Can I freely knock this chimney breast out?

[Michael Thorpe]

Hi, I've just bought a 1970s detached house and there is a small chimney breast in one of the rooms. There is no fireplace or breast present in the room directly above it.

I had a builder come round and he said it could just be knocked out and it would support itself

Is this the case or will it need a lintel above?

I've been quoted £650 to remove it and plaster the wall. If it doesn't need any support and I can just get rid of it myself, I'd like to do that to save some money.

Photos can be seen here: https://imgur.com/a/A1KmRP4

Thanks

 

[martysmarty]

650 seems reasonable to me, i would hapily pay that for all the black soot thats going to come out. If theres a room above sometimes floor joists are pocketed into them. At least in our house they do. As for support, someone on here will answer that with more knoledge.

 

[tomfe]

I think that will be a fight to get out.

I am sure if you put a joist into a chimney there would be quite a few problems.

Start at the top take the plaster off and have a look at what's going on. It'll be interesting to see where the breast is.

 

[bobasd]

thats a v. cheap price

is ther a c/breast in the loft or a chimney stack on the roof?
1970's house wont have joists restin in the c/breast. theyl be trimmed around it.
ther will be flooring - skirtin - covin an ceilin to make good an wire brush all soot off before renderin back wall.
an rubble to skip.

 

[martysmarty]

Yes i meant more resting, rather than inserting. Should of been more clear!

 

[Michael Thorpe]

Thanks for the input.

The builder who seen it said that it shouldn't need any structural work just breeze block it up after..

 

[Michael Thorpe]

the floorboards run sideways so the floorboard must run front to back?

Chimney breast is on a side wall.