Do you need Neighbours permission to remove chimney breast?
If the chimney breast is attached to a wall between your home and another building you’ll need to serve a Party Wall Notice on your neighbour before work can commence. Any gas, plumbing or electrical appliances and services need to be isolated and changed/removed before you begin.
Does the party wall Act apply to chimney stacks?
Yes. Removing a chimney involves major structural work, and if the chimney stack is shared, this cannot be done without permission being granted from the neighbouring property. Do party wall agreements apply to chimney stacks, too? If the stack resides on a party wall – yes.
Can I remove my half of a shared chimney breast?
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.
Is removing a chimney breast structural?
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.
How much does it cost to remove a chimney breast UK?
The average timescale to remove a chimney is 5 – 8 days.
| Type of removal | Duration | Cost + VAT (Range low – high) |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom floor chimney breast removal | 4 – 5 days | £400 – £600 |
| Removal of both chimney breasts | 5 – 7 days | £800 – £1,000 |
| Removal of chimney stack | 3 – 8 hours | £1,000 – £1,350 |
| Labour costs | Per day | £100 – £150 |
Does removing a chimney breast devalue a house?
Does removing a chimney breast devalue a house? The answer to this question depends on what type of house you have and its method of heating. Depending on the size of the rooms, hearths and chimney breasts, you might gain a small amount of extra space in each room.
Can I remove a shared chimney stack?
The whole of a shared stack can only be removed if both owners are in agreement – if it is on account of defect the cost will generally be split but if it is being done as part of improvement works to one property the owner benefitting from those works will generally carry the cost.
Can you remove a chimney breast in a semi detached house?
Your type of house and chimney design is also a key factor when considering a chimney removal. Whilst it’s not a problem for semi-detached houses since the party wall has strong self-supporting brickwork. Also you can usually remove your ground floor chimney breast without causing too much imbalance.
Is planning permission required to remove a chimney stack?
Generally speaking You normally only need to ask for planning permission for alterations that affect the outside appearance of your home. Therefore if you are planning to remove the chimney from above roof level, you would be required to seek planning consent in order to do this.
How much does it cost to remove a chimney breast?
Removing Chimney Breast Prices
| Job Description | Duration | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Remove chimney stack alone | 4-8 hours | £1200-£1400 |
| Remove ground floor chimney breast | 1.5-2 days | £1500-£1750 |
| Remove first-floor chimney breast | 1.5-2 days | £1750-£2000 |
| Remove chimney breast entirely without the stack | 2-3 days | £2200-£2400 |
Can you knock through a wall with chimney breast?
Chimney breast walls, although sometimes there for cosmetics—are often constructed for structural support. If you want to rip out the wall, you’ll need a professional to give it a once-over, so you won’t cause irreparable damage to the rest of your home.
Can I remove my chimney without planning permission?
What do you need to know about chimney breast removal?
Chimney breast removal involves cutting away those bricks that are bonded into the Party Wall. The action of cutting away the bricks, involves the Party Wall etc Act 1996 and as such means that the building owner will have to serve a Party Wall Notice upon the adjoining owner prior to those works commencing.
Can a chimney be removed from a party wall?
If the chimney breast is adjacent to a neighbour’s extension Party Wall, then you will need to adhere to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. How to Remove a Chimney Breast? You can easily remove an external chimney stack without causing any disruption to the interior.
Is the party wall etc Act 1996 still applicable?
The Party Wall etc Act 1996 is current legislation which may be applicable in some cases, but not all. Even if the Act is not applicable in your situation, extreme care needs to be taken in planning the structural removal of chimney breasts to avoid problems later.
Can a chimney breast be supported on a Gallows Pole?
In some circumstances a system of gallows brackets may be agreeable to the building inspector but you must check with your local building control office first. Supporting the chimney breast on bits of timber nailed to the joists or a scaffold pole slung between two joists (yes, we’ve seen both when doing a building survey!) doesn’t cut it!