Chimney removal?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I'm here with another long-shot question, but DSLJ so rarely lets me down that I thought i'd give it a try.

We are contemplating changing our furnace to a direct vent furnace, which would make our chimney completely unused, allowing us for the first time to consider/explore having it removed. I plan to reach out to contractors to get quotes, but again fear this falls into the too big for a handyman, too small for a name brand co to want to take on... Has anyone, fairly recently, had their chimney removed? If so, can you give an idea of the cost, and also what it entailed (how they actually do it)? Does anyone know if they can remove part of it (i.e. the part in the basement) and shore up/leave the rest in the walls? Or does it all have to come down?

Thanks!

Comments

[totient]

We had one taken out as part of a larger job, and I can say (a) it's a big enough job that contractors will quote it for you even if you're not doing other work, (b) if you take out only part of it, it has to be starting from the top, not the bottom, and (c) chimney bricks are toxic waste and as such the longer you wait to do it, the more expensive it'll likely be.