Chimney down - Small Cabin Forum

- Forums - Register/Sign Up - Reply - Search - Statistics -

Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Chimney down

Author

Message

# Posted: 15 May 2023 19:38 - Edited by: Grizzlyman
Reply

Finally got up to the place this weekend. We had a late ice-out again which means we couldn’t get to the island.

Everything made it through the winter… EXCEPT the chimney.

We had near record snow this year, and the snowpack didn’t melt hardly at all between November and April/May. That means we probably had a very deep pack on the roof. We were there in Feb and it was 2ft then.

At some point we must have had a big slide off the roof.

The chimney had supports and a snow splitter.
One of the support brackets was ripped right out of the roof...Bracket intact, screws ripped out. Then the support somehow got a big bend in it. The snow splitter on that side of the chimney was also ripped right out. Otherwise completely intact.

Luckily the chimney is fine… just tilted. Seal is fine as well so thankfully no water intrusion. When the chimney tilted it caused the inside to lever the other way and disconnected the stack inside the cabin. That was laying on the floor but still in good condition.

Crazy.

7595D0B283E74836B.jpeg

28393B30BA4944CDB.jpeg

EA89CD1F8C624A67A.jpeg

1600FE80723143ABB.jpeg

gcrank1
Member

# Posted: 15 May 2023 20:27
Reply

Wood stoves have sooo many joys

ICC
Member

# Posted: 15 May 2023 20:39
Reply

Could be worse, and I am happy that it is not!

Brettny
Member

# Posted: 16 May 2023 05:49
Reply

Maybe you need a sharper snow splitter? Maybe a splinter above the brace arms. Snow brakes above it all?

You could also move the chimney to the peak and not have much to worry about. I plan on putting mine right out the peak.

Grizzlyman
Member

# Posted: 16 May 2023 15:22
Reply

Brettny
Can’t really be sharper as it has to span the rafters.

I didn’t have any issues last year, so am hoping it’s just a one time thing related to the crazy snow this year. We’ll see.

Agree I would have originally liked to have it in middle of the cabin under the peak but asthetically and for space reasons that didn’t work.

I’ll fix it (I will lag the damn things in) this time and see if that holds better.

Crazy the power in a snowslide like that.

On the plus side it gives me confidence in the cabin knowing it can support those snow loads.

Brettny
Member

# Posted: 16 May 2023 20:16
Reply

Lagging something like that in may not work. The snow could have just slid overtop of the splitter, basicly making it a ramp. Sharper meaning further up the roof and taller..not really wider.

gcrank1
Member

# Posted: 16 May 2023 21:18
Reply

More like a dormer roof?

Grizzlyman
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 07:49
Reply

Went to repair this weekend. Well the “adjustable” legs on the chimney support are frozen up and won’t move. (It is simply two pieces of conduit sliding inside each other with a hose clamp over the end).

I couldn’t adjust it despite hanmering on the ends of the poles. I simply reattached everything and wrapped some wire around the chimney to hold it temporarily.

I need new supports.

I’ve used two of these kits and they’re not great… That and the band contraption they use to secure to the chimney is huge pain as well.

https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/venting/insulated-double-wall-stove-pipe /supervent-reg-universal-class-a-double-wall-roof-guy-kit/jurgk-1/p-1444453719097-c-6 894.htm?tid=0dc1e335-383e-46de-952a-89c044757d90&ipos=13&exp=false

Anyone recommend any OTHER kits?

gcrank1
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 09:52
Reply

With your conditions it sounds like you may need to be looking at commercial grade rather than consumer grade stuff?

Brettny
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 11:17
Reply

You need more of a snow splitter. Trying to hold back snow on a metal roof with brackets made to hold just the chimney up isnt going to work well.

Brettny
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 11:20
Reply

What about something like this design? You could fairly easily make this with a angle grinder and thick aluminum.
https://www.amazon.com/VentSaver-Stove-Chimney-Protect-Metal/dp/B00DRE1D0M/ref=asc_df _B00DRE1D0M/?tag=smacab-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309750302298&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14 001279817978469754&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=906760 9&hvtargid=pla-571718869195&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60862048959&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadi d=309750302298&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14001279817978469754&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&h vlocint=&hvlocphy=9067609&hvtargid=pla-571718869195

Grizzlyman
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 19:06
Reply

You mean the snow splitter I have isn’t good enough?

https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/fireplaces-stoves/fireplace-wood-stove-t ools-accessories/wood-stove-accessories/selkirk-reg-snow-splitter/2001922/p-144445372 1181-c-6881.htm

rpe
Member

# Posted: 30 May 2023 19:29
Reply

Sorry to hear of the damage over winter. That's certainly one drawback of steel roofs. That snow splitter Brettny linked to above looks pretty robust.

We have a cottage neighbour that keeps getting his septic vent whacked. Normal snow break hasn't been enough in his application - it was all bent and twisted like a big guy jumped on it.

gcrank1
Member

# Posted: 31 May 2023 10:46
Reply

I think I'd make a slide-over 'ski-jump' for the top of that vent stack.