If yous have a chimney breast in your home, you might have eyed it upwardly wondering whether you would benefit from having information technology removed.

Whether you have an unused open up fireplace, or just wish you could have something more sleek and modern, taking out a chimney breast is a big job that needs serious consideration – but it tin can likewise come with some big improvements.

So, if you are wondering how to remove a chimney breast, and want to know whether information technology'southward a good idea for your room, read our guide to observe out everything you need to know…

What is Your Chimney Breast For?

The chimney chest is the part of the chimney that protrudes outwards into the interior of your home. They are generally present in older properties with 'course 1' traditional brick chimneys.

Back when the fireplace was the main source of heating in our homes, this was a key component in distributing heat throughout the building. However today, with the possibilities of central heating, electric heating, more compact form 2 chimneys and balanced flues, some people view large chimney breasts equally more than cumbersome than helpful.

Related: What Kind of Chimney Do I Take For My Burn?

Why Would You Want to Remove a Chimney Chest?

Some people love the character that an old fireplace and it's chimney breast brings to their home – and would probably weep at the thought of removing it!

However, for others, a chimney breast is seen as something that is just taking up precious space in their rooms. Some chimney breasts jut out significantly, taking upward floor space that could at present exist put to amend use.

Open fireplaces are besides the virtually inefficient way to burn solid fuel at domicile, too. So, some people might want to remove their chimney breast to make way for a more eco-friendly fire that is more constructive at heating their room.

Taking Out a Chimney Breast – Can It Be Done?

It is possible to accept out a chimney breast, only bear in mind the fact that this is not a quick DIY task you lot tin practice yourself.

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 hazard – which means you need good guidance and approval from your council to exist certain the job is done safely.

This tin exist a timely and work intensive process. Information technology's not a job that can be done in a day, plus y'all may observe yourself living in a building site for a calendar week! Exist sure that y'all weigh upwardly how much you actually want that chimney breast gone when you enquiry how much work it will involve.

How to Remove a Chimney Breast – Regulations and Considerations…

It'south non just the building labour itself that makes up the work involved with removing a fireplace chimney breast. There is a lot of planning, approvals and checks that need to be done too.

Over the course of removing your chimney breast, you lot will need to take the post-obit steps:

  • To bank check planning permissions
  • Go building regulation approval
  • Set out a party wall agreement if y'all have adjoined neighbours
  • Inquire a structural engineer to advise on how best to support the chimney stack
  • Put a new edifice support structure put in place

Planning permissions – practice you demand them to remove your chimney?

For some homes, chimney breast removal might demand planning permission granted offset – but, this is only if the piece of work will change the outer appearance of the building. If for example yous live in a listed building, at that place may exist restrictions on yous altering the chimney stack. For most homes this probably won't exist an consequence, but it is e'er best to cheque before you offset with the rest of the legwork.

Practise you need to obey any edifice regulations for chimney breast removal?

As chimney chest removal alters the construction of the building, there are a number of of import building regulations you lot will demand to attach to, covering:

  • Structural strength
  • Fire and electrical safety
  • Sound insulation
  • Ventilation and clammy prevention
  • Maintenance of a neighbouring chimney
  • Plumbing piece of work

With all of this in mind, it's articulate that you need someone who is up to the job! The regime's Competent Persons Register is a good identify to start, every bit those registered are certified to approve the work they do themselves. Otherwise, you lot will demand to ask your local council to corroborate the work afterwards information technology has been completed.

How about a Party Wall Understanding?

This step merely applies if your property is adjoined to a neighbouring holding. Chimney removal is covered by party wall regulations, which means you must inform and concur with your neighbours on whatsoever work being done on a shared boundary.

It is vital that you treat your neighbours adjoined chimney with intendance. If it is left damaged, it could result in carbon monoxide leaks. Removal of brickwork could also event in compromised sound insulation, and so patching it back upwards properly is of import to go on the peace – in many ways!

What will the structural engineer exercise?

Equally we have already mentioned, knocking out a chimney breast is a job for experts only. Before you outset work on removing your chimney breast, you will likely have to submit your plans for approval by your local building control authority. Hither, you volition need the help of a structural engineer to determine how the chimney chest should be removed in the safest way possible.

How will the new chimney back up structure be put in place?

Once all the planning work has been signed off, work can begin on removing the chimney breast.

The steps followed here volition depend on your particular property, how much of the chimney y'all are removing and the findings of your structural engineer. In that location are two main ways this could exist done, which are:

  • Gallows brackets
  • Rolled steel joist axle (RSJ)

Which one is used for your chimney removal will depend on a number of factors, such every bit how thick your walls are, the size of your chimney breast and the condition of your brickwork. While gallows brackets have been used for many years, many builders and structural engineers now adopt to use RSJ beams.

If any function of the chimney is left intact, it will need to have acceptable ventilation fitted to ensure you don't subsequently meet damp problems.

How Much Does information technology Cost to Remove a Chimney Breast?

Equally you could probably gauge from how much work is needed, removing a chimney breast isn't a low cost projection. Of class, the full cost of chimney removal will depend on the complexity of the job and how much of the chimney you desire to remove. For example, if you wanted to remove the basis floor chimney breast merely, this could toll about £1,500 every bit a minimum. If you wanted to remove the chimney in its entirety, it could price upwards to £4,000.

Remember, you will besides have to factor in the costs involved with making your edifice command awarding and any political party wall agreements, which could add up to £i,000 of fees onto the final amount.

Can You Still Have a Burn down Without a Chimney Chest?

If you take removed your chimney breast in order to save space, that doesn't hateful that you lot now accept to be without a fire in your room.

There are a number of new options available to you one time your chimney chest is gone, such every bit…

Balanced flue gas fires

Flavel Orchestra Balanced Flue Gas Fire

Pictured: Flavel Orchestra Balanced Flue Gas Fire

One time you have removed your chimney chest, y'all can still have a gas fire if yous install a balanced flue gas burn. These don't require a chimney and tin can exist fit to any external wall. Balanced flue gas fires are also highly efficient and look great, while all the same making the most of the extra infinite yous have created.

Read more: What is a Balanced Flue Gas Fire?

Flueless Gas Fires

Pictured: Ekofires 5510 Flueless Gas Fire

For even less fuss, take a look at flueless gas fires. These don't crave whatsoever flue whatsoever, just an air vent fitted into your room.

Read more: Guide to Flueless Gas Fires

Electrical Fires

Be Modern Marden Electric Fireplace Suite

Pictured: Be Modern Marden Electrical Fireplace Suite

If yous want the most convenient fire at present that you have removed your chimney breast, how near an electric fire? Again, no flue is required, and you don't need whatsoever additional ventilation either. There are some stunning realistic models of electric fires bachelor at present, plus, they can be upwards and running in a matter of hours.

In the picture to a higher place, we also dear how paint has been used to create the illusion of a chimney breast.

Read more: 8 Advantages of Buying an Electric Fire

Wall Mounted Fires

Dimplex SP16 Electric Wall Fire

Pictured: Dimplex SP16 Electric Wall Burn

Y'all tin can really brand the most of all that extra space your chimney breast was taking upwards with a wall mounted fire. These can either exist hung on the wall or fit in a recess to sit affluent against the wall, so you can keep your room equally open every bit possible.

Read more: Guide to Wall Mounted Fires

Looking for a new fire to supplant your chimney breast? Shop all of our fires, available with free delivery now.

More from the Direct Fireplaces blog…

Can You Put a Goggle box Over a Fireplace? | Practice You Need a Chimney to Have a Fireplace? | How to Accept a Gas Burn Without a Chimney or Flue