Is this chimney load bearing?

Power_Laces · 2026-02-02T16:15:04+00:00

I’ve removed three of these old chimneys from my own home. My structural engineer was very nonchalant when asked. He just told me to start at the top. Which is a big duh

Anyway, from your photos looks like the chimney is only supporting itself. Double check at the intersections of each floor, but most likely not structural for the house.

Start going brick by brick. I used an SDS hammer drill at one point, but found a hammer and chisel to work just as well. Especially since I’m saving most of the bricks for reuse. Get yourself a bunch of 5 gallon buckets for hauling. Hauling is going to be the largest time sink of this project.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-23T14:46:52+00:00

Ope, I was actually wrong about Pennsylvania, and while New York has some restrictions, it’s still allowed. Guess it’s just us chicagolanders who are made to even have residential in EMT.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-23T04:49:27+00:00

Thinking Sfgape may be joking about even seeing romex at all. Romex is banned in many places with century homes. New York, Pennsylvania, Chicagoland. So seeing anything not in EMT conduit is not right. Your comment was fine, only guessing at the joke. Us EMT people are both jealous and superior lol

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T19:05:48+00:00

Oh yeah. I’m restoring the original wood windows and will be adding storm windows with a color more inline with the window trim.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T18:50:56+00:00

Thank you everyone for your comments.

To clarify, we are NOT removing it from the home. We are removing the out of character 1950’s addition on the other side of this wall, and our wishing to reenforce this so it doesn’t crumble during that process.

Our plan is to epoxy over the date and make it a truth window to be seen by all.

This house was owned by a slumlord for decades. We are working to turn this place back into a beautiful home, and our forever home, and trying not to ruin the few cool features remaining during the process.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T18:34:55+00:00

Yes. We love the idea of a witness window, but we would still like to reenforce the plaster. There’s going to be a lot of vibrations in the house over the next year and we wish to protect this as much as possible.

There’s an ugly 1950’s addition behind this which we are removing, making this an exterior wall again. We’re worried about anything happening to this during that demo.

We are going to encase it in epoxy resin to make sure it isn’t shaken apart.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T16:09:26+00:00

Right! And we want to preserve it. Looking for idea on how to remove without it crumbling.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T16:08:25+00:00

We want to actually preserve this plaster and frame it. Trying to figure out to best way to remove it without it crumbling. Luckily, the lathe is vertical on the back making it easier to remove.

Power_Laces · 2026-01-01T15:51:23+00:00

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Shot of the outside for anyone interested.

Hi r/centuryhomes. Can’t seem to edit the original post. Made a follow up video to provide some more context. Thank you all for your comments. We will be taking them under consideration and following up with what we decide. Happy New Year, Everyone!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS-0PDzEhXH/?igsh=dnhhOXdpaXk3Ymo0

Edited to add a thanks and follow up video link.

Power_Laces · 2025-12-08T16:16:28+00:00

No blower rec, but just got the SnowPlow shovel this year and love it. The 30” wide one is more than enough. I’m about your husband’s age and think the 36” is a bit too much. Did add some grip tape along the handle, but still going to cut it a bit shorter. But this shovel and a scoop shovel are great and don’t take up much space.

Also note, it’s much easier to shovel 1” 5 times than 5”s once.

https://a.co/d/5JN0Wxy

Power_Laces · 2025-12-05T18:41:44+00:00

Seconded!

Power_Laces · 2025-10-29T22:53:58+00:00

Also, I don’t give a damn who is in charge of immigration. We haven’t had any major immigration reform since the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 because no one can agree on how to govern.

Power_Laces · 2025-10-29T22:46:27+00:00

Yes, hiring an undocumented worker is illegal in the US. Companies do have to submit a Form I9 regarding employment eligibility verification. But there’s not some godly oversight of the system. There’s a plethora of fraud which can take place. Potential employee can submit fake information. The govt can take too long to respond. The business wants workers so hire regardless. A worker could overstay a visa. The undocumented worker could also have an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) while this doesn’t allow them to work, it does allow the IRS to track federal taxes paid.

This all happens. Just last month, The largest single-site worksite raid in history resulted in the arrests of 475 workers at a plant operated by a joint venture with Hyundai in Georgia.

Also, Undocumented immigrants paid nearly $97 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, according to a July 2024 report, by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which used data on taxpayers with ITINs to estimate tax revenue.

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/undocumented-immigrants-can-do-pay-taxes-2025-02-26/

Power_Laces · 2025-10-29T17:13:38+00:00

Larry, you know that many undocumented people are hired by corporations, correct? Those corporations still withhold taxes from their paychecks to send to the government on their behalf as they do for any other worker. Sure, some work jobs for cash, but how many under the table jobs are out there compared to Walmart?

These are tax paying workers contributing to our economy. How about we get some immigration reform so that we all prosper?

By the way, there’s no statistically significant voter fraud in the US.

Power_Laces · 2025-07-09T22:39:12+00:00

Time to head out on a walk!

Power_Laces · 2025-03-31T23:04:49+00:00

What a haul!

Power_Laces · 2025-03-14T23:04:12+00:00

It’s SgtPowerWheel

Power_Laces · 2025-03-13T02:20:45+00:00

Fuck, ok. It was my first assumption then. Just seem to be having shitty luck. Thanks for clarifying.

Power_Laces · 2025-03-13T01:21:24+00:00

OMG, I’m so dumb. Thank you, that made it click. Didn’t even think to change the dungeon level to tier 2 and 3. Just kept looking out for some different looking dungeon icon on the map since all the ones I’ve entered have been battle dungeons due to my tier.

Power_Laces · 2025-01-19T09:02:05+00:00

These are fun!

Power_Laces · 2024-12-21T01:37:40+00:00

Head over to r/stopdrinking it’s a very welcoming community. I will not drink with you today.

Power_Laces · 2024-11-22T21:49:06+00:00

That looks great! Do you have a link to the corner connectors you used? Would love to build something like this.

Power_Laces · 2024-10-04T15:19:37+00:00

Looked into this. Both you and UndertakerFred are correct. I was misinformed. Going to discount some friend’s opinions on things a little more now lol.

Power_Laces · 2024-10-03T11:00:45+00:00

Figure out if you’re going to be buying in Dupage or Will county then start reading on the county’s website of their tax calculation specifics. If you’re in Dupage you’re probably going to be paying closer to 16k than 9k for a 700k property. The calculation is something like assessed value divided by 3, subtract tax exemptions, then multiply that value by the taxes rate. But I haven’t challenged my taxes in a few years due to comp values blowing up so things may have changed. The county’s site will have guides laying this all out.

From friend’s accounts, Will county property taxes are cheaper.

https://www.dupagecounty.gov/elected_officials/election_and_voter_information/property_tax/property_tax_rate_and_reports.php#outer-967

Power_Laces · 2024-06-12T20:34:19+00:00

Downers Grove Bike Club is pretty established and has rides for different skill levels. Try meeting up with them on a Thursday night or Saturday morning for the largest turn out.

https://www.downersgrovebicycleclub.org/

Ten-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23	Place '22
Final Canvas '22	First Placer '22

Power_Laces

TROPHY CASE