When it comes to the demolition of masonry and concrete, there is no substitute for a rotary hammer drill. Think of it as a small jackhammer that can also be used as a drill. Today, I added one to my collection of DeWALT cordless tools. It will come in very handy when the time comes to remove the chimneys from our new home. We are striving to achieve a near passive home, one which requires extremely little energy to heat and cool. Fireplaces and chimneys work against this objective as it is next to impossible to make them airtight when closed and they will always conduct heat to/from the inside from/to the outside. Instead, we will install a fire pit outdoors where we can still enjoy a wood fire without siphoning energy from our home the other 99.9% of the time.