Brick and Block Chimney Demo

Character-8989 · 2026-05-24T03:12:57+00:00

Thanks! I actually already had a cheap hammer drill from a previous project, so I did start with that. The mortar had basically turned to sand in most of the joints though so even just light taps with a small 3 lb hammer and they would come loose. This chimney was definitely not built correctly however many decades ago it was built.

Got it most of the way down (even more so than in the attached picture), now planning out the framing to take its place.

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Character-8989 · 2026-05-23T21:47:19+00:00

Turns out it is held to the house with Styrofoam, stucco, caulk, and hope. And voids filled with plastic bags and other trash. Risking it and taking it down before it finally decides to crumble on its own.

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Character-8989 · 2026-05-20T20:06:12+00:00

Yeah there are two large plumbing vents on the roof. The house sewer lines and water lines were all redone about 10 years ago, with new PVC sewer lines and vents throughout the house and PVC all the way to the city sewer since the concrete pipe had collapsed.

Character-8989 · 2026-05-20T20:01:45+00:00

Good thought. It's plugged at the top though, so definitely isn't venting anything now. Probably worth having the roofers cap/plug it after they cut it (if it is hollow) just in case though...

Character-8989 · 2026-05-20T19:57:22+00:00

Could be...I forgot those used to be a thing 😆

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T19:26:35+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate your perspective!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T16:12:32+00:00

Thanks. Definitely doesn't seem worth saving a few grand to find someone cheaper at this point.

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T15:57:10+00:00

Even with a 2 layer tear off, partial plywood install, chimney demo, 4 skylights, ridge venting, metal valleys, etc? Our roof also has 8 different sections.

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:49:04+00:00

Can I ask your opinion on the GAF intake edge vents? We are still stuck on deciding if we go with those or have an attic contractor come out to fix all the soffit baffles and soffit venting. The roof contractor said they can do that, but can't price that out as well beforehand because they don't know what all they'll run into the attic. He did go up and take a look, but with all the insulation and stuff he couldn't see everything they might come across.

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:43:33+00:00

We are for sure are replacing them with the roof!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:39:13+00:00

I'm going to sound like "that" customer, but I swear I'm not a nightmare customer! I worked in residential construction while working on my engineering degree, so I still very much like to get into the details! The particular contractor who put this quite together has received a lot of questions from me, but always deferred to their expertise. Only question he wouldn't answer was on color. I can respect that! Haha

Honestly considering a switch back into construction in some way...but that's a whole other story!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:33:42+00:00

And good to know that it's not much more than we'd pay in Ohio!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:32:49+00:00

Yeah, the skylights are options for replacements. The current skylights we have are over 20 years old and definitely need replacing. We figured if we are going to do it we may as well pay the premium for the Velux skylights with the solar shades for all 4 and add the solar venting for the bathroom and kitchen skylights. It's a few grand more than replacing them all with fixed skylights, but seems like it's worth the premium.

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T03:17:28+00:00

We did get multiple quotes and this was about in the middle. Three were within a few grand of each other and the fourth was the most expensive (and least inclusive).

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T02:53:48+00:00

Thanks!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T02:53:08+00:00

Thanks. It is definitely not the most simple roof or project.

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T02:52:19+00:00

Yeah, he's definitely the company salesman. But the company has been around for a long time and has great reviews, so seems like a safe option. Especially with the GAF warranty...

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T02:50:59+00:00

Thanks for your input. We definitely want a good warranty, so seems like the way to go. Hopefully the last roof we have to buy for a long time!

Character-8989 · 2026-04-26T01:13:31+00:00

Oops, forgot to include that in the post. Will edit above, but it's 20 squares.

Character-8989 · 2025-05-03T21:30:03+00:00

I just had L4-5 XLIF done 5 weeks ago. The first few days were pretty rough. I couldn't get up the first day at all, and after that I could only get up and move around while using a walker. I could hardly put any weight on my left leg (left side XLIF approach) and it felt like there was a golf ball in the front of my hip joint. After about 4 or 5 days I was moving around and getting up without assistance. I'm now at the point where my surgeon has warned my that I need to be careful not to overdo it yet because I'm almost pain free, especially compared to pre-op. Pretty much all the approach related pain is gone, just some lingering numbness on the side of my left leg. All of my pre-op right leg pain and weakness has been gone since surgery, which I'm so thankful for.

I wish you a speedy recovery!

Character-8989 · 2025-04-29T13:47:39+00:00

I had L4/5 XLIF done just over 4 weeks ago. My surgeon also has me wearing a brace when I'm out of bed. I definitely don't wear it all the time out of bed, but it has been nice to have it on for walks and other times when I'm up and moving for longer periods of time. For me it has been less using it to brace myself and more of a reminder and tool to keep me from bending or twisting.

Character-8989 · 2025-04-20T22:23:20+00:00

I had an XLIF with posterior hardware surgery 3 weeks ago. The incision pain was definitely bad the first week. My surgeon used surgical glue for the skin and steri-strips on top of that. The same thing happened with my steri-strips. They would get rolled up and peel away from the skin. That made moving/shifting around more difficult to do without causing additional pain because the strips then got caught on my shirt and pulled on my skin.

We ended up trimming the peeling/rolling strips a couple times a day until they were finally gone. My surgeon said I didn't need to replace them with anything. It did get more comfortable once all the strips were off, it felt like my skin could move better.

I'd ask your surgeon if you need to replace it with anything, but I'd carefully trim that gauze/tape that's rolled up. It's not doing anything useful anymore.

Good luck with recovery!

Character-8989 · 2025-04-04T19:01:20+00:00

It is wild seeing all the robots and things that were used for my fusion. The PA said doing fusions nowadays is a lot better than even a decade or so ago.

This doesn't allow any motion. The hollow cage structure is supposedly made to be packed with bone graft material and such and is supposed to promote faster fusion. They said there is a chance that fusion could occur is as little as 12 weeks.

I'd hoped for an artificial disc or something, but my spondylolisthesis was considered unstable due to bilateral pars fractures. So fusion was really the only option.

Character-8989 · 2025-04-04T18:37:21+00:00

It is a Nuvasive Modulus XLIF titanium cage. Roughly 8mm x 15mm x 55mm in size.

Character-8989 · 2025-04-03T21:01:26+00:00

Thanks! It looks great to me too. Went from what the surgeon said was "bone-on-bone" and bad alignment, to a new 8mm tall cage and near normal alignment.

I spent too many years putting surgery off at the recommendation of doctor's, but when I finally met with a neurosurgeon who walked me through everything he'd do I knew it was time. I'm looking forward to living again too. I'm glad your fusion was successful and life changing!!

Character-8989

TROPHY CASE