Loft Conversions West Wickham| Smiley Building Services

What is a chimney breast?

A chimney breast is the brickwork which encases the chimney as it rises through a property. Usually the chimney breast is inside the property and takes up space within rooms. With semi-detached and terrace properties, chimney breasts are often built ‘back to back’ between individual properties – where this is so, 4 fireplaces in property will appear as 2 rows of 4 chimney pots on the chimney stack which will be shared by adjoining properties.

Chimney Breast removal

The removal of Chimney Breasts by property owners during Loft Conversions, w can open up rooms and provide increased living space, if a fire is no longer required. This can also solve roofing issues resulting in water ingress and damp.

What problems are involved when removing Chimney Breasts ?

The problem with removing a chimney breast, is that it is usually part of the structure of the house and therefore care needs to be taken in its removal. Unless the whole chimney is going to be removed, a suitable support beams will need to be incorporated in its place to avoid any structural damage. Where the chimney breast is on a party wall with a neighbouring property or where the chimney breast of an upper floor is going to be removed while leaving a working fire in the room below, special care will be needed. Once the chimney breast has been removed, the floor where the chimney breast once was will need to be re-instated.

The removal of a Chimney Breast ?

Generally this will involve a structural engineer, who will come up with a plan of work, establishing if any supports that are required and, if so, specifying their sizes and types. The method of work and designs will need to be submitted to the local building control office for approval prior to any work commencing. Where the chimney breast is on a party wall, the Party your neighbour will also need to be involved and approve the work before work commences.

Once the building control office gives approval, all work should be carried out to the exact designs, and the local building control officer will be invited to inspect the work carried out,, who upon satisfactory completion of the work, issue a completion certificate to be kept with the Land Registry documents for the property so that it is available for inspection upon the sale of the property.

The Rules and Regulations to follow

There are 5 main requirements to consider before carrying out the work:

1. Planning Permission - unless the property is Listed or in a Conservation Area, Planning Approval is unlikely to be required, but it’s always worth asking the question.
2. Building Regulations compliance to ensure: Structural strength Fire safety Sound insulation Maintenance of any neighbour’s chimney Damp prevention Ventilation to rooms
3. Party Wall implications under the Party Wall Act - In England and Wales, when removing a chimney breast from a party wall, the written consent of the owners of the neighbouring property must be obtained before work is started (the Party Wall Act – it’s worth taking the advice of a surveyor with experience of this Act).
4. Landlords Licence, if a leasehold property.
5. The safety of any gas appliance that uses a party walls flue in neighbours or own property - consulate a Gas Safe Engineer, and get something in writing.

Useful Links

http://householdquotes.co.uk/chimney-removal-costs/
http://www.richmond.gov.uk/chimney_stack_removal_and_the_building_regulations
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/33/internal_walls/4

TRUSTMARK

Smiley Building Services are endorsed by “Trustmark”, who are the only UK Government Endorsed Quality building Scheme for work carried out around your home.

Several motivations fuel TrustMark's mission, chiefly to assist homeowners with implementing energy-saving upgrades in their dwellings and to bolster the level of confidence they possess while engaging in such undertakings. It is imperative to possess a well-defined vision of your intended home improvements, acquaint yourself with the potential expenses and expected duration of projects. Bear in mind that proficient professionals are typically sought after, hence there could be a necessity to be patient in order to secure the services of the ideal tradesperson for your task.

FMB

Smiley Building Services are a full member of Federation of Master Builders, who vet all members as reputable, and certify them as dependable local tradesmen.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) stands as the most prominent trade association for the UK's construction sector, dedicated to representing the interests of small to midsize construction businesses. Its mission is to serve as the definitive directory of reputable, certified, and dependable local craftspeople.

To be part of the FMB, individual contractors and construction enterprises of small to medium scale in the UK must have a business history of at least one year. The FMB isn't exclusive to SME builders alone; if your activities intersect with the SME builder industry and you uphold the FMB's commitment to excellence and industry standards, you may be eligible for FMB associateship. For further information, consider reviewing the criteria for becoming an Associate member.

The FMB separates itself from similar entities by requiring a membership that's not just handed out; it's awarded based on merit. Applicants are subject to a rigorous screening and an unbiased review of their work to ensure standards are met. This meticulous vetting is integral to providing clients with the assurance that they are engaging with a business that upholds quality and excellence in its services.

What do I need to move my chimney breast