What Atherton's building checklist says about chimneys
The Town of Atherton Building Department's ADU/JADU checklist lists fireplaces or chimneys that list, bulge or settle from defective material or deterioration as a substandard-building condition (source: Town of Atherton Building Department, Checklist for ADUs and JADUs).
The checklist is written for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). If you are planning one, a chimney or fireplace in that space that leans, bulges or has settled is the kind of condition the checklist names. It covers two causes: defective material (brick, mortar or other components that were poor from the start) and deterioration (sound materials that have worn out over time).
What it changes about the repair
A lean or bulge is a symptom, so the repair has to deal with its cause. Re-pointing the visible joints won't fix a chimney that is moving. We start by working out whether the problem is in the brick and mortar, the crown and top of the chimney stack, the flue, or the base the chimney sits on. Then we repair the failed material instead of covering it up.
Signs a chimney may be listing, bulging or settling
- The chimney stack looks out of plumb when you view it from the yard or the street
- Brick bulges outward or the face of the chimney looks wavy
- A gap is opening where the chimney meets the house wall or roofline
- Cracks step diagonally through the mortar joints
- Bricks or mortar are crumbling, flaking or falling onto the roof or the ground
- The hearth or firebox surround is pulling away from the wall
Stop using the fireplace until it's checked
A chimney that is leaning or bulging can shed brick and may not contain heat and smoke properly. Don't light a fire, and keep people away from the area below it.
For how the checklist applies to your project, the Town of Atherton Building Department has the final word. Our part is the chimney: finding what failed, repairing it, and explaining what we did.
Repair or rebuild?
Many leaning or deteriorated chimneys can be repaired. Others have moved far enough, or lost enough sound masonry, that rebuilding all or part of the stack is the honest answer. Our guide to chimney repair vs rebuild explains how that decision is made, and the estimate will tell you which one your chimney needs.
Chimney repair in brief
Chimney repair covers the parts that keep smoke inside the flue and water outside the house. That includes the brick chimney and its mortar joints, the crown and cap on top, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, flue repair and liner work, and the damper. On factory-built chimneys it also includes the chase and chimney chase cover replacement when the metal top has rusted through. Every job starts with finding what failed and why. The full scope and process are laid out in how chimney repair works.
When a different job fits better
- If you aren't sure what's wrong, or you need a documented condition report first, start with chimney inspection in Atherton and repair after.
- If smoke backs up because of a blocked chimney, such as nests, debris or buildup, the fix is usually removing the blockage, not repairing the structure.
- If water is coming in around a prefab chimney, a rusted chimney chase cover is a common cause, and replacing the cover may be the whole job.
More for homeowners in this area
Everything we do for homes in Atherton is listed in one place. For the complete scope of our chimney repair service, including masonry, crowns, flashing and flues, go to the main service page.
Sources (1)
The sources of the Atherton facts on this page.
- 1Town of Atherton Building Department - Checklist for ADUs and JADUs
