ok, i'm hoping not to sound really stupid here, but here goes . .
When we bought our house we were told that originally there would have been a chimney running through the kitchen up to the bathroom, however at some point in time it had been taken out from the 2 rooms, but remains in the attic and on the roof. The surveyor said that it should have been reinforced, but it was concealed so he had no way of knowing for sure. But everything looked solid and fine.
My worry is now our next door neighbour is knocking out the same chimney on his side. If ours hypothetically wasn't reinforced could next doors be 'holding it up' and therefore ours might come crashing down? or would it definately have fallen down by now if it hadn't been reinforced? How much does a neighbours chimney have an effect on their neighbours? I understand the chimneys are back to back and that they shouldn't be messed with unless you know what you are doing, but what I don't understand is whether a joined chimney can be undermined by anothers? or if like I say, whether next doors chimney is in effect holding our partial chimney up?
Sorry if I sound a bit daft, but if someone could reply it would really put my mind at rest, or not as the case may be!
x
When we bought our house we were told that originally there would have been a chimney running through the kitchen up to the bathroom, however at some point in time it had been taken out from the 2 rooms, but remains in the attic and on the roof. The surveyor said that it should have been reinforced, but it was concealed so he had no way of knowing for sure. But everything looked solid and fine.
My worry is now our next door neighbour is knocking out the same chimney on his side. If ours hypothetically wasn't reinforced could next doors be 'holding it up' and therefore ours might come crashing down? or would it definately have fallen down by now if it hadn't been reinforced? How much does a neighbours chimney have an effect on their neighbours? I understand the chimneys are back to back and that they shouldn't be messed with unless you know what you are doing, but what I don't understand is whether a joined chimney can be undermined by anothers? or if like I say, whether next doors chimney is in effect holding our partial chimney up?
Sorry if I sound a bit daft, but if someone could reply it would really put my mind at rest, or not as the case may be!
x