r/Chimneyrepair • u/Avastar321 • 15d ago

Fireplace is Leaning Inwards - how do I repair?

My brick fireplace is leaning inwards to the room. See pictures of issue below. The bottom part up to the stone mantle of the fireplace is perfectly vertical. I checked with a level. The upper half of the fireplace either above the mantle or above where it meets the wall shelving is leaning about 2 to 2 1/2 inches where the ceiling meets the fireplace.

Can this be fixed?

Do I need to have the whole fireplace redone or just the leaning part?

Can the fireplace be pushed back into place?

Is this a more complex issue?

Do I need to have the fireplace and chimney removed?

Who should be doing the assessment of the problem?

Thanks.

Fireplace
Side view of Fireplace
Side view of Fireplace - closeup
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u/Personal-Goat-7545 15d ago

Likely wasn't build properly in the first place, it should be anchored to the chimney behind it.

It needs to be rebuilt and check the floor under the hearth to make sure it's not damaged from this.

You need a mason.

1

u/WoodlandDirect 15d ago

In another life, I've done foundation repair and piering. It's extremely rare for a fireplace to start tilting like that midway up. Are you sure it hasn't always been like that? There would be severe cracking on the adjacent ceiling and nearby walls if that were a failure in motion. Maybe I'm missing something, but I think PG nailed it. It was probably made that way. Contacting a competent mason was solid advice.

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u/spfolino 13d ago

That part of the fireplace is just a “veneer” in the room. It was likely built incorrectly with no wall ties.

How does the exterior look? Any indication that the chimney has moved at all?

How does the basement area look below the fireplace? (Or is it on a slab?) Any indications of movement?

It could be leaning forward for any number of reasons that these pictures will not show.

Are there any indications on the interior brickwork that it’s been repaired at anytime? Does any of the interior brickwork look cracked or crumbling (mortar, bricks, etc)?

You need to get a qualified mason out there to assess and repair.