Is It Worth Removing a Chimney Breast?

Are you looking to maximise the space you have within your home? Then removing chimney breasts could be a great first step! Although they provide a fabulous focal point for living rooms, unless they do get used, these often large commodities will take up lots of room, the likes of which may be better served to achieve a more expansive environment.  

What Are Chimney Breasts? 

Chimney breasts are quite simply the brickwork which surround the chimney. These are typically found within the inside of buildings, where they’ll adopt a variety of different styles, depending on the general design the room has adopted. They’re often installed both for their decorative qualities, and of course the warm and cosy atmosphere they generate whilst in use. 

Removing Chimney Breasts 

We live in an age where reliance on chimneys for heat has reduced rather quickly. There’s now loads of innovative solutions on the marketplace which far exceed their performance, most notably underfloor heating, which generates a consistent level of heat across rooms without needing to be switched on for anywhere near as long. If you don’t need chimneys for heat, then why bother? They’re only going to prevent you from creating a practical home layout. 

The idea of removing chimney breasts may seem simple, but that’s far from the case, with structural engineers and building regulators often needed to ensure this gets done correctly. The reason being the impact removing these can have on the solidity of your home, especially if you’re dealing with load bearing walls which happen to provide crucial support. 

During the removal, you will need a professional tradesman to develop a temporary supportive measure to keep the chimney stack upright. From there, it’s a simple case of being slow and careful, otherwise this could cause significant damage to the rest of your home. 

Fireplace and chimney breast with alcove in living room

Chimney and Fireplace Removal

If you have an unwanted fireplace taking up space in your room and creating awkward alcoves, consider expert chimney breast removal.

What Are The Different Types of Chimneys? 

There are lots of options on the marketplace, but below are three of the most common. Have a quick read to see if your chimney fits their profile, as this could dictate the manner in which chimney breast removal is conducted. 

Masonry 

These are widely considered to be the most popular option. Masonry chimneys come with a typical appearance which is usually made from bricks, blocks or stone. If you’re looking for an efficient model, then these chimneys will absorb heat which is then radiated into other parts of the home. 

Pre-Fabricated 

For a more modern approach, it’s probably better to look into pre-fabricated models, which are fully assembled in factories before their installation onto your home. With a broad range of materials available, these chimneys can be constructed to blend seamlessly with your existing building. 

Freestanding 

Without the need for modifications over your building’s internal construct, these chimneys are incredibly simple to get into place. The fact they’re freestanding also means removal is equally straightforward. 

We Provide Chimney Breast Removal 

Do you need a professional team to help with chimney breast removal? Then get in contact with us today so we can get started on your project.

Previous
Previous

How To Remove a Load Bearing Wall