Warning: Check your brickwork before sweeping in old houses

Went to a job in a 1920s row house in Baltimore yesterday. Started sweeping and half the firebrick lining crumbled into the flue. Almost lost my brush and rods down a collapsed section. Guy told me the last sweep was 15 years ago and nobody ever looked at the mortar. Any of you run into hidden damage like that on older structures?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_faith26d ago

Firebrick's actually softer than regular brick, so it's doing its job.

jana_scott26d ago

Softer than regular brick? I didn't know that was a thing. Does that mean firebrick is more likely to crack under quick temperature changes, or is it just easier to cut and shape? Cause I always figured the whole point was it could handle way more heat without breaking.

carter.laura26d ago

My last batch of homemade cookies ended up harder than firebrick, so I guess they were doing the opposite of their job. Guess I need softer cookies and softer bricks.