We have bought a 70s house on 2.5 floors with a chimney running through it and two masonry open fireplaces (main floor and down in the basement). We want to remove both of them. They are currently not approved for use. Can this be done by ourselves? Anything we should consider? We would also like to remove the chimney as we do not plan to have any stove/open fireplace at all.
Attached are the pictures of them.
Attached are the pictures of them.
Think carefully before removing a chimney. It is likely that it can be repaired without too much work.
Line it or renovate it. Everyone would envy you for having magnificent fireplaces in the house that can keep you warm in crises. Fireplace inserts dramatically increase efficiency, and wood handling makes it a real leisure activity for most. In old houses, the chimney often supports parts of the roof, but that is probably less likely in a 1970s villa. A hearth of your own is worth its weight in gold.
Yes, but there needs to be a wic right where it is on one floor. So it's in the way 😅A Anders_Nilsson said:
Please, I urge you to reconsider. I am a 61-year-old man myself and understand how necessary a toilet is at night, but I would never tear down a real chimney stack. PortaPotti's most expensive models are just over 2 thousand and are really comfortable.S Sanna Mattsson said:
No, WIC is Walk-in closet, i.e. a dressing room. We already have 3 WCs. But since they are ugly and not modern, they have to go; the house will be completely renovated and made modern. Additionally, there is a fire ban on them due to an earlier damage to the chimney, and it would be costly to repair.A Anders_Nilsson said:
This sounds like all the posts where new homeowners ask how to cut down all the trees on the property as quickly as possible.
The same goes for your fireplaces. Removing the ability to heat your house without access to electricity is unwise and very shortsighted. Especially now when there's still a strong concern over Putin. I can personally see several reasons for prolonged power outages. Extortion through sabotage, solar winds that knock out all electronics, ...
If you're going to convert it to a bathroom, I think it would be really cool to have a stove there. Talk about romance in the bathtub in front of the fire 😎. What a pickup line.
Removing an already existing alternative heating in such a large house due to lack of space is simply irresponsible. Moreover, it's a hell of a job with dust and soot everywhere.
Think again. Think right.
The same goes for your fireplaces. Removing the ability to heat your house without access to electricity is unwise and very shortsighted. Especially now when there's still a strong concern over Putin. I can personally see several reasons for prolonged power outages. Extortion through sabotage, solar winds that knock out all electronics, ...
If you're going to convert it to a bathroom, I think it would be really cool to have a stove there. Talk about romance in the bathtub in front of the fire 😎. What a pickup line.
Removing an already existing alternative heating in such a large house due to lack of space is simply irresponsible. Moreover, it's a hell of a job with dust and soot everywhere.
Think again. Think right.
I agree with the choir. A Walk-in-Closet (for the clueless: a dressing room that is now a fashion trend) is far from as useful as a fireplace.
I agree that they are ugly. Making them look nice can cost a bit, but it increases the house's value much more than a dressing room. Getting the chimney working doesn't have to be expensive, ask for the Schädlermethod.
Think about it!
I agree that they are ugly. Making them look nice can cost a bit, but it increases the house's value much more than a dressing room. Getting the chimney working doesn't have to be expensive, ask for the Schädlermethod.
Think about it!
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Build in the stoves as they are and hide them.
Imagine the joy of the next-next generation renovators who tear out your (with the eyes of their time) horrendously ugly and impractical "wic" and find an original stove with accompanying gillestugevägg!! Pure euphoria.
Imagine the joy of the next-next generation renovators who tear out your (with the eyes of their time) horrendously ugly and impractical "wic" and find an original stove with accompanying gillestugevägg!! Pure euphoria.
IF you are going to remove them:
Check if they are load-bearing for the roof beams or rafters.
Check if the chimney flues stand on the part visible in the rooms, or if they are built all the way down and stand on their own support.
If not, just chip away everything that is visible and that you want to get rid of. Heavy machinery like a jackhammer is recommended. All material must be transported out. Best to rent a dumpster out there. It will dust so horribly that it won't help to plastic wrap doors and furniture.
If everything is gone, you need to restore the ceilings, walls, and floors; you can't just splice in new pieces. But you are going to renovate anyway.
If you also want to remove the brick chimney parts above the roof, the hole in the roof needs to be covered and connected to the existing roof.
Check if they are load-bearing for the roof beams or rafters.
Check if the chimney flues stand on the part visible in the rooms, or if they are built all the way down and stand on their own support.
If not, just chip away everything that is visible and that you want to get rid of. Heavy machinery like a jackhammer is recommended. All material must be transported out. Best to rent a dumpster out there. It will dust so horribly that it won't help to plastic wrap doors and furniture.
If everything is gone, you need to restore the ceilings, walls, and floors; you can't just splice in new pieces. But you are going to renovate anyway.
If you also want to remove the brick chimney parts above the roof, the hole in the roof needs to be covered and connected to the existing roof.