| Author |
Message |
    
fine
Citizen
Username: Fine
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 9:46 pm: |     |
Has anyone out there had their chimney rebuilt or repaired and would they recommend their mason after their experience? We've got 2 chimneys that need rebuilding (not just repointing) and got a recommendation for Elite Chimney repair in Whippany.
Any help would be appreciated! |
rcarter31
Citizen
Username: Rcarter31
Post Number: 117
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 2:14 pm: | |
Hi,
Our house is from late in the 1800s and the chimney was a wreck. After a couple of really scary style estimates, we settled on Jack Williams and Sons from Nutley 973 284 0867.
They had to fully rebuild all the chimney above our roof line and then do the metal liner job down to the basement.
good people, gave a good detailed estimate with no scare tactics.
We now call it our Italian Chimney as we had planned to be in Northern Italy last Summer. Instead we got a new chimney.
Best Regards,
Ron Carter |
fine
Citizen
Username: Fine
Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 11:15 am: | |
Thanks for the feedback.
Which were the companies that gave you the "scary" estmates? |
Tommy Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 235
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 7:45 pm: | |
Our house is also from the late 1800's. We got an estimate from Chimney Savers of $9,400! Needless to say, we'll get at least one more. I'll give Jack Williams a call. Thanks for the referral.
Tom Reingold |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 28
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:48 pm: | |
Try Bob Harris of Top Hat and Tails...also near Nutley (Belleville, I think) at 973/761-1054. Nice guy and seems reasonably priced. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 51
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 4:14 pm: | |
We had a similar project done and had both Top Hat (who has the nerve to charge you for an estimate) and Chimney Savers out to take a look. Neither of them could do more than work with liners and cleaning, and didn't want to go near our job. Jack Williams did ours as well, and we were happy with the results. You have to keep on him a little bit to make sure the project moves along, but he does great work. I would definitely recommend him. |
mogli
Citizen
Username: Mogli
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 10:44 am: | |
I have two chimneys that need to be rebuilt from the roofline, lined, and the fireplaces adapted accordingly. Top-rated Top Hat couldn't be bothered - not interested in relinings or fireplace work. Top-rated Elite gave such an unlikely estimate, about $23,000 in all. $7,000 per chimney, $2,000 for flashing and roofing, $3,500 for flexible aluminum liners and claimed the walls would have to be opened (and repaired by someone else), not including disposal or scaffolding. On top of that, I had a bad feeling about the whole interaction.
An actual mason provided a slightly different perspective: $12,000 for both chimneys including scaffolding and disposal, I'd buy flexible stainless liners via a builders supply and he'd help me pull them down. Estimate from a roofer for flashing, etc, was about $500.
This isn't just a case of going with the low bidder - it was clear that this guy knew what he was talking about and would be able to build two high quality chimneys appropriate for my 1880 house for a reasonable price in a reasonable time frame.
Unfortunately I ran out of money and didn't have the work done last fall, but thanks to next week's refinancing these leaning towers won't be for much longer.
|
Joan Auer
Citizen
Username: Joan
Post Number: 8
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 11:31 am: | |
Mogli,
We also need to get a chimney rebuilt. Do you have the name of your mason and do you mind sharing it? |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 33
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 11:14 pm: | |
We also looked into chimney repair/caps about two years ago. Need I say other projects got priority . . . we still have not done it. However, the estimate included scaffolding (we have very high/huge fireplaces)for quite a few thousand dollars. A year late I saw a new neighbor hire a firm that used a cherrypicker to access the fireplace. It seemed to me to be so logical and definitely more cost effective. Heck, they can cut a few limbs while they are at it! |
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