Options for fireplace removal

DaftyDuck

chamelious wrote: »

That's very interesting thanks! Don't think we can do that in a terrace though.

Sure, you can. You'll need to take a bit more care, but you can remove chimney breasts in ground & first floor. Make sure you use a good builder, though.

chamelious

glasgowdan wrote: »

I'm with you on fireplaces. Ugly things, no matter how "period" they are! Bunch of snoots going on about how they should remain to preserve originality. Life is current and modern.

Our last house, we ripped out a fireplace and back boiler and bricked it all up. It's so good being able to use the wall for a sofa or kids play area instead.

In our current house we ripped out a fireplace and have the wood stove now. Again, a million times nicer.

Thanks. I can understand people suggesting hanging onto them for future restorations, and in bigger houses with loads of room and when the fireplace actually looks good i can see it. But not in the case of this house where space is at a premium.

silvercar

Mojisola wrote: »

Doesn't it have a flue up the original chimney?

chamelious wrote: »

I don't know. The chimney is still there, as it needs urgent repair in the attic.

I would consider taking the whole lot out in the attic and in the bedroom. Removing the fire and chimney breast makes the room wider. Problem is if you need the flue for the fireplace downstairs.

If the chimney in the attic needs repair, then now is an opportunity to get rid of the lot!

Obviously, you have to work from the top down, so that any wall is supported.

J_B

Sorry, I've been away, so haven't read the thread properly ...

What DD2 did in her house was to start on the roof and take the whole chimney down, thus freeing up more space in the house.

DorsetLad

I like original fireplaces (which your one appears to be), but I agree that a black fireplace can look ugly in a bedroom. Paint it white (or at least imagine it painted white) - would it still be so bad? I can't imagine that you are going to gain much storage space by removing it.

glasgowdan

DorsetLad wrote: »

I like original fireplaces (which your one appears to be), but I agree that a black fireplace can look ugly in a bedroom. Paint it white (or at least imagine it painted white) - would it still be so bad? I can't imagine that you are going to gain much storage space by removing it.

You gain the ability to use the wall for a chair or bed, book case etc which can make a massive difference.

chamelious

glasgowdan wrote: »

You gain the ability to use the wall for a chair or bed, book case etc which can make a massive difference.

This....10 chars

EconomicsGirl

You can take out the whole chimney breast which gives more space but you will need a specialist builder ideally, will need party wall agreement and building regs approval I think. At least we needed that when we readded chimney breast and fireplace in living room as some idiot had taken out in living room but left in rooms on two floors above unsupported. Still meant we got a big discount on it when we bought house as they couldn't sell it to anyone needing a mortgage.

Zoology_Dragon

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Some idiot of a previous owner removed a bedroom fireplace like that in our house.

It has now been reinstated.

Same here. We've gone to a lot of effort to source and reinstate cast iron fireplaces.