Remove Chimney Stacks?

zipp

Hi everyone,

We will need to replace our roof this summer
(Huge expense - around 20-30k)

We're wondering if it is worth removing any of our four chimneys.
Not the fireplaces in the rooms - just the chimney stacks on the roof.

Can anyone suggest any economical reasons
a) to keep them
b) to remove them

Also does anyone know if we would need permission to remove chimneys - we live in haringay in London

I am posting on housing forums too but have always found this forum to be amazing for people pointing out ideas and considerations we hadn't thought of.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice
Zipp

phill99

There are no economic reasons to keep them.

Chimney stacks need maintaining (re pointing, re flashing) every few years. If not maintained they become a liability. If you can have them removed, I would encourage you to do so.

southcoastrgi

it depends if you plan on using the fire places again ?

rustyboy21

With you saying Chimney Stack(s) , would I be right in assuming that it is a period property?


If so, you could be devaluing your house by removing them. They don't need maintenance every few years, most stacks don't get looked after for years and years and there is nothing wrong with them. You are taking away the only real, cost effective way of removing the fumes from a fire, which you may need later on, or a potential buyer for your house in the future. Period properties had fireplaces in them fitted as standard. Any new buyer may want to take the house back to it's period state, so you have just added maybe £5-8K on their building costs.


You may find also that you cannot take them down, you may need permission to do so ( listed,conservation area etc)


IMO, I do think you are being a little short sighted in your decision, It wont cost much ( if any) more to tile around them. Just get them re pointed and capped whilst they are up there.

macman

Is this a detached property? Removing stacks is structural, so you'll needed Building Regs approval.

ed110220

An often overlooked disadvantage of disused chimneys is they are very good at doing what they're designed to - letting out warm air and sucking in cold air from below. You really don't want big holes in the top of the house to let warm air out of in winter - unless it's from an open fire below

rustyboy21

A gas cowl, instead of an open pot and something like a chimney balloon will take away over 90% of any warm air loss and still keep your flues operational for future use.


Looking at the OP's other posts, it seems to be that the house in question ( if still the same one) is a Victorian detached made into 2 large flats. Theirs is the bottom floor and the flat above is also private. OP owns the freehold for the entire building, so the roof is a joint venture between 2 parties. If the other owner wants to sell, the lack of flues may make a difference to their ability to sell, also they may want to use the flues at a later date, which will add a hell of a lot onto the price of conversion to use of flue if taken down.


We don't really have the full story here, so cannot give really good advice, until the above is verified.


It would need agreement from the other party, before you change things OP.