What happened to our CENTURY-OLD CHIMNEY? / Renovating a 110+ y.o. ABANDONED farm in Belgium 

"It's a little more work than I expected"... O man, we should make a De Hoeve t-shirt with that slogan =)

As a fireman I applaud your decision with the chimney. Chimney fires and clothes dryer exhaust vent fires are leading causes of home fire deaths. You are smart people. 👍👍

Ilya, you are always ready to take on any job even if it's "a little more work than you expected" and to make it the best it can be. So happy to see the Koi looking healthy after the winter. Your garden starting to bloom... What a lovely home you're creating together!

Oh Illia, you a totally amazing. Your work ethic to strive for perfection is second to none, and Marina, of course, behind every great man is a great woman. What a team!

Doesn’t matter the project, it always takes longer than planned. And even longer when it’s done right and not half-assed. Hang in there Ilia!

Illia, you are our hero. Since the raccoons moved out of our chimney, we've not dared use the fireplace, and now that you've pulled birds' nests from your chimney after the contractors said it was clear, I don't think I dare hire a contractor. If you lived a few thousand miles nearer, with time on your hands, I'd hire you.

Your garden looks beautiful, and I am happy that Illia has taken the safe repair on the chimney. Thank you for sharing

I wish I had 50% of this man’s energy

So wise and prudent to take the chimney apart and rebuild it better and correctly, even if you are putting in a liner. The great thing about liners, is that if they wear out, you can just replace them again, especially the flexible versions.

Another season of flowers in your wonderful garden. Your dedication and tenacity are an inspiration❤. You’ve given me so much enjoyment since day one. Thank you.

The best decision in this case, when rebuilding the chimney it is possible a good idea to put the liner in before you close it up with bricks again, make anyway sure that a 150mm liner fits inside. This means you have to rebuild the chimney a bit wider as it is now 1 brick wide inside, so 110-120mm as was the case for me. I had it drilled out to 150mm but you now have the chance to make it wide enough. And don't insulate it from the inside, it is a nice form of heating for your upper floor, mine warms up to around 32°C when the wood stove is burning and I don't need other forms of heating upstairs when it not really freezing outside.

Glad you decided to rebuild the chimney because you"re talking about the safety of your home. Your flowers are beautiful. What a lovely setting.

In America, we call someone like Ilya a perfectionist. My late husband was a perfectionist too. I marvel at how you and Ilya work together to get the job done. One thing about a perfection is; that when they do a job they do it right! ❤❤

The two of you have embraced a huge project and already done SO MUCH hard work. All of us admire your courage and hope to see the complete end of the project and you living comfortably in the historic Farm House. That fat black cat will be so proud of you!😀😁🤩

Spring has sprung, gorgeous. Blessings

I see all the hard work you both have done but it was wonderful to see you take time for a coffee with a little sunshine and lots of flowers

If you rebuild it, maybe you can have a fireplace in that room? Could you install the new insert while you’re there?

Ilia, I knew you would finally decide to rebuild it! You know more about bricks than anybody else! You can do it! It’ll be great!

A perfectly beautiful spot to enjoy your cup of coffee!!❣❣

A man who believes the better safe than sorry adage. Lot of work, good helper, thorough, skilled repairman...peace of mind😊. Those chimney sweeps must've been ill-trained, lazy or intent on scamming you guys. Poor choice, gents. Not asleep at the switch, eh, Ilia! ❤🎉😊 until the next video and beyond, stay safe, warm, healthy and curious💯💪🙏

Before you rebuild the chimney, you could install the flue liner while the chimney is open, then re-brick around the liner.

Doing all this work and having a visual documentation of it will increase the value. So continue with "It's a little more work than I expected". The attention to detail you two have an your quest for perfection is admirable.

As advice it is important that you cover the bricks from rainwater when they lay outside. Better is even to put them inside. The reason is that the bricks get soaked from water this way. After the rain it might freeze and then the bricks weaken because by the expansion the water. Best to keep them inside, otherwise covered.

I have great affection for this couple and the cat

I think it was a good decision to redo chimney. Better safe to do now.. great job both of you x😊

The first time I watched your channel, you were clearing weeds from your front yard. Looks very welcoming now! Have been watching ever since.

Illia nobody could ever accuse you of doing half a job throughout this whole project, and I must say that I thoroughly respect you for the stand you are taking for your family safety by being on the safe side of repointing everything internally before the liner goes in and rebuilding the chimney Personally I like to think that if a job is work doing, it's worth overdoing especially as my own time costs me and my family nothing if it keeps my loved ones safer! As we say in Scotland, all the best big man, you're unstoppable!

What a beautiful place you two have created for yourselves and your family. So much work left to do but it is beginning to show how great and wonderful it is going to be.

As you sat there looking at the chimney, realizing that you would have to rebuild it, I felt frustrated for you. But you simply got up and continued on to deconstruct the blasted thing. Good for you!!

Oooo the flowers look beautiful along the walkway From South Africa 🇿🇦

I’m proud of your accomplishments. The chimney will be a shining star! Your garden is beautiful!

Spring in Belgium is so beautiful, as I recall. I’m jealous of you and your flower meadow!

Beautiful daffodils and fishpond.

I know that brickwork is not the most fun job, but when your farmhouse is made of brick there are going to be many days of brick repair! Good thing 😊you have become so efficient at it! As you said, ‘no more talking, just get going on it’ That is the right attitude. When the chimney is repaired, you need to reward yourself with a garden day👍🏻🌳🧑‍🌾

Good job Ilja to check the construction of the chimney after the builders left.Three!!! times they didn't do the work properly. Indeed you can't trust a craftsman nowadays.

I planted a mix of tulips and daffodils on my front lawn last fall, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them grow and bloom in the spring like yours have. But I still have 4 inches of snow on my yard, lol, so I’ve got to wait a little longer to see them!😊

A setback for sure, but on a positive note you should take the opportunity to install the new chimney liner before you brick up the chimney. Your garden looks beautiful spring must come early where you are.

Perfect place to relax and regroup. Beautiful China great ambiance.❤

Good video. Thanks.

Your garden is beautiful so sorry you have to do so much work we had two chimney fires so we put stainless steel liner in our chimney and the contractor poured some kind of fire proof stuff all around liner that filled in all cracks good luck

Hard work made to look easy, any repair can turn into large Projects! Good Work! Thanks for Video.

Never ones to take the easy way out, always attentive to the enduring details. Fantastic work execution!

That fine porcelain cup and saucer is a nice touch.

The garden will be beautiful, I can't wait to see how it develops in the summer.

So ein schöner Garten. Danke für eure Videos 😊

I love George the cat!

I, for one, am not shocked that Ilia had to check the chimney and redo it himself. It would have driven him crazy if he wasn’t sure it was safe and done properly. Finding issues from previous contractors sealed the deal for him to take it apart.

I'm glad you didn't find "Old man Johnson's wife in the chimney"

Sending encouragement.... great seeing the tulips.... Everything looks fine.... Hope you all enjoyed Italy..... Take care....🙏🙏✅✅🇳🇿🇳🇿

What a daunting task. One trip up those Ladder Steps and id be done. Good Job, as always!

Would it be easier to put the liner while de chimney’s open?

Illya, if I was you I would install the flue liner before bricking up the chimney breast. Regards Jim UK.

Perfect time to put in the new liner since chimney is already open.

Oh my gosh, what a project 😮

Being a carpenter/handyman myself I totally get when you say "It's a little more work than I expected" And if you ever made shirt with that saying on it (small letters) I'd buy it, too!...lol. Marina, I know your pain...ugh....looking for the perfect bricks....you are on patient lady. Bill

You are about a month ahead in regard to outside conditions. Here in Kingston, Ontario, we are expecting an overnight cool of 2 degrees celcius. Lovely to see your spring flowers in bloom. Perfect idea to get the chimney in good order. Peace of mind for the future! 👍🥂

Wow, your pond and garden look amazing 👏 ❤

Wow! You are so ambitious to tackle the chimney restoration. It makes sense to make it the best it can be.

Your tulips 🌷 look beautiful 😍 🤩 👌 ❣️ 😊

Love your channel!

The raised walkway and deck among the flowers are perfect. Cheers from SW Florida.

Spring is so pretty on your farm ❤

I would build new element chimney in room side of the new insulation. That way the fireplace usage will heat up the living places and not the outer walls. I would also install that new chimney straight up so that the draft is the best.

End beautiful! 👩🏻🌻☕

So sorry you had a crappy contractor who did not get the work done correctly and tried to tell you it was. Having to do unanticipated work is no fun but It's good you decided to tear it down so it can be fixed properly and safely.

I dont know much of ovens and smoke pipes, so I do not say anything, but believe you can do very good. I am glad that you manage there. Good luck.

Вітаю) Радий бачити Ваше нове відео) Успіху Вам❤

You are creating such a beautiful home!! All the hard work will be worth it!!

Even though it's loads more work, I think you'll be able to relax, knowing exactly what you have with that chimney once you're done. Great decision to open it up in the first place, and not rely on someone who botched the cleaning process multiple times.👍

Beautiful garden ❤

Wow! The difference of the front of the house!

Since you have removed your inside chimney, I would suggest that you build your new chimney on the outside wall of your building. This is much safer from the fumes and smoke. You can add additional stoves on other floors by using the same a new chimney. You can go cheap by just installing an outside chimney stove pipe. Again, an exterior pipe is so much safer than a inside brick chimney

Love the channel! The first time I saw your chimney I thought "that could become another project". Good work!

No coffee break for Illia ? 😲Not till the chimney is finished 🤣🍻

A deserved break among the spring flowers. There is still lots of snow on the ground here in Alberta and snow in the forecast.

Scraping bricks is hard work. I used to hate doing it. You guys work hard. You will have a beautiful home.

I didn’t see the tops of your chimneys, but here in America, we put a metal top with metal wiring around it (called chimney caps) that keep birds & debris from falling into the chimneys.

I have had pretty good luck with using a cement/concrete drill bit (of appropriate size) to saw away mortar sideways and up and down ,(far easier). If the mortar is crumbling or soft it can go along left or right using the rotating side of the bit like it was going thru butter and is more precise than a vibrating blade, does not leave so much above and below residue to have to clean off. Plus to start all you have to do is drill in at a joint.

I’m actually coming to Belgium and Holland next month. Will get a feel for your beautiful area. Happy spring ❤ 🌷 🌸 💐

Spijtig van de schouw, nog meer werk🙄. Ik ben er van overtuigd, nu de periode er gaat aankomen dat jullie tuin mooi zal groeien en bloeien, jullie de energie zullen blijven houden om zulke tegenslagen te overwinnen. 👍👌

The images in the video are so sharp. Old world charm : a cup and saucer❤️👍👍🇨🇦🇺🇦

As much as this has created more work, I think you made the right decision to open up the chimney. You now have achieved a few positives; identified issues you can fix, made the installation of a chimney liner (Flue) easier, dare I say a DIY job now. Can I offer a couple of suggestions that may be worth considering: Line the chimney with a smooth walled liner (helps reduce carbon/soot build up), makes sweeping if needed easier. When you have installed the liner and completed your inner chimney repairs, rebuild the wall but leave a couple of bricks missing at the top, create a sealed base around the liner at the bottom of the chimney, then fill around the liner with "Vermiculite" granules from the top gaps. The granules are Fireproof, moisture proof, vermin proof, offer excellent insulation and will fill in all the voids within the chimney. There is only one downside, if ever you need to removed the lower sealed base or bricks from the chimney you will be greeted with a waterfall of granules. Done this on a wood burner and a boiler chimney myself, brilliant results.

Spring has arrived!

❤😊if you do it yourself at least you know it’s done right 😊

With brick works you know when you begin and not when you will finish ! Be patient as you already both are. 🙂

Where is the beer? @24:58

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you all guys, good work 👍😁

For the chimney you can put there a new steel pipe inside completely with isolation.

Vous avez fait un très joli jardin et Le bassin Avec les poissons Est très agréable aussi A regarder j'espère que les 2 petits Chat Von Pas a la pèche😅

What that has been seen can not be unseen. Now is the time to do it right. You can do this!

Illia so very sorry about you chimney. I know that was not part of your plan. Will you be able to insert the liner before you re- brick the inside wall? I sure hope so. You will be able to see the curve and make sure it is done correctly. No house fire or leaking smoky chimney. Flowers and fruit trees in the garden are beautiful. Thanks Marina Please take a little break at Easter to be with family and friends. Have a Blessed Easter.

You need to make a clean out when you redo the entire chimney that has a clean out at the bottom of the chimney .

Your hard work & skill set is so admirable. Keep up the good work because you are building a treasure.

Oh well take care when rebuilding, it should be ok on the upper parts of the chimney but lower down do a sander mix which is what I was shown 40 years ago. Where there is direct fire refractory cement is required. Good luck with it. PS I have put lines in all of my houses.

Stainless steel liner is the best way to go ! 🤔👍🍺

Is there an easier way to get bricks up a little faster? Perhaps a pully system or fill a backpack with 6 bricks at a time and be able to walk up like that? I love the tulips, daffodils, and bluebells already blooming! Ours in northeast Ohio, USA, tulips are starting to come up but not in bloom everywhere yet. The daffodils are blooming and I see some of the hyacinth starting as well.

Spring is there! Your Garden is wonderful! I understand that you need to rebuild the chimney but this is really hard: so much work, but the result is not that obvious!

Illia great job on taking down the brick fireplace and Mariana great job on cleaning up the new bricks to replace then great video thank you.

Très belle image de fin magnifique ....😊

Oh dear, I was expecting you to set out the table and chairs in the meadow to test-drink more beers but you brought me coffee. It spoilt my whole day. But a great video nevertheless.