Fireplaces are a statement feature in many homes, providing people with a stunning piece of internal decor which can offer a lovely roaring fire during the winter months.

However, while fireplaces can be desirable, there may be times when people want to remove them as they take up living space. In these instances, people may also consider removing a chimney breast. 

Removing a chimney breast can be complex and is usually an extremely messy job, and you must always seek professional support if you’re considering removing one in your home.  

In this article, we’ll explain how to remove a chimney breast and everything you need to know about doing so. 

Read on to find out more…

What is a chimney breast?

A chimney breast is part of your property’s chimney that projects forward from an internal wall in order to accommodate a fireplace. Usually, a chimney breast will be particularly obvious on the ground floor of a structure but they may also spread vertically throughout the entire property. 

The purpose of a chimney breast is to carry smoke out of the building through the chimney stack. However, even if the fireplace itself has been removed, the chimney breast will not necessarily follow. This means that people may have to remove them independently of the fireplace. 

In fact, there are several reasons why people may choose to remove a chimney breast. 

This includes:

• They are no longer required: Fireplaces and chimney breasts are particularly prevalent in period properties where they were historically used to heat homes during the winter months. However, in the modern age and thanks to the invention of central heating they are no longer required.
• To maximise space: Due to the fact that fireplaces are now no longer necessary in domestic properties, people will often opt to remove them to save space in a room. The same can be said for the removal of a chimney breast. Chimney breasts will always pop out into the room’s floor space and so removing them will help make a room bigger. 
• Enhance aesthetics: While many people like the traditional look that chimney breasts can provide, they often want to remove them for aesthetic reasons. This is because they can be large, bulky and unsightly in some cases, and removing a chimney breast can help to create a more modern and contemporary look.   
• Interior design: In addition to giving the aesthetics of your home a boost, the removal of a chimney breast can provide a property with a blank canvas for interior design ideas. This provides the space with greater flexibility when decorating or embarking on DIY projects. 
• Increased property value: In some parts of the country, the more square feet you have the greater the property will be valued. With this in mind, the absence of a chimney breast can help add more value to your property which is advantageous if you are planning on selling at any point in the future. 

How to remove a chimney breast 

Removing a chimney breast is an extremely difficult and messy job, creating a whole lot of dust and debris. 

As well as this, chimney breasts are often loadbearing and so removing them must be done in a specific manner to prevent the structural integrity of the property from being compromised.  

There are different considerations depending on how much of the chimney breast you will be removing. 

Removing a full chimney breast

A chimney breast often runs through the entire property, and you might want to remove it completely.

If this is the case, you should be aware that most chimney breasts come in three different sections. This is the ground floor, first floor and the actual chimney stack itself (although some people sometimes leave these for aesthetic reasons).

If you want to remove the entire chimney breast then you will almost certainly be impacting load-bearing elements and you must call upon the services of an architect or structural engineer. 

Removing a chimney breast downstairs

In many cases, chimney breasts will be removed just on the ground floor. Usually, this is in living rooms and people may want to solely remove it for functional or aesthetic reasons. 

These jobs are much easier but you will still need to ensure that no load-bearing elements are being removed without the proper mitigations. 

No matter what kind of chimney breast removal you are planning, there are certain steps you need to take.

This includes:

• Hire a structural engineer: Before you do any work you must hire a structural engineer who can assess your project and inform you if any load-bearing elements will be affected and if structural supports are needed. If you are keeping your chimney stack but removing the breast, it will need to be properly supported and an engineer can confirm this. 

• Seek the necessary permissions: While planning permission is typically not required, you might need listed building consent or a Landlord’s Licence to do the work.

• Inform building control: Removing a chimney breast will likely require Building Regulation approval. Once your structural engineer has confirmed the plans you can submit these applications to your local authority. It is unlikely there will be any problems but it may take a few weeks to get the green light. 

• Hire a builder and remove the breast: Unless you are a professional builder, you should always hire one to remove the chimney breast. They will follow the plans outlined by your structural engineer which may include the requirement of installing rolled steel joists or other supportive measures to support brickwork. 

How much does it cost to remove a chimney breast?

Like with any renovation project, budget is bound to be a consideration. 

Every project is different, and the factors that determine the overall cost of a chimney breast removal include:

• Professional fees
• The cost of structural work
• Waste removal costs
• Redecorating costs
• The costs of inspections 

While the cost will vary from project to project, on average you can expect to pay between £1,750-£5,000 for a chimney breast removal. 

As mentioned in this article, you must always consult a professional structural engineer if you are planning to remove a chimney breast. At IKT Consulting, we’ve provided leading structural engineering services for homeowners, landlords, developers and more across Nottingham and beyond. For more information, contact our expert team today.