Getting rid of a chimney breast??

MascaraMinx

Can anyone advise me how easy (or not) it would be to get rid of a chimney breast from an upstairs bedroom?

The problem is that it is very large and takes up lots of room, making it awkward to place furniture. The fireplace has been removed from the chimney breast in the room below, it now just has a hollowed out space.

I can see that this might involve some costly building work, just wondered if anyone on here would be able to give me an idea? The other option is to get a built in wardrobe around it, just wondered how the two ideas compare cost-wise.

Thanks.

ormus

assuming its no longer used,
the best bet is to remove the whole stack, from top to bottom, inc the chimney.
but that will be major work and expensive. (and filthy dirty).

Plasterer

Very messy job, things to consider cost wise.
Make Good floor where fire half was,
New carpet for whole rooms ground and bedroom
Removal of the stack itself (Labour intensive)
Making good, what youv'e been left with, Plastering Decorating etc.
Skip hire - You will fill at least one skip.
Once uou have removed the stack, you will have to clean as much of the soot as possible of the stack - again labour intensive.
Also, it will ave to be sealed before plastering - As I gauarantee your bedroom will just smell like soot forever.





Weigh up costs against how much you need the space.
Hope this helps
Regards
P

DVardysShadow

You must remove the stack from the chimney down. I have removed several and mostly it is like plasterer says. But the smell of soot goes away reasonably quickly in my experience

Plasterer

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You must remove the stack from the chimney down. I have removed several and mostly it is like plasterer says. But the smell of soot goes away reasonably quickly in my experience

What do you use to seal DV?

Also, Depends where th stack is in the house, there are also loadbearing issues to consider in some cases, If the stack runs through the middle of the house rather than the "exterior walls" get some advice of a structural engineer

MascaraMinx

Hmm... built in wardrobes it is then! Now to find out how much they will cost...

Thanks all.

wallbash

Don't give in so easy .
Yes its a major job , VERY VERY dirty
I would look just to install the RSJ and leave the Chimney above alone.
Has got harder , more regs to consider.

I have had no problems with 'after' smell.

Plasterer

Hi wallbash, Do you seal the stack with anything? in the pictures above, I had to render and plaster this whole house.
(5 bedrooms) I was their a good 6 weeks and I can remember that room smelling "sooty" for the duration I was there. Admitadly I wasnt there when it it was finished ie chippy finished skirts, carpets down etc.

wallbash

The walls were rendered and plastered , but ( as not a professional ) all major works are planned over the summer months ... windows wide open. Also whole job too longer than 6 weeks.

Plasterer

Ahh,rendered prob why no smell - as you casn see this peerticular job was dot dab.
Cheers for that :beer:

Ps I cant see ypour photos - just red crosses?

wallbash

17 foot RSJ installed by amateurs but the Building control officer was impressed
good thing the health and safety Nazis weren't!! around.