Chimney breast removal (or not)

wamadam

Hi.

For reasons of space, I need to put my cooker where a chimney breast currently is in the kitchen.

I can’t remove the chimney breast from both the ground floor and the first floor (and support with gallows brackets in the loft) because it would disrupt a lot of piping on the first floor around the water heater.


With reference to these pictures…

http://db.tt/QeDvla5O

http://db.tt/gWJcDSJ7

1. How simple/expensive is it to just remove the ground floor chimney breast?
2. Or part of the chimney breast (would be happy to remove all of it up to the picture rail)?
3. Or to “dig out” enough of a recess (across and up) to fit an oven into the existing chimney breast?

Many thanks.

wamadam

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

PottersbigE

Hi
Removing a chimney breast is not that simple as putting gallow brackets up, planning permission may be required as you are removing a structual wall, this job is one for a good reputable builder,
RSJ's would need to be used to support the remaing chimney as there is a lot of weight and pressure from the brickwork above

Hope this is of help

Owain_Moneysaver

It would usually be comparatively simple to remove the front of the chimney breast up to near ceiling height and put a lintel across the gap, provided you retain the side walls.

You would need Building Regulations approval from the local council.