Chimney cont.

I must admit, taking down a chimney is a big and tiring task. So, you might ask, how did I do it all by myself? One brick at a time. Well, that is just one more task off the list. It is rewarding to see things accomplished. I just finished taking down the last two feet getting the bricks down just below the floor. 

The original plan was to drop as many bricks down the center of the chimney so not to have to carry so many out. The first few dropped down the center didn't seem to go very far. About half way down (still on the second story) I encountered a nest of sticks and nuts and insulation. At least I didn't find any critters. After removing the sticks and such the dirt and such fell. So I began pushing in the small particles....hmmmm.

Well now I am still standing on the ladder and the center is full again. This time I found where the pipe from (I am assuming) the kitchen cookstove had been stuffed full of newspaper. The paper was a Sunday Fort Wayne Journal Gazette dated June 8, 1947.  Anyway, I removed the paper and stuff once again fell.... but not very far. I found another small nest of sticks. This last two foot of the chimney I just took out I had to remove all the dirt and soot and pieces I put in from above. I got down to the last layer and accidently dropped a brick right into the center. I knew it had really black "stuff" well the brick broke through and everything dropped with a "poof" I instantly thought of the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins! The cloud began to rise and I quickly grabbed the shop vac ....well so much for preventing "dust." 
The vac was taking in the black soot dust stuff and blowing it out the other side.... now that the new filter is installed in the vac, hopefully that won't happen again....hmmm hope not, I am done with the chimney. It is below the floor and sealed with concrete. Whew!

Chimney gone, well almost!

Thursday I started tearing out the chimney between the kitchen and dining room about 8:15 am. Whew! It was just below the floor of the attic (thanks to Joe, Christine, Nic and Nate). I finished up (OK, I got tired and quit) about 10:20 pm.

The dumpster was delivered Wednesday afternoon and placed just below the window. NICE! I opened the window and chucked the bricks out the window....and I didn't hit the window once! Good thing or it would have been a new window.

The bricks seemed to come loose rather easily, but it was a dirty job! Once I got below the floor of the second story it was up and down the ladder to haul the bricks out the door. NO, not one at a time! I placed them in a wagon and pulled them out then heaved them in the dumpster. So how many times did I handle each brick???? TOO MANY!

I must say having the wall out and now the chimney....(still have about 2 1/2 feet to remove).... really opens up the rooms and lets in an enormous amount of light. Makes me happy! Well more later on the next venture.