I don't believe in the option of removing parts of the chimney stack. It supports its own weight as it is currently built. This would lead to significant weakening of the structure and probably also require several times more work. Other types of ventilation can be installed, such as mechanical exhaust or FTX. Installing these requires major intervention in the house with ductwork and other things, and costs from about a few thousand to several tens of thousands. Personally, I assist the natural draft in the chimney stack with fans. These cost about a few hundred each. Time to make a pros and cons list? List the advantages you get with each option and what it costs in labor/time/money and what disadvantages come with it.
Wise. I will check how much demolition and new ventilation cost. On the plus side, we gain a square meter in the middle of the kitchen to place the fridge and freezer. Tempting but not essential...
As several have mentioned. Questionable with a longer perspective, and the resale value of the house (the next owner might appreciate a chimney). And that "extra" square will cost a few hundred thousand...
Think outside the box, are there any other possibilities? Building a bay window connected to the kitchen? Costs the same or less... Also provides an extra 1-2 sqm of kitchen. Or move a wall, for example towards the hall (if your layout looks like that). And then expand with a slightly larger hall. All to avoid tearing down the stove and chimney.
Yes, we really don't take the demolition lightly, it feels daunting, and we are very thoughtful. But the chimney is an issue for the kitchen, and it becomes more relevant now that we are going to renovate the kitchen.
We will probably live here for 30 years, and by then the house will be 100 years old, so perhaps the chimney won't be a dealbreaker (?) and it's the land you get money for.
We don't think it's reasonable to preserve the chimney just for historical/cultural reasons. If it's going to stay, it should be because we start using it. It's not an open fireplace, just a closed-up plastered chimney. We could keep it and install a stove for 30,000-60,000, looked it up a few years ago.
But we'd still have a difficult-to-furnish kitchen... Have demolished and opened the walls that we can just to get better passage to and from and through the kitchen. But there's no place to furnish. That's where the chimney is in the way.
But thanks for the wise insights, I'll take them into consideration.
I have come up with an alternative that would give a little more space in the kitchen.
Could one narrow the chimney breast? Just remove the outer layer? It is actually wider in the kitchen than in the attic, it's built as a false wall around it. If I could remove this part, the chimney breast would become less bulky without losing its function.
But is it possible to remove just the outer layer? Is it a free-standing layer, or does every other stone usually point toward the center, making those stones harder to detach? And is there a risk of damaging the other stones when removing the outer ones?
Well... Those are probably questions that no one can answer. Everything is possible. If we could put people on the moon 50 years ago, then you can slim down the chimney. Time and/or money are usually needed. It is likely that it's not just bricked up like an outer mantle of stones but rather interconnected inwards. Hard to know, knock off the plaster and check, if only the long sides are visible then it might be worth a try. Another question you initially touched on is why the chimney is wider? To have a ledge to support beams on?
From above, up in the attic, you can see a ledge around the entire chimney. But there doesn't seem to be a beam resting on it. I posted some pictures further up in the thread. So maybe they prepared for support of the floor structure when they built the chimney, but then never utilized that possibility.
Thanks for all the input! I might start tapping off some plaster at some end.
Old thread, but in today's fixation with taking down walls and chimney stacks, etc. it is always relevant.
I would never ever take down a chimney stack, it will negatively affect the house.
Even if it is not used.
Chimney stacks should be warm and drive the house's ventilation.
If you don't like that, there are new catalog houses of poor quality for a high price.
I don't understand why one would want to remove a heating option or the possibility for cozy fires. With a chimney, you always have the option to get warmth, light, and cooking possibilities even if the electricity goes out for a week or more. Without electricity, it won't be warm, light, or have food cooked in a normal modern house.
There are those who believe they are involved in building conservation who expose chimneys, log walls, and board roofs, thinking that was the original appearance. The result is a distorted and leaky house where sawdust falls from the ceiling.
We were hesitant, and indeed, no one in the thread pushed us to take it down haha.
We ended up NOT taking down the chimney. We adapted the kitchen instead. It's a compromise that we can certainly live with. Better drawers and cabinets, so we didn't lose any storage capacity. The only downside is that we couldn't fit a side-by-side fridge/freezer. But we have a chest freezer in the basement, so it works despite a growing family.
We installed a fireplace in the chimney, so now the winter season is really pleasant with cozy fires! We've opened up between the kitchen and living room, and it's very stylish with a fireplace in the middle of the floor. (The picture was taken before everything was finished, now there's no furniture or items nearby.)
Also sending a bonus picture, we had a visitor in the chimney this spring, a baby owl.
There are those who believe they are engaged in building conservation, exposing chimneys, log walls, and rough-sawn plank roofs, thinking it was the original appearance. The result is a distorted and drafty house where sawdust falls from the ceiling.
Does sawdust fall when you've been woodworking?
Try gypsum board, dude. Or some other board.
We were doubtful, and there was certainly no one in the thread pushing us to demolish haha.
We ended up NOT demolishing the chimney. We adjusted the kitchen instead. A compromise that is definitely livable. Better drawers and cabinets, so we didn't lose any storage capacity. The only downside is that no side-by-side fridge/freezer fit. But we have a freezer in the basement, so it still works despite the growing family.
We installed a fireplace in the chimney, so now the winter season is really cozy with fires! We've opened up between the kitchen and the living room, and it looks very stylish with a fireplace in the middle of the floor. (The picture was taken before everything was finished, nowadays there are no furniture and items nearby.)
I'm also sending a bonus picture; we had a guest in the chimney this spring, an owl chick.
Thanks again, everyone!
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Lovely to see.
Turned out great!
Houses thrive with chimneys in use.
