Removing the chimney breasts in a terraced house

Gingernutty

Yep.

I live in a little terraced house between a privately let house and a housing association property.

Two storeys, four side chimney breasts in total, two more at the back of the house.

The chimney breasts are on the housing association side of my house.

I know the structural work that's involved in taking out the chimney breasts is horrific, I also know the Party Wall Act is a legal nightmare.

Has anyone done this? Removed the chimney breasts in a terrace? Dealing with with a housing association?

Was it worth it? How's your blood pressure now?

macman

You'll also need Building Regs approval from your LA for this work.
Why do you want to do it-the space gain is not that great?

wallbash

I know the structural work that's involved in taking out the chimney breasts is horrific,

Yes as you are living there, fairly easy if the house is empty and due major refurbishment.

Has anyone done this? Removed the chimney breasts in a terrace?

Yes and yes

Was it worth it? How's your blood pressure now?

yes , it was a long time ago , I survived.

phoebe1989seb

Is it an older property (ie, a Victorian terrace)? If so I'd be reluctant to remove an original feature such as a chimney breast, but that's just my 2p

We once owned a very nice detached Victorian house that had been built with the chimney breasts on the external side walls......the rooms lacked period charm and had we stayed there we would have built fake chimney breasts in the rooms that didn't have original fireplaces to add some much needed character!

wallbash

macman wrote: »

You'll also need Building Regs approval from your LA for this work.
Why do you want to do it-the space gain is not that great?

In the small back bedroom of a Victorian terrace house, that small gain , maybe only 15 inches , but now providing a new flat wall ( bed) may well be vital.

Gingernutty

macman wrote: »

You'll also need Building Regs approval from your LA for this work.

Thanks

macman wrote: »

Why do you want to do it-the space gain is not that great?

The rooms are tiny, one chimney breast is in an awkward place for a cupboard to open properly and the space gain in the back rooms would be great.

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Is it an older property (ie, a Victorian terrace)? If so I'd be reluctant to remove an original feature such as a chimney breast, but that's just my 2p

We once owned a very nice detached Victorian house that had been built with the chimney breasts on the external side walls......the rooms lacked period charm and had we stayed there we would have built fake chimney breasts in the rooms that didn't have original fireplaces to add some much needed character!

If the original fireplaces were there and worked that would be one thing, but they aren't.

The front downstairs room has a half baked replacement where the rusted back plate is simply ganging masticked on to what remains of the original.

The downstairs back room fireplace is unsafe - I managed to gas myself with carbon monoxide burning paper in the hearth. :eek:

The upstairs fireplaces have been taken out and the walls filled in with vent bricks.

wallbash wrote: »

In the small back bedroom of a Victorian terrace house, that small gain , maybe only 15 inches , but now providing a new flat wall ( bed) may well be vital.

Thanks. You get it.

The back rooms are tiny and the space gained there would be significant.