Knocking Chimney Out

[phleb]

is this good idea to widen living room a little?. Can i still have gas fired if i do this? will this create a lot of work? Is gas fire safe without chimney? Are there regulations i have to follow? or can builder come and get on with the job? roughly what should this cost? Thanks

[Gizmonster]

You can still have a gas fire, as not all gas fires require the traditional flue that vents up the chimney.
Some gas fires are flueless and some (like ours) are balanced flues.
Here's a link with a quick explanation of a balanced flue:
http://www.drugasar.co.uk/balanced_flue_system.htm

[BRIGHT SPARK]

T

[BRIGHT SPARK]

To do the job properly you need to take it out completely...through the 1st floor,loft and roof...not a cheap job.Or you could bodge it by supporting the underside of the 1st floor section.
Dont know what happened to the 07:04 post.

[Mosaic]

In addition according to the age and build of your house, you may end up with an unsatisfactorily thin party wall. Not a task to undertake lightly.

[atalanta]

If I had your "problem", I'd try to reinstall the original fireplace. There's nothing so comforting in the depths of winter as a log-fire, and it's really not a lot of trouble to clear it and lay it up.

[The Builder]

You need to go upstairs phleb, to see what the chiney breast is supporting. It's quite usual for the one downstairs to stick out into the room more than a bedroom one.
If so, that can be safely removed. Inspection would decide if the ceiling joists are being carried. If they are, then some trimming would be needed to keep the joists supported. (Trimming is just extra timber put in to carry an unsupported joist.)
You may find that the actual flue is set well back into the wall, so a gas fire is still possible.

It needs inspection first off. It's impossible to advise without seeing it, or at least some pics.

Have a reliable builder look at it for you.

[phleb]

Thank you. And thank you The builder, i wish you were near by to look at it.