want to install 2 bathroom but have to remove chimney stack should i ??

bernlyn

we bought an old house and the bathroom is down stairs and is colour code maroon and is very outdated. we want to put another bathroom[ walk in shower,toilet,wash basin] in upstairs. in order to do this we have to remove the chimney stack completely. the stack seperates my sons room and mine so if i remove the stack and lose a little space in my room we will have enough space.

we still want to keep the d/stairs b/room but up grade it.[keep bath,toilet,hand basin]

question 1: does removing the chimney stack decrease the value of the house

2: wont the 2 b/room increase the value thus canceling the loss from the chimney stack

3: roughly how much will it be for scaffolding

4: do i have to get an arcitech[i think thats how to spell it] in

5: will it be cheaper to get someone in to remove the stack and close the roof up

all the above work will be carried out by myself [well as much as i can]

bernlyn

surely someone has suggestions

cattie

I don't think removing a chimney breast wall & stack is a simple job as you need to ensure there is sufficient support in the loft & you need to have a certificate from the building control department of you local council once the work is carried out. The previous owners of my house had the chimney breast wall removed from the dining room & upstairs bedroom & supplied my solicitor with the paperwork to show it is certified as meeting the rules & regulations.

It won't decrease the value of your house by removing the chimney wall, but if it means you are not going to have a fireplace in your living room then it may not appeal to some buyers when you come to sell. I wouldn't buy a house that didn't have a functional fireplace.

An ensuite bathroom will always appeal, so is a good addition.

bernlyn

Cattie was your complete chimney removed from top to bottom and if so what fireplace system do you have now. as i want to remove everything but still have a fireplace. i have someone coming round next week but he has indicated over the phone that i will need a catalytic fireplace

cattie

bernlyn the comlete chimney was removed from top to bottom. But as this was from the dining room & bedroom above, I am still left with a working fireplace in the living room & the bedroom above that.

I'm not really sure what a catalytic fireplace is, but perhaps it's a fire something like I had in my previous home where you don't need a chimney, only a suitable outside wall. That will be an ideal solution for you. May cost a bit more than a conventional flue fire, but well worth it.

robowen

bernlyn wrote:

Cattie was your complete chimney removed from top to bottom and if so what fireplace system do you have now. as i want to remove everything but still have a fireplace. i have someone coming round next week but he has indicated over the phone that i will need a catalytic fireplace

A fire fitted with a catalytic convertor doesnt need a flue. The convertor makes the gases 'safe' and turns them into co2. The downside of these fires are that you may need to have a permanant air vent in the area where the fire is located. The air vent must be unhindered and go all the way to the outside air. Its not a pretty sight to have an air brick knocked into the wall in the lounge.
I'm not a fan of these fires. They claim to be safe...but I'm not sure.
I have a friend who's had one removed recently and he claims to feel a lot better since the fire had been taken out. He was suspicious about it before and had the manufacturers come and check it. they declaired it safe, but my friend was feeling the same symtoms as carbon monoxide poisoning - drowsy, head aches etc etc. He felt ten times better when the fire went.
I dont like the fact, that if something went wrong with the fire, the gases cant escape safely . At least with a flue, you have half a chance !
rob

bernlyn

what recommendations do you have then besides the catalytic convertor. can i some how then keep the stack/fireplace in the living room and use a flue but hide the flue inside the walls of the new bathroom wall straight up to the roof. i really want to keep the fireplace

robowen

I would seek advice from a structural engineer first. I'm not so sure that removing a complete stack from the upstairs through to the roof is a viable option, especially if the stack is in the middle of the house. You would need to have major structural works to ensure the roof is supported.
If they or building control say you cant do it, we dont need to look at alternatives for the flue.

rob