Removing a Chimney Breast

1trainer1

I have just purchased an old property that is in need of a lot of renovation and I am going to start doing things slowly as not got a lot of savings and need to get a good job done.

I have got a chimney in the kitchen and am wanting to remove the chimney breast all the way from the floor to the roof through the upstairs bedroom above as chimney breast goes all the way up.

I was wondering what was a good quote to get both chimney breasts removed and also to get a wall knocked through from the kitchen to the pantry as want to extend the kitchen.

Is it cheaper in the long run to get all the building work done at once or is it better to do things step by step as and when needed?

any questions please ask

keyfob

How old os the building and do you share the chimney with next door?

I'd be very careful taking the chimney down in case it is giving stability to the structure. I'd certainly get advice on the matter from an engineer.

1trainer1

keyfob wrote: »

How old os the building and do you share the chimney with next door?

I'd be very careful taking the chimney down in case it is giving stability to the structure. I'd certainly get advice on the matter from an engineer.

Building is over 100 years old,

Chimney is not shared with neighbouring property.

Spoke to a builder about this and he seemed happy that it cna get removed safely

Innys

Is it a detached house?

If not, a structural engineer's opinion, rather than a builder's, is a good idea.

If you don't bother, the wall falls down, it may damage your neighbour's property as well as your own and will be very expensive.

mysk_girl

You will need building regulations permission, and this will probably require advice from a structural engineer. Taking that much of a chimney out can cause problems if not done properly. Is it against a gable end? If so, be wary of your builder saying it can be done with a couple of gallows brackets as these are not always suitable for gable ends.

keyfob

Yes I agree Innys a builder is not a substitute for a structural engineer.

If the structure was affected, it would be your fault and an expensive one at that.

mysk_girl

There's a saying we often use at work (I'm a structural engineer btw) that goes

If you think it is expensive to do it properly the first time, you should see how expensive it is if you DON'T do it properly the first time...

Yes, a structural engineer will cost money - but we are worth it, honestly...