughknob]

I doubt it is attached to the house other than by caulking. How and why would it be attached? What would be the idea of that - what is holding what? Wall holding such a substantial block column? Block column holding wall? And then there is expansion/contraction differences. Neither the wall or the chimney need the other to hold it up or keep it plumb.

I had an external block chimney on an old house; was added after the house was built and no hidden attachment was used.

If it were me, I'd certainly remove any caulking or roofing tar at the roof interface. And I might chip away a bit of mortar at one joint line near the bottom as you alluded to in the weakening it OP; but not sledge hammer the block itself. Then, with a watcher or two on either side, I'd give a tug with the tractor and a long cable wrapped around near the top. And see what happens - if there is any give between house and chimney, if tractor can pull it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Bricks are often attached to modern houses by nailing plates that inbed in the mortar between bricks every foot or 2. Have no idea how old buildings attached brick to house, or if they even did. Seeing how chimneys fall during earthquakes on older houses, they probably did not attach it to structure. But just guessing here.

 

[4570Man]

I tore one off a house I was tearing down. I just shoved it off with my mini x. If I actually cared about the house I’d have at minimum put a cable around the top and pulled it. Renting a lift and dissembling it from the top down would be the least chance of damage.

 

[CobyRupert]

Assuming it’s not connected to house:
When pulling from the top, how would you control where it’s going to “hinge”?
Seems like it would just break off wherever the weakest mortar is.
Ever watch the guys take down a silo with a sledgehammer by knocking out the bottom tiles?

 

[grsthegreat]

No, but ive seen video of guys trying to pull down chimneys with trucks and tractors and the thing coming down on top of the machine

 

[fried1765]

Brick by brick. It's surely tied into the house in some fashion. Rent a scissor lift and a dumpster. Use electric or air impact hammer. Go at it .............

"Brick by brick"?
Not quite!
Block by block,..... a lot heavier per piece.