Can you reopen a closed chimney?
If the chimney has been capped or blocked off, this will also need opening up before you can use it again. The chimney will need to be swept, too, as there could be some debris up there.
How do I expand my fireplace opening?
Locate the lintel of the fireplace — a bar made of stone that supports the foundation. Proceed to knock down bricks with a hammer to make the opening of the fireplace bigger, leaving the lintel intact. Do not remove more than a few bricks on each side.
Can you move a fireplace opening?
If it is a masonry (stone or brick) fireplace, its impossible to move. If its a gas fireplace, it can be done but you’ll have to take the wall apart, rebuild the exhaust and move the gas piping.
Is it hard to move a fireplace?
It would be easy to move a gas fireplace if you have the skills to do so. A six foot move with a wood-burning fireplace is not likely to happen easily, and would require more serious work to re-vent it.
Can you move a fireplace mantel?
You can change the decorations on the mantel to try to distract from the appearance, but sometimes removing the mantel is the answer. You can remove an old mantel from a brick wall, so you can install a newer, more modern mantel, or leave the area blank.
How much does it cost to move a brick fireplace?
The average cost to move a fireplace is $3,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the height, type of surround, and if it’s a pre-fab wood or gas fireplace, or site-built masonry fireplace. Moving a masonry fireplace requires demolishing the old one, repairing the wall, then installing a new fireplace.
How do you permanently close a fireplace?
How to Permanently Seal Your Fireplace. If you want to seal your fireplace off for good, the easiest way to do so in a hurry is to cut out a foam insulation plug, place it at the bottom of your chimney, and caulk or weatherstrip it in place.
Can I knock down my chimney?
External chimney stack removal can be done from outside the building and, if done carefully, need not disrupt any internal decoration. An internal chimney breast can be removed at ground and/or first floor without having to remove the external stack. On the ground floor, the stack should be taken down to ground level.
Do I need permission to remove chimney?
Short answer: probably not. In order to remove a chimney, you will need building regulations approval. These are a set of standards set out by the government, and all buildings have to comply with them.
Can you remove fireplace without removing chimney?
It is possible to remove the fireplace by itself and leave the stack or chimney flue. The most important aspect of this kind of removal is reinforcement. A lot of supports will need to be installed in order to maintain the structural integrity of your house.
Do you need a structural engineer to remove a chimney breast?
If you discover that the chimney breast you want to remove is real, then you will almost certainly need to contact a structural engineer. Actual chimney breasts form part of the structure of a house – once removed, the addition of support beams may need to be incorporated to support any masonry above.
Can I remove chimney breast myself?
Taking Out a Chimney Breast – Can It Be Done? It is possible to take out a chimney breast, but bear in mind the fact that this is not a quick DIY job you can do yourself. When you take out a chimney breast, you are also removing an important load-bearing wall.
How much does it cost to remove a ground floor chimney breast?
For an average semi-detached house that needs a first floor chimney breast removed, you can expect to pay around £1500 for a professional job. That’s with fitting of gallows brackets in the loft, a concrete hearth to level the floor, new skirting and plastering. It’s a two-man job that can take up to three days.
Can you remove half a chimney stack?
The whole of a shared stack can only be removed if both owners are in agreement – if it is on account of defect the cost will generally be split but if it is being done as part of improvement works to one property the owner benefitting from those works will generally carry the cost.
Can you rebuild half a chimney?
Is it worth removing chimney stack?
In some cases, it’s a more cost-effective option to remove the chimney rather than shelling out a hefty cost to have it continually repaired. Takes up too much space. Removing your chimney can create more space in your property. No plans to use it in the future.