Removing a chimney stack

[AGreatUsername]

Has anyone removed a chimney stack or breast? I’m unsure which option will be best. It’s solely our chimney, not shared or part of someone else’s roof.

We do not need or want the breast in the kitchen really. The actual chimney is leaking and news reflashing and probably repointing so I’m wondering if it’s best to remove the lot or just the ground floor breast.

The issue is that on the first floor level there is no breast? There’s a fireplace on a flush wall? I’m not sure how that works or why but the walls are old 18in thick solid ones.

Oops I forgot to ask if anyone could give me cost estimates!

You need to take the advice of a builder who is experienced in doing this and get a structural engineer to do the calculations for adding support for the remaining masonry above. As for quotes, without seeing your house, no one on here can advise you.

We're having this done at the moment and I agree, you need a structural engineer to check it over before you can have a good idea of what it may cost. Our chimney is stack is supporting some roof beams, so is expensive, others may not be structural.

There's almost definitely still a breast on your first floor - it's likely that one side of the chimney is just built out to make it seem flush but they'll be able to remove that too. Unless it's a cupboard for another room backing onto it or something!

We're paying about £8000 including scaffolding to take it down through the attic, first floor, and ground floor and making good the roof/floors/plaster after. There's a lot of work in it, a lot of scaffolding, and a lot of bricks to dispose of!

Remove it all and make sure the floors are not supported on it . just removing the bottom involves steelwork propping up the remaining and structural engineer drawing etc cheaper to remove the lot .

I am in the process of having a big redundant leaking chimney stack removed ( old farmhouse which used to have a fireplace in every room, more or less). Scaffolding, mess, builders , ughhh. Around 6K, which grieves me. Yes to getting surveyor or even an experienced builder who you trust to look at it before you decide. Also there’s something about needing an airbrick to ventilate the shaft .... There are various online DIY forums where ppl discuss this sort of thing, but not a substitute for someone knowledgeable looking at your particular problem IRL. Good luck x