Can you remove a chimney below the roof line?
In order to be able to seal off the roof, you will first need to remove the chimney below the roof line so it is even with or below the roof. Otherwise, you will not be able to lay boards and roofing shingles or tiles to cover the hole since the protruding chimney stack will interfere with this work.
Can you remove an unused chimney?
WARNING: While it is possible to remove a chimney yourself, it isn’t a good idea unless you have home improvement experience, you’re comfortable performing manual labor up on your roof, and you have a helper nearby to assist you and maintain safety as much as possible from the ground.
Should I take my chimney down?
You should only reduce or remove your chimney if you’re absolutely sure it isn’t providing ventilation or being used as a flue by any heat-producing appliance.
Is it safe to remove chimney stack?
Taking down a chimney stack is not your typical do it yourself type of job. It is a potentially dangerous job. If something was to go wrong, it could also cause a lot of damage to the structure of the roof. Any damage to the roofs structure would cost a considerable amount of money to put right.
Do I need a structural engineer to remove a chimney breast?
NB You are always likely to require the services of a Structural Engineer if you intend on removing the chimney and breast. If you don’t get an expert involved, you risk serious structural degradation to your property which might result in the building collapsing which carries the risk of death.
Are chimney breasts load bearing?
When you take out a chimney breast, you are also removing an important load-bearing wall. Because of this, you will need to ensure the structural integrity of your building isn’t put at risk – which means you need expert guidance and approval from your council to be certain the job is done safely.
Can you remove a downstairs chimney breast?
For those looking to remove a chimney breast, it’s important to remember there are regulations to consider during the renovation process, even if yours isn’t in use. An internal chimney breast can be removed at ground and/or first floor without having to remove the external stack.
Do chimneys provide structural support?
The chimney breast is both the most visible and vital portions of a chimney. This brick wall encases the flu and other functional parts, providing extra insulation and major structural support.
Can you remove half a chimney stack?
you can not remove half of a shared chimney stack because the brick work is all tied in together and removeal of your half of the stack will cause it to become unstable.
Do I need building regulations to remove a chimney stack?
But is it as simple as it all sounds? Short answer: probably not. In order to remove a chimney, you will need building regulations approval. These are a set of standards set out by the government, and all buildings have to comply with them.
Do you need permission to take a chimney breast out?
Planning permission is not normally required to remove a chimney stack or a chimney breast from a dwelling as long as it is not a listed building or located within a Conservation Area and any repairs/infilling to the roof is done using materials which match those already used on the property.
Who is responsible for a shared chimney stack?
And the answer is simple: if the chimney is on the party wall, then the party wall act applies. This is usually the case, because at least one side of the flue is usually on the party wall, and, in some cases, the chimney itself can overlap and become shared in the loft spaces of the two properties.
Do I need a party wall agreement to remove a chimney?
Removing a chimney breast is fine if you are taking it out all the way through, right up to the chimney stack, if they have only removed it on one level (say downstairs) then they would have to put steels in to take the weight of the chimney stack above, so then they would need party wall agreement.
What holds up a chimney?
Such replacement work is usually carried out by the building-in of what is known as a gallows bracket, which is essentially two metal angle supports fixed to the brickwork, often with a concrete lintel spanning between them. The lintel holds the roof space chimney breast in position.
