A step-by-step guide to taking out a chimney breast

Fed up with a big old chimney breast dominating your space then you’ll be thinking of ripping it out. Chimney breast removal is a great way to free-up valuable space and create more functional living areas. However, the role of the chimney is often more than just letting smoke out and the chimney breast might also be playing a more structural role in the whole house.

Don’t be put off though as with the right planning and demolition approach you can soon be relaxing in your new open space. This guide breaks down the steps to safely remove a chimney breast while meeting legal requirements.

Reasons for Removing a Chimney Breast

• Maximise space: It’s surprising how much space a chimney breast takes up and by removing it the room can feel more open, and you’ll have more options in where to put your furniture.
• More modern: Aesthetically you can achieve cleaner lines in a room when you remove a chimney breast which feels more modern and contemporary. Open plan living, especially in kitchen and diners, are very on trend and desirable right now.
• Fixing structural problems: Old, unused chimney breasts are very susceptible to damp and cracking, which won’t happen if removed safely.

Chimney breast load-bearing considerations

There lots of good reasons for chimney removal but many are taking the weight of chimney stack, flue, walls and floors above. If this is the case, you’ll need structural support during the chimney breast removal to comply with building regulations.

If your chimney is load bearing, we can help plan its careful removal without adding any structural risk to your home. A DSA structural engineer will assess the weight distribution and design a support system to maintain the home’s stability, helping you to get the necessary approvals you need.

How to support your home after the removal of a chimney breast

To ensure what the chimney breast was supporting, remains supported after its removal, there are two common methods:

• Gallows brackets: Most suited to smaller loads these inexpensive steel or concrete brackets are bolted to the wall.
• Steel beams (RSJs): For heavier chimney stacks or multi-storey buildings an RSJ is the best solution, more expensive but necessary for large structural support.

We’ll help you to confirm and calculate the best method based on your home’s requirements.

A bit about chimney breast removal regulations and legal requirements

While no one likes to get all legal there are various legal and regulatory requirements regarding chimney stack removal:

• Building Regulations: Speak with your local authority regarding getting approval from Building Control to ensure the project is safe and compliant.
• Party Wall Act 1996: If your chimney is shared with an attached neighbour you must speak with them and may even require a Party Wall Surveyor. Again, we can help with this too.
• Planning Permission: This is usually only required if your property is listed or in a conservation area. Always best to check with your local authority.

Step-by-step guide to removing a chimney breast

• Planning: DSA structural engineers will work with you to create a safe and efficient plan of action for your chimney breast removal, giving you the drawings and calculations you’ll need to secure approval.
• Preparation: Safety first – turn off gas, water, and electricity if in your chimney breast. It’s also a good idea to remove as much furniture as you can, protecting what you can’t with dust sheets as it’s going to get messy!
• Temporary support: You’ll need to set-up temporary supports using acrow props. These hold the structure above while you are removing the chimney breast.
• Demolition: Whilst it’s tempting to give it a big whack and knock it out, it’s best to take it slowly and carefully dismantle the chimney breast from top to bottom. This also gives you time to handle the debris in a tidy, safe way.
• Permanent support: Once the chimney breast is fully removed it’s time to install your permanent support system, gallows brackets or steel beams, whichever your DSA structural engineer has recommended.
• Making good: Repair the walls and floors so you can redecorate and start enjoying your new living space.

Hire the right professionals

The team at DSA are always available to help on your project:

• Structural Engineer: For assessment, planning and drawings.
• Party Wall Surveyor: For cases where your chimney stack is shared with a neighbour.
• Builder: We’re happy to recommend a builder to carry out the demolition and permanent support installation.

Taking out a chimney breast safely

Here’s our final reminder of how to make sure your chimney breast removal is carried out safely and efficiently:

• Structural issues: Any damp or rot may only become apparent during demolition. If found, please ask your DSA structural engineer to look before continuing.
• Mess and dust: Chimney breast removal really is a messy job. With proper preparation you can minimize the disruption and get the job done quicker.
• Party Wall disputes: Communication with your neighbours is key as disagreements can lead to lengthy delays.
• Incorrect support: Failure to install the right level of support could be disastrous for the structural integrity of your house. If you’re not sure, please ask.