Many locales require permits before a chimney can be built and demand meticulous inspections during the construction to make sure that the chimney conforms to area building codes.
Building a chimney.
Building a masonry chimney doesn t require a professional which can save you a lot of money but knowing how a chimney works and the importance of building it correctly can save you from experiencing a dangerous and potentially deadly house fire.
For a masonry chimney this usually means that you will be building your chimney right off the top of a fireplace if the chimney is designed to vent a fireplace using a brick that is similar to that used to build the hearth.
Before you start building a chimney check the local building codes for your area.
Outside chimneys can be only one inch from the outer wall of the home.
It s best to hire a professional to do the job for you but if you re determined to build your own chimney here are some basic things to consider.
The measurements of a chimney are a minimum of four inches bigger in all directions than the flue.
Calculate the flue dimensions and minimum height the sizes needed for your flue and the height of your chimney are relative to the open area of your fireplace.
Build the smoke chamber.
Wood kindling and other materials that may travel up the chimney must be at a minimum of two inches away from the outer part of the chimney.
You will need to start building your chimney from the ground up.