Attic Concrete Chimney Fire Blocking Old Homes

Block chimneys are really meant to be surrounded with bricks.

Attic concrete chimney fire blocking old homes.

Most any problem you can imagine. Block chimneys do work but as a general statement they are less than desirable. Block chimneys in old houses. After a fire has been put out by the fire department they may say the house is basically safe structurally or that it is not safe and the city building inspector checks the house for safety.

We do this by blocking off the fireplace damper and pouring the cast in place lining material down the chimney. On average seven people died in home fires every day between 2011 and 2015. But imagine what happens if you do put a solid piece of wood at the bottom and top of the wall in between all of the wall studs in this house. The bottom block stops the fire from getting into the wall cavity to begin with.

If a fire starts within the wall the top block stops the fire from getting into the attic. You can think of it like we re filling the smoke chamber with concrete. If fire blocking or stopping is not in place the space between each of the wall studs acts like its own high velocity chimney. We then allow this concrete like material to harden and then remove the blocking from the fireplace damper.

They are more subject to cracking leaning and leaking. During a remodel of this type of house it is wise to install fire blocking at the top and bottom of the stud walls. Attics may be painted white to cover over evidence of a fire in the attic or home. Basically have your chimney lined as soon as possible.