Chimney repair question

[Moose97]

This weekend I noticed my chimney cap has come loose. It's a cedar sided chimney so reattachment should be simple enough. I guess my question is, how do I SAFELY access it? Anyone here with suggestions? Any previous experience?

 

[Boilerhouse]

I put up scaffolding. I own two sections and rented 2. Scaffolding is cheap to rent, especially if it is only for a week or so. I redid a bunch of mortar, put in a liner and replaced the cap. Some much needed TLC.

 

[Moose97]

I put up scaffolding. I own two sections and rented 2. Scaffolding is cheap to rent, especially if it is only for a week or so. I redid a bunch of mortar, put in a liner and replaced the cap. Some much needed TLC.

Thank you. I was afraid renting would be out of my price range. That looks pretty high. How did you secure it?

 

[Boilerhouse]

The top platform is 20 feet high, chimney is 23 feet high. I googled safe scaffold practices and scaffolding can be free standing up to 15 ft if I recall, but being higher than that, I installed outriggers. They make them for scaffolding but the rental place neither had them or had even heard of them so I made my own, basically 2 x 4's diagonal braces tied into ground stakes. The scaffold felt very secure while being used.

 

[kbs2244]

Do you have a brick chimney or a steel pipe in a wood box chimney?
They are very different in their construction and repair.

 

[Moose97]

Do you have a brick chimney or a steel pipe in a wood box chimney?
They are very different in their construction and repair.

Pipe in a wood box. Why? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kbs2244]

One is a carpenter job, the other a mason job,

 

[Jackfre]

If it is factory built chimney look at the brands web site and get a new clamp for it. They generally secure very well when properly installed. Corrosion may have torn up the mounts on the cap. Chimney caps live a pretty tough life. You may need to replace the whole cap, but probably will not know until you get up there. There is no heavy work involved here. How are you at heights? A certified Chimney Sweep would make short work of this and clean the pipe as well. It may be the best option.

 

[FTG-05]

The absolutely best way to climb up and work on the top of your chimney is with your checkbook.

[feel free to insert NOPENOPENOPENOPE .gif here]

 

[6768rogues]

I usually do everything myself, so in my younger days I would have leaned a ladder against it to climb up and fix it. Now I would not, I would hire a chimney sweep to go up, check the chimney for cleanliness, clean it if necessary, and fix the cap. How they get up there is their problem.

 

[Bretny]

What kind of chimney cap is it? I hardly think setting up scafolding is worth it of its just a screw on metal cap.

 

[ford33]

Unless you are very comfortable on a ladder and with heights, this is a job better left to a chimney sweep. They have the safety equipment and skills to remove and install the cap in minutes. Why risk serious injury to save $100.

 

[Bretny]

Heights? He didnt state that its at the top of a 3 story house and i dont know any company thats going to come out and repair anything anf only charge $100.