Chimney Breast

sammyjammy

p_mc_2 said:

sammyjammy said:

zoemk12 said:

Its unlikley that there is a support beam in place as it would be difficult to contain that within the thickness of the floor.
how would you know, (Not being funny just curious)? It’s been like this for at least 18 years so wouldn’t it start sagging? 

Did your building survey pick this up when you bought the property?

My partner brought the hse 12 years ago, didn’t have a survey! 

I have a chimney breast in one of my bedrooms that was removed at kitchen level and replaced by metal support I beam, it is pretty obvious as there is a square shape at the top of the ceiling where it is contained, if someone wanted to see it for themselves I could just lift a floor board in the bedroom.

The beam would be likely to be deeper than the floor thickness if its 'supporting' two storeys of chimney. Dependent on span of course and direction of floor joists also (would the beam be carrying the joists, or are the joists parallel to party wall?). 

Not all structural failure start with sagging. The wrong wind conditions, alterations by neighbours, or further alterations in your own home (open plan living etc) can bring about imediate failure.

building surveyor for 30 years ... but tend to stay away from residential if I can help it

Did you quote the wrong post?