have a chimmey that needs repair...is it better to tear off and start over?
Answers:
It's always better to be safe than sorry. You sure don't want any leaks in your roof. If you can afford to start over then that may be your best bet. This way you know it's done right and you won't have the worry of how much longer the old one will make it.
Other answers:
rebuild if its pulling away from the house
rebuild if its pulling away from the house
We had a chimney replaced several years ago. If it is pulling away from the house, it isn't sealed so you are going to get water damage. The clay lining inside needs to be checked to make sure it isn't cracked. This can cause a fire or carbon monoxide in the house. The mortar on the bricks is probably cracked and it will have to be replaced. It will probably be cheaper to tear it down and rebuild.
Yes, rebuild it. Right now it's presenting a hazard, both inside and out.
Well, you can certainly choose to tear it down and rebuild it.. but if it is only seperating from the house, and the mortar itself is in good shape, I would have it repaired instead.
There are companies that specialize in what is called "mud jacking", or "cement jacking". They can dig around the base of the chimney, and install a hydraulic system to literally push it back up against the house, and then pour new cement in around the base. You might find this is cheaper than replacing the chimney.
You can find a very large list of companies doing this service on Yahoo Search.
This site, is the first one on the search for "mud jacking" Kenmore (Sears) water softener is acting up?