No subject
Tue Oct 27 07:32:57 EDT 2009
Q. When I had a concrete cap put on the top of my large, three-flue
chimney, the contractor took off a band of concrete that went all the way around
the chimney at the top, and did not put up a new one. Now, water runs off
the cap and directly down the four sides of the chimney. I am afraid that
running water will stain the sides of the chimney. Should the border or band
be put back?
JACK OLSON, Framingham
A. The band is mostly decorative, but it also acts as a drip edge to
prevent just what you are concerned about. Have the contractor put up a new
band. Such a band does not have to be very thick (half to a full inch will do),
nor is there an arbitrary rule as to how deep it should be.
In Revolutionary times, the band served one more purpose. It created the
opportunity for a black-and-white chimney. The chimney was painted white and
the band black. This was called a Tory chimney, and it was a secret sign
that Loyalists occupied the house. If the band was proportioned correctly,
the black-and-white chimney had a certain class to it. It was good looking,
and kept those massive chimneys in perspective.
Christopher Kirk
Shrewsbury Historical Commission
Shrewsbury, Mass.
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<DIV>From The Boston Globe, 2001 ( <A href=3D"http://www.boston.com/globe=
/search/realestate/hotton/chimney.htm">http://www.boston.com/globe/search/=
realestate/hotton/chimney.htm</A> )=20
:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Q. When I had a concrete cap put on the top of my large, three-fl=
ue=20
chimney, the contractor took off a band of concrete that went all the way=
around=20
the chimney at the top, and did not put up a new one. Now, water runs off=
the=20
cap and directly down the four sides of the chimney. I am afraid that runn=
ing=20
water will stain the sides of the chimney. Should the border or band be pu=
t=20
back? </EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>JACK OLSON, Framingham</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>A. The band is mostly decorative, but it also acts as a drip edge=
to=20
prevent just what you are concerned about. Have the contractor put up a ne=
w=20
band. Such a band does not have to be very thick (half to a full inch will=
do),=20
nor is there an arbitrary rule as to how deep it should be.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>In Revolutionary times, the band served one more purpose. It crea=
ted=20
the opportunity for a black-and-white chimney. The chimney was painted whi=
te and=20
the band black. This was called a Tory chimney, and it was a secret sign=
that=20
Loyalists occupied the house. If the band was proportioned correctly, the=
=20
black-and-white chimney had a certain class to it. It was good looking, an=
d kept=20
those massive chimneys in perspective.</EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV>Christopher Kirk</DIV>
<DIV>Shrewsbury Historical Commission</DIV>
<DIV>Shrewsbury, Mass.</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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