Altering Roof Supports B4 Chimney Breast Removal

[EddyJones]

I’ve sought advice and want to make sure it’s done right so I don’t worry when I see it progressing. Sorry it’s so long-winded.
The house next door is council house and they've recently removed the shared chimney stack (everything above the roof) and slated over, so no stack above that needs support.
Two issues with the roof with regards to removing chimney breast brickwork. They seem to have put in an extra beam around 100x120mm (pic1) which goes from the inside wall of breast, across the party wall, and (I assume) to the inside wall of neighbours breast (neighbour house is not occupied at the moment so I can’t ask.)



Also, there's an angled support from the base of the chimney breast (in pics 2&3) that runs to where the major supporting beams of my side of the hip roof meet (think they're called hip-rafters) It also seems to support the far end of the ridge board (pics 4&5).



So I don't have to worry while it's being done, what would the acceptable options be to replace/support these while taking down brickwork? i.e how would you as a pro builder go about it? If possible, I'd like to keep the area, where the breast is now, clear for future plans. For the new beam (pic1), I was thinking a prop-support / strong-boy while working to remove the bricks, and then gallows brackets and steel plate to support the beam that supports the new roof section above the party wall. I know this is probably overkill, but I want to keep as much headroom as possible.
With regards to the hip-rafters, some sort of dual vertical support for the hip-rafters supported by the floor with a base board to span multiple attic joists. The attic joists are the same size as the current angled support in pic1. My only other concern is that the current support beam (pics 2&3) braces against the ends of the hip-rafters. Can you tell me from the picture (pic4) do these need to be braced (as in to prevent them moving forward, or is it purely support from below? I suppose they could easily install an extra beam to brace against the wall, once the breast wall is removed, in addition to a vertical support.
Again, sorry for my long windedness and concern. The chimney was leaking (as you can probably tell from the pics) and has caused mould damage, so I’m more than a little concerned. Due to multiple mental health issues, I need to know and understand what needs to be done from multiple sources, rather than trust one person and hope for the best. Thanks in advance. Ed

 

[Wayners]

Not my area of knowledge.
I thought you needed building regulations approval to remove a chimney so maybe a phone call to local office for advice. Make sure it's all approved

 

[noseall]

I’ve sought advice and want to make sure it’s done right so I don’t worry when I see it progressing. Sorry it’s so long-winded.
The house next door is council house and they've recently removed the shared chimney stack (everything above the roof) and slated over, so no stack above that needs support.
Two issues with the roof with regards to removing chimney breast brickwork. They seem to have put in an extra beam around 100x120mm (pic1) which goes from the inside wall of breast, across the party wall, and (I assume) to the inside wall of neighbours breast (neighbour house is not occupied at the moment so I can’t ask.)

View attachment 388495

Also, there's an angled support from the base of the chimney breast (in pics 2&3) that runs to where the major supporting beams of my side of the hip roof meet (think they're called hip-rafters) It also seems to support the far end of the ridge board (pics 4&5).

View attachment 388494View attachment 388493View attachment 388492View attachment 388491

So I don't have to worry while it's being done, what would the acceptable options be to replace/support these while taking down brickwork? i.e how would you as a pro builder go about it? If possible, I'd like to keep the area, where the breast is now, clear for future plans. For the new beam (pic1), I was thinking a prop-support / strong-boy while working to remove the bricks, and then gallows brackets and steel plate to support the beam that supports the new roof section above the party wall. I know this is probably overkill, but I want to keep as much headroom as possible.
With regards to the hip-rafters, some sort of dual vertical support for the hip-rafters supported by the floor with a base board to span multiple attic joists. The attic joists are the same size as the current angled support in pic1. My only other concern is that the current support beam (pics 2&3) braces against the ends of the hip-rafters. Can you tell me from the picture (pic4) do these need to be braced (as in to prevent them moving forward, or is it purely support from below? I suppose they could easily install an extra beam to brace against the wall, once the breast wall is removed, in addition to a vertical support.
Again, sorry for my long windedness and concern. The chimney was leaking (as you can probably tell from the pics) and has caused mould damage, so I’m more than a little concerned. Due to multiple mental health issues, I need to know and understand what needs to be done from multiple sources, rather than trust one person and hope for the best. Thanks in advance. Ed

The modern way of joining the hip junction is to fix a deep ply or timber gusset to the end commons so that you collect the whole of the hip blade plumb cut, which is almost always deeper than the commons.

A standard ridge board does not need support, although a small repair piece, may need additional fixing points. Can’t see what your neighbour has done or why, sorry.

 

[^woody^]

TBH, I can't make head nor tail of the actual issue.

Shared chimney removal requires a Party Wall Agreement. That would cover all necessary alterations to the neighbouring property. It also requires building regulation approval.

Both of which would have prevented that timber beam being put into the neighbour's roof void, which is now a fire risk.

Damp and mould caused by a leak from a neighbour's part of a chimney is also their responsibility and contrary to certain environmental and property law.

This is something you should be complaining about to the landlord council, and seeking compensation and a remedy

I know this is ironic, but you do need a single experienced person to advise. Not lots of different opinion, some of which may be the same other bits will be different and confusing.

 

[EddyJones]

The modern way of joining the hip junction is to fix a deep ply or timber gusset to the end commons so that you collect the whole of the hip blade plumb cut, which is almost always deeper than the commons.

I think I understand. So a modern hip junction wouldn't need this support beam:

because a gusset would support the entire junction against the end commons, whereas in mine the ridge board only supports the upper half of the hip blade plum cut and the angled support beam (pictured) supports the lower half from bellow, is that right?

I guess I'm asking what a builder would be likely to do to remove the chimney breast and remove the support beam in the picture that it connects to. Could they retro-fit a modern gusset, or would it be supported from below?

Sorry I haven't explained the situation very clearly, and thank you all for your help and advise.
Ed