Removing redundant upstairs hearth

[Amysdiy]

We bought a house a few years ago and the chimney breast had been removed upstairs and downstairs. The remainder of the chimney in the loft is supported by a metal support screwed into the wall underneath.

The hearth in the upstairs bedroom has just been left sitting on the joists. We are getting new carpet fitted soon in this room and wondered if it would be better to remove the hearth as it seems a really heavy weight just sitting on the ceiling.

 

[blup]

Its sitting on joists with boards underneath, it's been there for years without a problem. But you can dig it out, just cover the opening with some ply suitably supported underneath to take the weight of humans and furniture.

Blup