More Progress, Less Chimney

I spent the day on Sunday working on the chimney.  Once I got below the level of the roof, the going got tougher: since that part of the chimney was never exposed to the weather, the mortar is in much better shape.

But even so, 112 years have taken their toll, and the chimney is still relatively easy to dismantle.  Mostly, it takes a couple taps with a hammer to dislodge the brittle mortar, and the bricks become loose.  Then I lift off the bricks, one by one.

Since I'm now working inside the attic, there is no way to throw the bricks into the side yard.  So mostly I drop the bricks down the flue, and then retrieve them in the basement.  Some have gotten stuck along the way, and will have to be dislodged when I get down to where they are wedged in the chimney.

Interestingly enough, this chimney was never lined - there are no heavy ceramic flue liners inside the two flues, which makes removing it significantly simpler.  It is just a matter of taking it down, brick by brick.

More of the same next weekend.  I hope to reach the basement in a week.

Approaching the attic floor