Chimney breast removal.

Crafty_Girl

Can anyone please advise us.....

There used to be a chimney breast running through our kitchen into the bathroom above then into the the attic. The chimney on the roof and chimney breast in the kitchen had been removed by previous owners. We have just found out the chimney breast in the bathroom and attic has not been supported in any way (is this a problem) and hasn't been for certainly at least the last 19 years. Can we just do a DIY job and remove the rest of the chimney breast ourselves as this seems to be the most logical and cheapest answer. We have very little money to call out builders to do it.

Thank you

Southend1

I should think there's a pretty high risk of something very bad happening when you have tonnes of unsupported bricks on the first floor.

Not sure whether it's safe to remove yourself but I would definitely get some advice and get it sorted ASAP.

Stooby2

+1 for Southend's advice. Get a builder in who's experienced in chimney removal. You run the risk of the whole lot collapsing in on you if you try to do it yourself.

Cliecost

BAH!

I've removed loads of chimneys myself!

What tends to happen in that case (and it happened to me once, but thought choice) is that the chimney stack in the top floor is supported by the joists around it or there are some bricks connecting the chimney directly into the wall it is on.

Either way the solutions we had was to use a couple floorboards and some Acrow props on the ceiling directly under the chimney to support it from below, we then removed one brick at a time with a hammer and chisel.

By doing this you are not suddenly changing the weight, so should be as simple to do. Messy but simple.

Cliecost

Also, chances are if it lasted 19 years then it won't be going anywhere soon.

Jonboy_1984

Do you have a neighbours wall or chimney backing onto the wall this is on? If so you will need to investigate a party wall agreement before doing anything (other than emergency make safe).

Crafty_Girl

Jonboy_1984 wrote: »

Do you have a neighbours wall or chimney backing onto the wall this is on? If so you will need to investigate a party wall agreement before doing anything (other than emergency make safe).

The neighbours removed their chimney breasts in the bathroom and attic a few years ago now, never realised there should of been an agreement!!! :shocked:

Cliecost

Crafty_Girl wrote: »

The neighbours removed their chimney breasts in the bathroom and attic a few years ago now, never realised there should of been an agreement!!! :shocked:

You only really need it incase something goes wrong so you have proof they were aware (and if they're kn0b5).

Here you go.

Mankysteve

Crafty_Girl wrote: »

The neighbours removed their chimney breasts in the bathroom and attic a few years ago now, never realised there should of been an agreement!!! :shocked:

In that case the proper way would be to remove the remain chimney and stack and make good the roof. I believe it's a building reg notifiable work having the breast removed, although I could be wrong.

If a future buyer were to have a full structural survey then it may flag up the remaining breast not being supported and loose you the sale.

As others have said though it been that way for 19years, it'll probably be fine.

If you want piece of mind then a structural engineer is the right port of call.

cyclonebri1

Given the breast below is 19 years gone, and given that that's the bit that does the supporting and the remainder hasn't fallen down, then there is no panic.
It does however give you good reason to circumvent the party wall act which is at times just a money spinner for the less reputable factions of the legal fraternity.

By which I mean it isn't going to fall down, but you could carry out the work as essential safety measures and leave the PWA to 1 side.

The brickwork above is in effect "corbelled" into the wall, the wall carrying a large proportion of the weight. The corbelling appears to have been able to resist the shear factor for 19 years so.......

I would simply take it down carefully from the topbrick by brick.
I am just voicing an opinion, it's what I would do and many others. You seem unphased by the brick removal so why not.

It does have to be said though that if you do break into next doors you are totally responsible for your actions, but unless it is a very old house, there should at least be a cavity between the 2;)