Structural Repair

Separating or tilting chimney

Chimneys are heavy, independent structures; they are often the very first element to lean away from the main house when the underlying soil settles.

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What causes chimneys to separate and tilt?

Chimneys exert an immense amount of concentrated, heavy downward weight on a very concentrated area. If the small concrete pad (the footing) poured underneath the chimney fails, sinks, or tilts, the towering structure above multiplies that movement, causing it to tear away from the house.

Root causes 3 most common

If the original builder poured a concrete chimney pad that was too small, too thin, or not deep enough, it cannot handle the heavy weight and will sink into the earth.

Saturated soil from poor gutter drainage washes away the dirt beneath the chimney footing, or shifting clay soils expand and contract, leaving empty voids that cause the footing to tilt.

Most chimneys are built to stand independently of the house framing. Without strong foundation piers anchoring the footing to solid bedrock, the chimney is entirely at the mercy of topsoil movement.