Will removing a chimney breast affect the saleability of a house

krishna

Considering removing the entire chimney breast in the house we have just bought. Main reason is space. It's a small 3bed house. Chimney breast runs up the centre of the house. In some ways we like the idea of having the availability of some kind of fire, but from a practical point of view space is more important, and we are also trying to make the house as energy efficient as possible.

Just wondered. Would you be put off or encouraged to buy a house with chimney breast removed?

Doozergirl

I suppose if it were a period property then I might be a bit disappointed but I like my period features.

krishna

I should have said, it is a 1920s built ex council property. Nice little houses, but not much in the way of period features

Libra1975

hmm I'm a BIG fan of fires and really wanted one in the house but we ended up with a house without, I have to say whilst most people would LIKE one I couldn't imagine it being a deal breaker.
Also could you remove the breast but keep the chimney part on the roof, that way someone could always re-install the breast part if needed? (I have NO idea if this is viable or not!)

ameliarate

I am sure you could put in a fire that doesn't need a chimney anyway, certainly electric with a nice surround, but I am sure there are now some gas fires that don't need chimneys. That way you get the space and a focal point.

oldMcDonald

Having moved from a 1950's ex-council house which had a lovely open fire to my 1999 built house with it's square 'boxy' rooms and the lack of a fireplace I miss the open fire so much. When I am back in the house-buying market the third thing on my checklist, after number of bedrooms and size of the garden is is there a hearth and chimney? We would definitely not buy a house where they had been removed.

krishna

Libra1975 wrote: »

Also could you remove the breast but keep the chimney part on the roof, that way someone could always re-install the breast part if needed? (I have NO idea if this is viable or not!)

Possible, but a structural nightmare and will probably make the house even more difficult to sell! I can imagine surveyors viewing it with alarm

mlz1413

I've taken out just the downstairs one in my front room, I kept the sides but knocked the front out so I can use the space, but you can remove it to be flat.

It is supported between ceiling and floor as upstairs chimney breast is still there. Think the supports cost about £400 took out the bricks myself (brill fun!) then OH plastered and made good the walls.

I think whatever you do will only affect the resale price if you do it badly.

Also if you think the room is missing a 'feature' invest in a big picture (painted or print) that gives the room a focus.

SmarterProperty

Yes, removing a fireplace will most definitely affect the saleability of a property. More and more these days buyers have 'tick' boxes and are becoming more demanding. Removing chimney breasts and fireplaces is very 1970's and not at all popular. They give a room character and focus. I wouldn't do it unless it was absolutely essential. It is also a very costly exercise - so in terms of investment in the property, its a bit of a no-goer! It's also one of those jobs that cannot be reinstated very easily so it would be a deal breaker for majority of purchasers.

kitchpoo

We have had ours removed because it was huge! It doubled up with the boiler flue and it was just so in the way. Now we have a lovely open lounge with opportunities for putting furniture where we want rather than putting the tv in front of a door, and have room for an ensuite upstairs which will add value to the property. We are not the only people to have taken this action down our road either, so I would say that it depends on the property and the type of fireplace it is.