We have a 1920’s bungalow home, and the fireplace has not been used for quite some time. It has a stucco facade inside where the fire would be. We’ve had 2 chimney companies come out to inspect/tell us what it needs.
Basically, both say we need to:
Rebuild the crown (chimney top) to code, install a chimney cap, and install a damper
Then company A said they would want to re-build the inside with firebrick- just the bottom where the fire would be. Their bid for all of the work was $1500
Company B came in and said they would need to line the ENTIRE inside of the chimney from the bottom up with stainless steel, and would need to access the inside of the chimney by temporarily removing a small part outside. They said b/c the inside is brick & mortar with a lot of openings/crevices, this could be a fire hazard if we left it as is. They also said there is already firebrick behind the stucco facade, and, while this would likely crack, it is OK to leave. Their bid was $2400.
So, I am not sure what to think- and am hoping there are kind folks on this panel who might give their opinions on these two bids, and help better inform what we need to do.
We appreciate your help!
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