Chimney breast removal

android-fan

android-fan

android-fan

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23 Nov 2011
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I've had plans dawn up by a structural engineer for the removal of chimney breasts in our dining room and lounge. The RSJ in the dining room is specified as 4.5m x 254mm x 146mm x 37mm. So it will protruding from the ceiling at least 10 inches and once boxed in will be about a foot.

Overall the ceiling is 2.8m height (room is about 4.5m x 4m), what would be a good option for concealing the RSJ?

1 - box in and add some spotlights - probably the cheapest/easiest option? Any ideas for going beyond just a simple box and making into a feature?
2 - lower the whole ceiling to the same level? Expensive, easier to heat, not as nice as the tall ceiling?

Any hints and tips welcome!
 
Can you not just take the chimney out all the way up through the house and above the roof so you don’t need a massive steel to hold it?

i wouldn’t want to lower the ceiling but it might be the best option if you want to hide it.

personally if I couldn’t remove it all the way up and out I’d just leave it and work with it.
 
Had our attic converted a few years ago, and wouldn't be able to remove the breast in the loft room as it has a shower room directly in front of it

The other thought I had was building a niche and cupboards underneath the beam and hiding it in that.
 
Will the RSJ not sit between the joists, with the top of the RSJ level with the top of the joists. Depending on the depth of the joists there might not be much showing below.
 
android-fan said:
Had our attic converted a few years ago, and wouldn't be able to remove the breast in the loft room as it has a shower room directly in front of it

The other thought I had was building a niche and cupboards underneath the beam and hiding it in that.
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Cost of refurbing the bathroom would be worth it for me, you are compromising the downstairs design for a few k to refurb a bathroom. Short term it is a pain but long term you won’t regret it plus you will get a bigger bathroom!
 
a1ex2001 said:
Cost of refurbing the bathroom would be worth it for me, you are compromising the downstairs design for a few k to refurb a bathroom. Short term it is a pain but long term you won’t regret it plus you will get a bigger bathroom!
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If he's removing the whole stack including chimney it becomes a DIY job... could then use the money saved on patching up the bathroom and roof.

Chimney stack removal is an insanely expensive job. Get a couple props under the loft part and remove ground floor + 1st floor yourself. Then pay someone to do the loft part/roof and save $$$

Don't think OPs prepared for that though.
 
Thanks all

I'd prefer not to have disruption on the 1st floor and loft room tbh.

I'm hoping the builder can get the RSJ as level with ceiling as possible. If it's protruding around 3 inches will lower the whole ceiling to that level, as I was looking to have spots fitted anyway and that would make that easier as well.

The builder I'm looking to use just does the structural elements and leaves you to sort out the finishing yourself. Just waiting on a quote.

https://structuralbuildersinliverpool.co.uk/

Members of the federation of master builders with good reviews.
 
android-fan said:
Thanks all

I'd prefer not to have disruption on the 1st floor and loft room tbh.

I'm hoping the builder can get the RSJ as level with ceiling as possible. If it's protruding around 3 inches will lower the whole ceiling to that level, as I was looking to have spots fitted anyway and that would make that easier as well.

The builder I'm looking to use just does the structural elements and leaves you to sort out the finishing yourself. Just waiting on a quote.

https://structuralbuildersinliverpool.co.uk/

Members of the federation of master builders with good reviews.
Click to expand...
How long do you intend to stay in the house? My concern would be that you spend loads of money now for a less that satisfactory finish downstairs and then in a few years time when the bedroom and bath room above need re-doing you pull the rest of the chimney out and are left with a random beam/lowered ceiling that will always have you thinking I wish we just did this properly!
 
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