Chimney removal

chloeH95

Hi all, 

we are in the process of buying a end terrace house and to make room in the living room we thought about removing the chimney and I was wondering if anyone’s done this or had any advice? 

The chimney is joined to the middle terrace so I assume we need there permission to do this? 

rob7475

you should have a party wall agreement in place with your neighbour if you're removing a chimney breast. You'll also need to inform building control at your local council who will want to inspect the work to make sure it's safe.
Will you be removing it from the room above too? Whatever's left will need supporting by an RSJ or gallows brackets. I think some councils will push for an RSJ rather than brackets these days.
Also, make sure any pots that aren't capped off on the roof have a cowl fitted. When we had one of our chimney breasts removed, we started getting drips after a couple of years from driving rain. This was fixed by fitting a cowl though.

FreeBear

rob7475 said: Whatever's left will need supporting by an RSJ or gallows brackets. I think some councils will push for an RSJ rather than brackets these days.

Most councils will reject gallows brackets now, and fitting an RSJ isn't that much more expensive for most small terrace houses.

chloeH95

rob7475 said:

you should have a party wall agreement in place with your neighbour if you're removing a chimney breast. You'll also need to inform building control at your local council who will want to inspect the work to make sure it's safe.
Will you be removing it from the room above too? Whatever's left will need supporting by an RSJ or gallows brackets. I think some councils will push for an RSJ rather than brackets these days.
Also, make sure any pots that aren't capped off on the roof have a cowl fitted. When we had one of our chimney breasts removed, we started getting drips after a couple of years from driving rain. This was fixed by fitting a cowl though.

Maybe doing the upstairs too... 

macman

You don't need there permission, but you must correctly give notice under the PWA. If you intend to remove the stack above roof height then you really do need to gain their cooperation, as removing half a stack is problematic.

rob7475

chloeH95 said:

rob7475 said:

you should have a party wall agreement in place with your neighbour if you're removing a chimney breast. You'll also need to inform building control at your local council who will want to inspect the work to make sure it's safe.
Will you be removing it from the room above too? Whatever's left will need supporting by an RSJ or gallows brackets. I think some councils will push for an RSJ rather than brackets these days.
Also, make sure any pots that aren't capped off on the roof have a cowl fitted. When we had one of our chimney breasts removed, we started getting drips after a couple of years from driving rain. This was fixed by fitting a cowl though.

Maybe doing the upstairs too... 

That's the best option to be honest. The builder should install and RSJ in your loft space to support what's remaining of the chimney up there. 

Working_Mum

I have recently removed the chimney breast in my dining room and the bedroom above - I used a really good party wall surveyor who sorted everything properly with my new neighbours.
My steels guy sorted the removal and installation of relevant steel work within the ceiling of the dining room and then again in the ceiling above the bedroom - I have two flush ceilings and they look great. The local Council Building Regs guy is happy too!
It hasn't been cheap at all - PWS, steels, Building Regs, plasterer etc but for me it's been totally worth it.
Good luck
  

chloeH95

Working_Mum said:

I have recently removed the chimney breast in my dining room and the bedroom above - I used a really good party wall surveyor who sorted everything properly with my new neighbours.
My steels guy sorted the removal and installation of relevant steel work within the ceiling of the dining room and then again in the ceiling above the bedroom - I have two flush ceilings and they look great. The local Council Building Regs guy is happy too!
It hasn't been cheap at all - PWS, steels, Building Regs, plasterer etc but for me it's been totally worth it.
Good luck
  

Thank you! 

I’ve seen quotes around 2.5K does that sound about right? 

rob7475

It's probably about right. My builders (who I've known since we were kids) did mine about 8 year ago. They removed the chimney from dining room and bedroom above and installed RSJ's where required. As part of the same job, they removed a load bearing wall between kitchen and dining room and installed RSJ. I didn't need a structural engineer as the builders knew what steels would be needed. Including making good and building control sign off, it came in at just under £2.5k.