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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1381012151 Message started by quintain1 on Oct 5^th, 2013, 11:29pm

Title: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by quintain1 on Oct 5^th, 2013, 11:29pm

I am being asked by a relative to remove a chimney breast from a small mid terrace 3 story house at ground floor level only.

Is this advisable or even possible

I am aware that building regs and party wall procedures will need to be used, it is practical advice at this moment I am looking for.

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by Joiner on Oct 6^th, 2013, 8:42am

Anything's possible if you know what you're doing because you've done something similar in an identical (or at least VERY similar) situation before and have first-hand knowledge of the actual situation you're looking at. But even then I'd advise getting in a SE to advise, if only because this is a mid-terrace house and you need to cover your ass in the event that anything does go wrong and you need to call on someone else's 'duff-advice-insurance', otherwise known as professional indemnity insurance.

It might be your relative's house, but there isn't a family connection with the neighbours. And I doubt that the family relationship with the person wanting the work done will protect you in the event of any future adverse structural "developments".

You really need to provide pictures of the current situation and at the very least a rough sketch of what's there at present and what you intend should be the outcome. Oh, and explain why you aren't taking out the breast from the remaining two storeys and the roof space (and outside stack), given the consequent need to support all that (considerable) weight.

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by quintain1 on Oct 6^th, 2013, 10:18am

Thanks

A pretty full summary of my own concerns, I am leaning (running like hell) towards advising to contract the job out and let poor old bl**dy uncle Rick take a rest.

BUT I am also concerned that a contractor may bodge the job.

The stack serves a typical split chimney breast with one of the breasts (front of house) being left in place with a feature fireplace at ground level.

My early thoughts are to leave the stack with a wall support in the attic and remove everything below down to ground level on the rear breast.

I welcome any thoughts on best way to do the job or links to see how to do it (I will do a google search).

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Oct 6^th, 2013, 6:58pm

Just to let you know that old fashioned "Gallows" brackets at high level are now no longer allowed under building regs, any one who tells you other wise, is not telling you the truth..

most councils now require a steel beam to pick up the front of the breast loadings, followed by concrete lintels and brickwork to pick up the side loadings...

such as...

[gallery]WOLF/1381082394.jpg[/gallery][gallery]WOLF/1381082402.jpg[/gallery]

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by quintain1 on Oct 6^th, 2013, 10:03pm

Steel beam supported on load bearing walls presumably.
Walls being no more than 3m apart??

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by Joiner on Oct 7^th, 2013, 7:40am

Usual spot-on post from Wolfie, which highlights the dangers of relying on a google search alone because following your stated intention I've just gone on, out of curiosity because I wasn't aware of the change in the Regs, and YouTube videos abound showing how to fit the very gallows brackets that are no longer allowed.

The following video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIcuVaVdu10

...was posted on June 22nd this year, 2013.

Title: Re: Remove Chimney Breast from Terraced house
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Oct 7^th, 2013, 9:58am

wrote on Oct 6^th, 2013, 10:03pm:

Steel beam supported on load bearing walls presumably.
Walls being no more than 3m apart??

YES, and the distance is all relevent to the size of the steel being used... the bigger the steel, the greater the span, then timber noggins followed by 2 layers PB or 1 fireline PB