Building A Chimney On The Side Of A House

Use the flashing where the chimney and roof meet and as a lining installed under the chimney cap.

Building a chimney on the side of a house.

Install metal flashing where the chimney goes out through the walls. You might be thinking that putting it on the side of the house would be easier. Airspace between the chimney and any combustible material of which the side of the house certainly qualifies. Chimneys belong inside houses.

In fact i suggest that a chimney hanging off the side of a house like an afterthought is an abomination functionally and aesthetically. A chimney also needs at least a 2 inch 5 centimeter clearance from combustible material if it is built in or through the walls of a house and a 1 inch 2 5 centimeter clearance if built alongside the house. Once the chimney is built install sheet metal on all four sides of the 2 inch opening between the outside of the chimney and the combustible materials. Another and more important chimney cricket is the one that is built on the upper back side of a chimney.

If possible install the chimney near the center of your house to heat up the largest area in the most efficient manner. On one hand code requires that there be a 1 in. Tying a chimney to the wall of a house is kind of a conflict of interest. But as i look around it s apparent that the majority of houses less than 50 years old were designed and built by people who don t share my views.

Chimneys are exposed to the environment on three of their four sides so are extremely vulnerable to damage by the elements. Poor pointing allows moisture ingress and subsequent freeze thaw damage. The taller the chimney the better it drafts. 2 decide what material the chimney will be made of.

This cricket sheds rain water away from the chimney rather than allowing it to beat down onto the side of the chimney that is the most susceptible to water penetration. The location of the fireplace largely influenced by the overall structure of your house and building codes.