Proudly American
Trace the systems before drawing the roof
List current and former fireplaces, water heaters and heating equipment as far as the owner knows. Give the assessor dated conversion or replacement records. Ask qualified professionals to identify which route each remaining appliance uses and where evidence is missing. The Building America program treats existing combustion venting as part of an HVAC assessment. A disconnected fireplace opening alone is insufficient evidence to abandon the entire chimney.
Define the endpoint
Removing an unstable top course, lowering a masonry stack and removing a whole structure inside the building are different jobs. Ask the person preparing the scope to mark what remains below the roof and what supports it. If structural or combustion-vent questions are unresolved, leave those as explicit prerequisites. A roofer should not be left to decide which unidentified pipe can be covered.
Plan the finished roof and the interior record
If the project is found suitable, identify who designs and restores the roof opening, how remaining material is addressed and which approvals apply. Update instructions at any retained fireplace and keep the final route diagram with the property records. If the former fireplace cannot be used, future owners and guests need to see that clearly even after the roof looks ordinary.