[?] Removing lower part of disused chimney.

[Bruce]

Now what was Rule No.1 again?

Don't ever presume. ;-)

[Steve Walker]

Don't worry, they're just rutting - it's spring, you see...

[Graeme]

In message , Bruce writes

The house in which I grew up, built 1954, (the house, not me) had an external chimney exactly as pictured and was for the kitchen solid fuel boiler, as described. The chimney exited the stove in an enamelled pipe which then angled through the wall, and reappeared the other side, in an external brick chimney, with sloping bottom. No other fires joined the chimney at a higher level, and the OP's chimney looks too narrow to accommodate two flues.

Our external chimney had an access panel, for sweeping. The OP's chimney possibly has something similar, under the render? The render looks fairly new? Could there be something under the render at about the level of the pipe on the left disappearing through the wall? Possibly below that, too - about where the pipe is clipped to the wall.

[martop]

Just my two farthings worth,

I would take the suggestions and advice given here and have the work done by a reputable builder for peace of mind. I lived next door to a person who just took the chimney breast down, soon after and during the night the lot came down in his living room and part of my home was wrecked as the wall was the joining one between the two houses :-(

-- Mart

[JimK]

if you had read the posts from the start you'd know the OP has no intention to DIY just wants to know what to expect/what *should* be done by others....

[Andrew Gabriel]

Is it actually a masonary structure? It could just be boxing around a flue pipe, from the pictures.

[JimK]

dimensions seem a bit OTT for straightforward boxing in ? What d'ya reckon it could be....not a s b e s t o s

Cheers JimK

[martop]

If you had read the begging of my reply you would see it begins with 'Just my two farthings worth' it does not begin with ' my expert advice' nor does it begin with 'I run this group so listen to me', a phrase you may consider adding to your replies in future.

As a long suffering victim of cowboy builders and so called diy experts it is common sense to suggest the OP does this work by the book and he will know what by the book means from the answers given to his post.

-- Mart.

[JimK]

I read it - it meant little

this is the bit you missed:-

sorry? - not with your bruised ego on that one

And where did i urge the OP to do it himself ?

Perhaps you should read the threads a bit harder before you start rushing to defend your half baked "helpful comments"

Cheers JimK

[Roger Chapman]

snip

The dimensions are right for a one brick by two brick projection covered with render. You haven't as yet shown us the top of the flue but if it is a conventional chimney stack above the roof it is unlikely to be a box below.

[JimK]

white flag at ready? :>))))

Cheers JimK

[Roger Chapman]

snip

Seems I can't get anything right these days having referred to 'you' rather than 'the OP' in my previous response to Jim.

[Bruce]

Take my advice and put JimK in your kill file, or just ignore him. He's a complete waste of space.

It must be all those years of chain smoking asbestos cigarettes. ;-)

[martop]

I knew there was a reason :-P

[JimK]

watch out you two trolls someone equally stupid may take your "advice" at face value - remember?

Cheers JimK

[David Chapman]

In message , David Chapman writes

FYI, I managed to speak with the Council's Buildings Officer today.

He confirmed that if I have the ENTIRE chimney demolished I don't need any approvals but if only the bottom part is to be removed then I will have to submit a formal application (plus fee of around £230) and satisfy the Council that the remaining part is properly supported.

On that basis, it seems sensible, and probably much less hassle, to have the entire chimney removed. Anyone want some brick-rubble?

Many thanks to all those who contributed sensible suggestions in response to my original posting.

- Dave

[JimK]

hope it all goes well and that the "healthy" non-consensus of opinions doesn't put you off coming back! :>)))

forewarned is forearmed n all that...

Cheers JimK

[Andrew Gabriel]

It was exactly the same when a neighbour wanted to take down a shared chimney - no BR approval required providing it's being taken down from the top to as far as you want it down.