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Will the chimney collapse if the fireplace is removed?
Hello,
I am considering removing a masonry open fireplace but realized that the chimney might collapse, so if there is someone who understands structural strength and construction techniques, I would appreciate your opinions.
The house is a bit smaller from the mid-70s with an unfinished basement. In the middle of the upper/living floor, there is a masonry fireplace into which I have inserted an insert, making the masonry open fireplace redundant, and I have gotten the idea that it would be nicer and more open if I removed it. The open fireplace is built on the outside of the chimney.
What makes me a bit hesitant is that the chimney does not extend all the way down into the basement. The chimney and open fireplace are rather standing on a concrete slab in the basement ceiling/floor structure. Some part of the concrete slab rests on basement walls made of leca blocks or similar. The technique should be established because I know that the fireplace is built by an experienced fireplace builder/mason.
Could it be that the bottom of the open fireplace constitutes a load-bearing part of the chimney, similar to a pressure plate at the bottom of a bottle jack, so that the support becomes insufficient if the open fireplace is removed? I have not intended to remove the part of the concrete slab on which the open fireplace stands, only what stands on the slab, but perhaps there will still be some form of off-center load that cracks the concrete slab.
As mentioned, I am grateful for opinions from those who consider themselves knowledgeable in the field.
I am considering removing a masonry open fireplace but realized that the chimney might collapse, so if there is someone who understands structural strength and construction techniques, I would appreciate your opinions.
The house is a bit smaller from the mid-70s with an unfinished basement. In the middle of the upper/living floor, there is a masonry fireplace into which I have inserted an insert, making the masonry open fireplace redundant, and I have gotten the idea that it would be nicer and more open if I removed it. The open fireplace is built on the outside of the chimney.
What makes me a bit hesitant is that the chimney does not extend all the way down into the basement. The chimney and open fireplace are rather standing on a concrete slab in the basement ceiling/floor structure. Some part of the concrete slab rests on basement walls made of leca blocks or similar. The technique should be established because I know that the fireplace is built by an experienced fireplace builder/mason.
Could it be that the bottom of the open fireplace constitutes a load-bearing part of the chimney, similar to a pressure plate at the bottom of a bottle jack, so that the support becomes insufficient if the open fireplace is removed? I have not intended to remove the part of the concrete slab on which the open fireplace stands, only what stands on the slab, but perhaps there will still be some form of off-center load that cracks the concrete slab.
As mentioned, I am grateful for opinions from those who consider themselves knowledgeable in the field.
I would also really like to know if there is any truth to the above?
Old topic I know.
But I just removed our fireplace that was next to the chimney (not part of it though), is there any risk that it could be load-bearing? The chimney goes all the way from the basement to the roof. The fireplace was in the den.
Old topic I know.
But I just removed our fireplace that was next to the chimney (not part of it though), is there any risk that it could be load-bearing? The chimney goes all the way from the basement to the roof. The fireplace was in the den.
I never got a response to my thread start, but anyway, I went from thought to action and tore/cut away my open fireplace. It was a few years ago now and so far nothing has collapsed or cracked, so it seems to be quite risk-free as long as the chimney itself is left intact.
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