Atlas Piers of Atlanta Blog - Foundation Repair and Support Solutions

Leaning Chimney - Foundation or Masonry?

  

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What happens when your chimney is leaning?  Is it a foundation problem or a masonry problem?  Let's look at two different ways the chimney can lean.

Chimneys that lean over a house are typically a masonry or structural issue.  These chimneys generally have too much weight on top of the framing of the house and begin to settle into the house which causes them to lean inward.  This is a very dangerous problem as when these chimneys fall, they fall into the livable space.  You should contact a good mason or structural repair expert.  The repair may involve removing the brick from the chimney or installing more support in the house.  When in doubt about what to do, contact a licensed professional engineer.

Chimneys that lean away from a house are a foundation issue.  When most houses were built, the chimney foundation was added to the home's foundation (although some were poured at the same time).  Even if the foundation was part of the original home foundation, it was typically not designed in the same way as the line of the house.  The chimney generally is heavily loaded and concentrated on a small surface area - making it the heaviest part of the home in many cases.  Imagine how much brick and block are concentrated on a 2x6 area.  A full masonry chimney can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, and can be concentrated on relatively small areas.

When chimneys lean away from a house, you can repair them by installing underpinning piers.  These piers can be either helical or resistance piers.  Resistance piers are generally a much better way to repair the foundation under a chimney since these piers are 3-6 times stronger than helical piers.

These underpinning piers are installed beneath the existing chimney foundation.  Once the piers are installed the chimney can be lifted and pushed back towards the house.  While results are not guaranteed, we typically can reduce the lean by over 50%.  Check out a case study in our residential section labeled I AM AFRAID THAT MY CHIMNEY WILL COLLAPSE.