Removing chimney breast on the ground floor, upstairs...

[GarethR]

Hi all

Slightly different to your normal chimney breat removal question I think...I have tried various threads but not found exactly what I'm after.

We recently moved into a Victorian terrace flat, we are on the ground floor, and our neighbours are upstairs. In our little kitchen the original chimney breast has been blocked up, (no ventilation grate, seperate issue entirely), however upstairs also being used as a kitchen has had theirs removed. I can only assume it's be done correctly and the stack has been supported as it should be as it's still on the roof. My question is, does this make our job of removing the breast in our kitchen a bit easier as we don't have to worry too much about the stack above, and we really only need to worry about support to the floor? I take it BC and structural engineer still required?

We are the last house in the terrace if that makes any difference? And the wall/chimney is on the outside wall?

Many thanks, love this site!

 

[dann09]

1. BCO would want to examine your flat, your neighbour's flat, the loft area, and the gable exterior!

2. Sometimes chimneys are structural, supporting elements, in a gable wall in particular.
However, if the upper, neighbour's portion has been removed and all is well, then the odds are that you could safely remove your bit.

3. No party wall agreement as such is req'd, but it would be worth your while to pay a builder to give a view - talk to the neighbour and discuss your proposal, and ask if your builder could have access to the loft to examine the support.

 

[GarethR]

Thanks dann09! What I was hoping to hear.

Cheers