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The Twisted Fix To Real Victorian Smokers………………………Answer To Mimi’s Question.

By
Home Inspector with Aspect Inspection

The Twisted Fix To Real Victorian Smokers………………………Answer To Mimi’s Question.

 

Victorian homes had multi-faceted high steep pitched roofs.

The Problem: This created downdraft problems for many of the chimneys. They would release smoke into the house and make house keeping cleaning a real chore.

One solution for this was to extend the height of the chimneys and this meant tall thin, usually freestanding, chimneys from the roof up to heights near to, if not exceeding the ridge of the roof.

This worked mostly, but the right (or wrong) weather conditions would cool these chimneys and cause thermal inversions and make them sometimes hard to light and also drafty. In some of these old homes most of the significant rooms had a fireplace.

Additionally they were subject to weather damage and were dangerous or more difficult to build (read costly). Being thinner (in general) they cooled more easily so they had condensation problems, which manifested itself as creosote buildup (increased risk of chimney fires) and more maintenance repairs.

The Fix: So architects and builders tried to incorporate the chimneys in the body of the roof as much as possible. The optimum plan allowed a chimney to rise to near the ridge and emerge with only the last few feet exposed to the elements. 

This worked very well, kept the chimney from excessive cooling, maintenance was relatively low and there were minimal draft problems. Great, but not all floor plans would allow this with straight chimneys. 

The Twist: Then the 'offset flue' construction of chimneys came about as a way to get the chimney to exit the roof as close to the optimal location as could be achieved. This was achieved by stepping off the successive layers of brick by small increments per layer.

Some referred to this a corbelling and structurally it is closer to cantilevering but here the weight of the masonry above counterbalances the overhang. As any toddler who's played with blocks can tell you, there are limits as to how far you can go.

The physical realities limit how far the offsets can move the chimney and extended offsets also re-introduced draft problems as well. Fire regulations also limited the number of turns, lengths of runs and combinations of flues in a given chimney body.

So architects and the masonry trade soon learned to work within a well defined set of rules for successful application of this technique.

Look for gradual turns and smaller lateral displacements in proportion to the height rise.

If you have concerns consult with a specialist. ( A chimney sweep, a master mason, or a WETT certified technician. WETT = Wood Energy Transfer Technology.)

 

 

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This article was written by Robert Butler to answer a comment question from a previous article. ;

  Mimi’s QuestionI have a question.  I specialize in Victorian homes.  Many times in the attic the brick chimney stack is a little twisted between the attic floor and the exit at the roof line.  Any idea why they did that?  The first few times I thought it was the same drunken mason, but it is too consistent, and I have always wondered why.

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Comments (9)

Sharon Lord
Maracay Homes - Peoria, AZ
New Home Advisor

Robert - I had NO idea about the chimney issues on Victorian homes!  Love houses from that era; so much detail....

Jun 03, 2011 04:30 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips - Eureka, CA
Realtor and Broker/Owner

Good Morning Robert, excellent input on Victorian chimneys!  We have a city full of them!  Owners of Victorians need to understand the concept.

Jun 03, 2011 11:08 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Hi Sharon. Lots of detail, but also a building technology benchmark. Lots of good design for the technology.

Morning Dan. Victorians have lots of specific operating methods. Home owners of them should have to take classes. For example: the fireplaces, usually Rumford designs, were designed to efficiently burn coal. If you now try to burn wood in them you need to do it differently and with more preparation and protection of surrounding surfaces.

Jun 04, 2011 02:48 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Robert, now I'm just dying to show a Victorian home and to be able to share this knowledge with someone who might ask about it. If they don't ask, I'll tell them anyway. They will think I'm pretty smart.

Jun 04, 2011 03:28 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Robert,

That is such a great description of that issue. I have fish hand knowledge of this effect. The home I built was a chalet style with a wood stove. Large great room, 25' ceiling. Because the stack is tall and exposed on the exterior and the room creates a negative pressure zone it is a real bugger to get it started without smoking the place out. When you need it most is when the power is out and the temps are are below zero and then the effect is greater.

Jun 04, 2011 03:31 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Why shouldn't they Malcolm. You are smart to follow my blog as well as many others here on AR. The fireplaces were made for coal. Wood fires often smoke and don't work well. 

Don you basically have to open a window, then start and feed a high flame paper fire to heat up the chimney flue to function as it should. In the process so much cold air comes in to replace what has gone up the flue you'll have done a complete air change in about 15 minutes. 

Jun 04, 2011 04:04 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I'm so excited with your answer, Bob!  Thank you!  I had no idea, and knew there had to be a logical explanation because they are so consistent.  Many, many thanks for your very thorough, informative, and enlightening post! I truly appreciate it . . .

Jun 04, 2011 06:18 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

In answer to the bookmark question . . . above your comment section (in this post) are the groups that you posted to.  Right above that is the word BOOKMARK (next to the little envelope which allows you to email the article).  After you have it bookmarked, on your homepage on the lower left column there is a list starting with My Comments.  In the middle of the list is Blog Bookmarks.  That is where you will find everything that you have bookmarked.

Jun 04, 2011 07:03 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Hi Mimi, glad you liked it. That was a great question. I didn't know I had the answer till you asked the question.

Thanks for the info on 'bookmarking' in AR. 

Jun 05, 2011 03:16 AM