The excitement of owning a new home often comes with a desire to immediately put our own stamp on it. This usually means removing certain features or adding new ones, according to our tastes. But be aware of what these removals or additions could mean.
Taking down a chimney stack
If you no longer want your chimney stack, for a more modern look to your roofline, you can remove it. As with the chimney breast, this should only be done by a competent builder or roofer for the safety of the removal and the structural integrity of your roof.
Depending on the individual property, you may have an aerial attached to your chimney stack. You should also be mindful of the flue and what it is connected to, e.g. a wood burner or a boiler. Finally, remember to protect the room where the chimney opens up in the house. It’s unavoidable that debris will go down the chimney as you’re dismantling it.
With the chimney stack removed, you can then safely remove the chimney breast.
Removing a chimney breast
Many homeowners consider chimney breasts to be old fashioned and are keen to take them out. However, the process for removing a chimney breast must be done correctly or you risk catastrophic consequences.
The chimney breast is bearing the weight of the chimney stack above it. If you simply knock down the chimney breast, you risk the stack collapsing into the room and onto your roof externally. This is why removing a chimney breast should only be done by a professional builder with the right structural calculations, knowledge and equipment.
If you don't intend to take down the chimney stack, you must support it with a steel beam, properly installed. Only then can the chimney breast be slowly demolished.
Knocking down internal walls
Open plan living gives your home flexibility and offers more natural light along with a sense of space. So it’s easy to see why many people want to remove internal walls and create this type of interior.
However, before removing any walls you should consult a structural engineer to ensure that the wall is not load bearing. This means it is taking some of the weight of the house above it, including the roof but could also be upper walls, floor joists or a chimney stack. Therefore, removing the wall could weaken the structure and cause a major collapse.
Hiring a qualified builder, who will consult with a structural engineer, will ensure that the job is done properly and safely. You will also need Building Regulation approval in the form of a building notice.
Give yourself the peace of mind of knowing that your nice open plan living room not only adds to the beauty of your home but that it is completely safe
