Chimney removal advice please

[William Allen]

Take it out right through the roof, if you leave a section in situ you will need structural calculations and building regs. Just remember you also need to replace the missing ceilings and floors.

[Eleanor Hall]

Mine don’t ask for it if it’s coming out completely, they are only interested in what is supporting the remaining stack, if there is nothing remaining there is nothing to check.

I do know that some LABC may have different rules though.

[William Allen]

still needs building control.

[Neil Andrews]

Start at the top and work down, your be surprised how much rubble it creates.

[Eric Lee]

Hi, congrats on the purchase.

Removing a chimney is more than just knocking bricks out — it’s often a structural element and usually requires proper support and building control approval.

Also, please be aware of possible asbestos, especially in older properties, so it’s important to check before starting any demolition.

I’d recommend getting it assessed first, even if you plan to do some of the labour yourself.

[Neil Andrews]

Gay low bracket from in loft then work your way down definitely not just a case of brick bye brick your have the lot down on your self best to take the hole thing down from roof pain in the arse anyway chimneys r anyway

[Oliver Smith]

Gallows bracket, if you get a SE to design it- building control will accept it, usually as low as possible, this stops it being top heavy.

[Neil Sharma]

These are structural elements of the building – you can’t just remove them. Get advice from a structural engineer or you risk making the building unsafe and invalidating your insurance

[Charles Parker]

If that’s a shared wall with a neighbour you’ll want to arrange a party wall agreement first. Decide if you’re keeping the chimney on the roof or not – it either needs supporting properly (building regs + structural calculations) or removing entirely and the roof made good. Work from the top down because the bottom is supporting everything above it. It’ll leave bare bricks with many snapped in half, you would then replaster. Some bricks will be contaminated with soot/salts so you may get issues with staining showing through or hydroscopic salts attracting condensation causing damp patches or paint bubbling so it may need periodic redecorating. You can apply stuff to somewhat neutralise the salts while it’s exposed.

Looking at the upstairs floorboards the joists are running towards the chimney (right angles to floorboards). That means they’re tied into the chimney. Some may be resting on the downstairs chimneybreast and so need sistering and extending into the wall. Should be possible to lift a few boards to see.

Expect a lot of mess and disruption.

Also consider that removing a chimney removes passive ventilation from the building and therefore can cause a rise in humidity triggering condensation if there isn’t sufficient ventilation elsewhere (although from the kitchen photo it’s probably sealed up anyway – which they shouldn’t be fully, they should always be vented top and bottom somewhere).

[Thomas Phillips]

Building Control FIRST: Apply for building notice. It costs around £800, they approve it almost instantly, and you MUST have the final certificate to sell the house later.

​Support BEFORE you smash: You can do the labor yourself, but you cannot start from the kitchen. Go to the loft/floor above and install Gallows Brackets or a Steel Beam (RSJ) to hold the chimney stack. If you don’t support it first, the roof part will crush you.

​Party Wall Act: If it’s a shared wall, you legally must inform the neighbor. Check the Party Wall Act 1996 – if you damage their side without notice, they will sue you for every penny.

​Do it top-down, support the stack first, and get the paperwork. Then you can safely DIY

[Peter Robinson]

If the chimney breast is not shared take it out completely under permitted development

[Martin Lund]

Get a structural engineer to do the calculations. If you remove the chimney breast you remove all the support for the chimney which can crash down. If it is on a party wall, you need to give your neighbour 2 months notice.

[Peter McMahon]

Go outside and look if you have a chimney. Then in the loft and follow it down. If what you’re looking at in kitchen and bedroom is chimney then do yourself a favour and hire a professional

[Paul Morris]

Structural engineer and Building Control application. Apart from the structural load of the chimney, your joists may be supported by it. It also acts as a passive stack so potential ventilation issues to overcome and if you’re taking out completely – roofing, ridge beam, rafters, etc etc.

[Paul Howson]

As a Structural Engineer my advice is to get a Party Wall Agreement with your neighbour through a Party Wall Surveyor. You will need calculations and details for the chimney support beam (no gallows bracket). Look out for asbestos before demolition, once no asbestos is confirmed. Make a Building Control application on a Building Notice. Normally the loft section and stack above the roof is retained except if the neighbour has completely removed theirs and Planning is in place for complete removal. Don’t cut corners, it tends to be expensive to fix. Good luck

[Patrick Hughes]

Hi there mate hope you’re doing well. The first picture with the unit built into the fireplace. If you make the hole bigger then you don’t have to take it out.

The second one is a quite easy job if it is no structural above it or if it’s supporting the above then you need to ask for an engineer