Shadow-box chimney rebuild | Tricky setup

If you are a safety first type of person, this channel is not right for you. Please back away and don't come back. Thanks

[@SheenaRea]

Wow. This was a doozie to watch! That scaffolding setup is a work of art. I love it! The end result is beautiful.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you!

[@1234otrebla]

Nice to see there's new masons coming up the line who care about enough to build a chimney to function and stand the test of time. I'm a recent retired mason of 45 years in the trade. Hat's of to you!

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you

[@tittyskillet3413]

Wow, beautiful endshot of all 4 chimneys. Amazing craftsmanship

[@EasyLiving8]

EXCELLENT WORK! Very glad You didn't have to paint it. Stay safe up there!!!

[@restlessnative781]

thank you for sharing your useful knowledge, Im currently building my house and your videos have been inspirational and very informative. Bless

[@chadvaillancourt]

Very happy to hear this. Thank you

[@JoshuaSHogg]

Applying lead flashings to modular brick and asphalt shingles is like putting a Magnaflow exhaust to your ‘04 Civic. Metal caps look nice. Would’ve like to see a 6” formed concrete crown with rebar reinforcement 😝 With the modular brick: give the homeowner a 1 year warranty from spalling, a mandatory 6 month 2 coat repellent at $2K per chimney. Double bricked, flue tile to the roof, your looking at a Victorian House. A horse probably pulleyed up the old brick. All kidding aside Nice work, set-up nice and sketch, love it.

[@svs6248]

Ever hear a shadow box called a itch been doing masonry all my life that’s what the old timers I worked with called it. Great videos man you have a talent for explaining things

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you! I’ve never heard of that. It’s definitely interesting hearing all the different terminology from different parts of the world.

[@robinpeets915]

You do beautiful work. I have never laid brick but I enjoy watching a craftsman at work. I just subscribed and will go back and watch your other videos.

[@nikond90]

Wow, I would be afraid I would fall. I enjoyed the video, keep up the great craftsmanship.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you for your support! 😊

[@robert-ne1835]

The shadow box bonding is a really nice and professional detail that no one will ever see. That is a sign of a craftsman that takes pride in there work.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Right… nobody will ever know about all the extra cutting. Thank you!

[@nathanlopes7717]

Super informative videos bud. Love your channel.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you!

[@dumbluck6180]

Your skills are amazing. If possible, I'd like to see more shots while you're working, even if you just set up a camera with time-lapse. I was dying to see you rebuild that chimney!

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you. I have done this in some videos already. I didn’t think it was received well based on how many views, and how long people watched for, so I’ve been trying to make them shorter. I can put out an hour long video and the average view time could be six minutes. Then people will ask all the questions that I answered in the video because they skimmed. 🤦‍♂️

[@DavidSanchez-ot3it]

Here in Colorado I have a stucco and stone company , on some of our jobs , we build some crazy scaffolding just to get job done ! But of course, safety first , like the old saying , feel me sir ?

[@demer19374]

in a few years I need to replace my roof (currently a reroof) for a colonial home with chimney on the side. I do all my own work but not in this case. Your vids are very helpful and my biggest concern is leaking - especially if the flashing isn't done well. How would I go about getting a quote on the chimney once I get a roofer. I live in Chester NH. Thanks.

[@wizard5213]

Hey Chad great video you’ve got balls of steel! Do you only do chimney/fireplace work or all masonry as well?

[@chadvaillancourt]

Glad you liked it! I started out doing all forms of masonry, now I focus on chimney and fireplace restoration.

[@kennethsmith5871]

Have not worked in the business for almost 20 years. I noticed you always use lead for your flashing. My preferred material was copper. This was in NW Indiana. I always used base and counter flashing because of the movement of the chimney with the change in temperature.

[@aquabat104]

wow great job

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thanks!

[@tittyskillet3413]

This is amazing. What state is this?

[@chadvaillancourt]

Massachusetts

[@WrenchHead]

Wow, very impressive! Any chance the job estimate could be revealed? Just curious lol.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thank you. I’m sorry but I’m not willing to share pricing at this moment.

[@whywouldigivemyrealname5162]

What shoes do you recommend for walking on the roof?

[@chadvaillancourt]

I usually wear low cut hikers, something with a soft rubber grip. Brand isn’t really important to me. I don’t like boots or steel/safety toe in anything. If I was strictly roofing I would buy cougar paws but I’m not about to carry an extra set of shoes in my truck for what I do.

[@matkremzar5474]

you ever check out fred dibnahs scaffolding?

[@chadvaillancourt]

Yes! I’ve watched a lot of his projects. Fascinating to watch!

[@DavidSanchez-ot3it]

That’s a 30,000 dollar mess up man!

[@chadvaillancourt]

I’m not sure what you’re referring to.

[@kennethsmith5871]

@@chadvaillancourt I think he means he would not do the job for less than $30K. I would have asked for a lot more.

[@tittyskillet3413]

You should have a million subscribers. You post infrequently is the problem. More videos equals more exposure equals more subscribers. Do shorter videos of 10:01 minutes twice a week. Youve got the skill, and the content, and the videography. Just work on consistent and short delivery.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thanks for your vote of confidence. 😊 When my boys aren’t around I have to video everything myself, then edit myself it’s just another burden really. I only do this to share what I have learned and hopefully help some people. I don’t care about how many subscribers I have or how much exposure I get. If I die today I will have passed on some of what I’ve learned to others. Sharing information is critical so things don’t get lost and can continuously get better.

[@tittyskillet3413]

@@chadvaillancourt incredible chad, for passing on your knowledge. I was just trying to say, with your skill, your channel could be huge, and it would go out to many people. And then youd be passing your knowledge and skill on to a much larger audience.

[@chadvaillancourt]

You are very kind. Thanks for your comments

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

Follow acid wash wit ammonia and water rinse.

[@chadvaillancourt]

I’m not familiar with this. What is the purpose?

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

@@chadvaillancourt muriatic acid is metallic. My Audel mason books say to neutralize the metallic acid with ammonia. In St Louis they acid wash and go and years later the mortar breaks down because muriatic acid does not break down. I clean with vinegar and organic acid that breaks down. I am certain ammonia is a necessary cleaner on acid rain bathed buildings. Audel also calls those pieces of metal that you use to secure flashing buttons.

[@deadlata9767]

@@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102 Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) definitely breaks down, and rather quickly. Whatever is not involved in a chemical reaction at application will evaporate. If you buy strong enough Hydrochloric acid 37% and up, you can easily see its fumes evaporating, and they will burn the hell out of your sinuses if you breathe them.

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

@@deadlata9767 SORRY YOU ARE WRONG. chlorine compounds do not break down you can salt them out or neutralize them with carbon. In the case of Masonry an acid wash is salted out with ammonia which dissolves in a water rinse

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

It's called timning.

[@chadvaillancourt]

I’ve never heard this word before. What does it mean?

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

@@chadvaillancourt Tinning is the term for metal working of soft pliable metals. It involves the light tapping and includes sheet metal work and peening.

[@georgewaynewilcoxjr2102]

Sorry the term is Tinning.

[@highereducation3028]

What would cause a chimney 4’ from the top i guess it settled ,have separation if 1/2 inch between courses

[@chadvaillancourt]

This is very common when installers don’t use a bond-break between the clay flues and the masonry. Flues cannot be mortared to the walls and the crown wash can’t be adhered either. When enough heat is applied the flues grow in length lifting the chimney with it. The cracks just happen at the weakest spot, could be at the very top or 4’ down.

[@highereducation3028]

Thanks so much. What would you recommend? The original Mason is a hack he went up there and filled in the void. What would you suggest? Chimney is only four years old, but it’s very high.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Filling the void will only cause it to lift more unfortunately. Unless you fix the problem it will persist. It’s hard to say how to fix it without seeing it. I would guess removing the crown wash, resetting the shifted flues/flues and pouring a new crown wash with a proper bond-break may work. But if the separation is 4’ down, there is a good chance that the flues were adhered to the brickwork that far down, or worse, the chimney could be filled solid.

[@highereducation3028]

Ok I really appreciate your input. Thanks

[@ralphfrench2924]

Staging is a little sketchy, but sometimes that’s just how it goes. Nice job , I’ve been doing Masonry for 27 years here in Vermont, I’ve watched a few of your videos, you do a quality job. Do you still use the old school method of mixing your own sand and mortar or have you gone to the premixed 80 lb bags ? Don’t know if you ever laid many Heritage SWB bricks , made to look old . I’ve laid thousands of them myself great brick, now they’ve been replaced with a new version and they’re absolutely terrible, not even close to square, I would rather lay reclaimed brick. If you ever come across a left handed stone hammer or a good set of sky hooks you better scoop them up 😁 You do nice clean professional work in what seems to be a lost art , keep up the good work.

[@chadvaillancourt]

Thanks! I do mix my own mortar, I can’t stand laying with premix, it’s horrible. I have laid many tractor trailer loads of heritage brick, it’s really a shame all the manufacturers are going out of business. I won’t buy Glen-Gery brick again, they are the worst I’ve ever encountered. My supplier is going to bring in some Pine Hall brick so we have something to use. They seem like nice brick, uniform dimension and mostly square. I like Belden brick too, but they won’t bring them in.

[@ralphfrench2924]

Don’t waste your time with the SWB , I laid about 3000 glen Gary this spring, I didn’t care for them, but still nicer than the new SWB. I just laid up a few hundred old used brick the other day, they laid up nice . I used the premixed mortar for a few years but I’ve recently returned to the old school method and it was like coming home again. Keep up the quality work,fun watching your videos.👍🏼

[@ralphfrench2924]

Your standard of quality , breaking joints and tie ins will separate you from the other so called masons out there, most people don’t know a quality job from an average one , but there’s still a few guys like us that will not waver from the principals of the trade .

[@dianefrazier2801]

do you know where i can buy a bucket of bed joints.

[@ralphfrench2924]

@@dianefrazier2801 yes ,a bucket of bed joints can usually be found at Home Depot in the same isle with the left handed screwdrivers and stone stretchers.