Gallow brackets - problems

[twissy22]

Have had a set of gallow brackets installed in loft to support chimney stack so can take down the stack on ground and 1st floor. Have a few questions as not sure its been done right. Firstly Do you need a brick on top of the bit that goes into the wall? on one side it has a brick above and other side it doesnt as the brick above was part of the flue and so he removed it when he put concrete lintels in, builder says it doesnt need a brick above.

The builder has used resin to fix thread into the wall but the top threads are into morter rarther than brick and the resin hasnt set on one and its loose and at an angle and can be pulled out, he says the thread and bolts are only to stop the gallow brackets moving and dont support the stack, is that right?

Just a bit concerned as i would have preffered bolts nice and tight and bricks above and below the bit that goes into the wall. He says hes going to take bolts that are loose out and use resin again but one part were the thread is going in is a mess and cant see how it could ever be a good tight fit as it was going in at an angle and looked a mess before he fixed in.

Also i thought he would have made sure bolts were tight before putting lintels in as now they are supporting the chimney its a lot harder to remove the threads and resin them again

Also i asked about drillign new holes so the thread was into the centre of the brick and he said that would weaken the brackets and wasnt possible but iv seem people on the internet say they have drilled new holes to find centre of the brick

Iv had building control out and they said it was fine to use them but they havnt been back out to inspect his work yet

 

[Doggit]

it's definitely a dodgy installation, but maybe not as serious as it could be. Chimneys are built into the wall, so gallows brackets don't support the chimney, they just stop the bricks at the bottom falling down. You can take the brackets down, and drill into them, but not close to the existing holes (as that would weaken them), but if you can't do that, then you'd go down a course of bricks, and then add another course of bricks to the old chimney - so that says yes, the old flue hole should really have been bricked up. The stud holes should go into the brick not the mortar, as that's much weaker than the brick is.

 

[vinn]

A couple of posted photos would really help? Its something that should be looked at.

 

[twissy22]

not much to see really as the gallow bracket with a brick not on top is behind the lintels so cant see it, can take a photo of the loose thread will upload tomorrow once iv been to the house as not living there yet

 

[twissy22]

Doggit what about the brick not being on top of the gallow bracket were it goes into the wall, he says it doesnt matter but seems to me better to have brick above and below were it goes into the wall

 

[Doggit]

It's possible that we're just talking at cross purposes, and not being able to see what you're referring to, makes things a bit trickier. The gallows brackets should be fitted below the chimney, then there should be a steel plate on top of the brackets, then you make sure the bricks in the chimney are built back up, and a few pieces of slate pushed in to male sure everything is tight. There shouldn't be any gaps between the gallows brackets and the chimney, and if there are, and you're not happy, get building control to inspect it.

 

[twissy22]

Yes the gallow brackets are below the chimney and 3 concrete lintels on top and cemented and slated back up to chimney, that parts ok but im just concerned as the metal part that you stick into the wall its like a upside down L shape the bottom and side are into the brick but the top part isnt at one side. Ill try do a drawing and attach it

 

[twissy22]

 

[^woody^]

brackets don't support the chimney

Of course they do, else they could be made out of cardboard and bluetack, instead of thick angle iron and heavy duty bolts.

The bolts should be firm and in brick.

 

[Doggit]

No question about it, they should both be like the left hand drawing. I assume that he's used lintels on top of the brackets, instead of a metal sheet. If so, they would add a lot more weight to the brackets, and that's not sensible. A 3mm metal sheet, also stops things falling down the chimney.