How to Take Down a Chimney From Inside Your Rafters

Build scaffolding, if necessary, to reach the top of the chimney. Because you will be swinging a small sledge and using a chisel, working off the upper rungs of a ladder is not safe. Use a ladder only when you can stand on the bottom one or two rungs and reach the chimney.

Position the sharp edge of the chisel in the mortar joint beneath the uppermost brick and hit the broad end of the chisel with a 2-pound sledgehammer. Drive the chisel horizontally between the bricks until the top brick pops loose.

Drop the loose brick onto the plywood sheet and remove the next brick in the same manner. Work your way downward, one brick at a time.

Carry bricks out when the pile on the plywood reaches about 50 bricks. Don’t wait until more bricks accumulate or too much stress on the attic floor joists will occur.