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CHIMNEY BREAST REMOVAL IN ATTIC SPACE
WHEN DOING A LOFT CONVERSION

To get the maximum size out of your disused loft space we can explain to you about the pros and cons of designing your proposed loft conversion either under Permitted Development or going down the planning route to get the shape and style which needed for the internal living space for the new bedroom or ensuite you are looking for. The following article is a guide and can vary from borough to borough as each borough has a slightly different SPD policy so it can be confusing seeing a house with something you like and not get it passed in your particular area.  

THE SECOND MOST ASKED QUESTION OUR CLIENTS CALL IN FOR

"John, We would like our Chimney Breast removed entirely to create more space in our proposed Loft Conversion, the reason for this is so to have a slightly wider bedroom, can you do this for us, please?

Chimney flues are shown with old pre-existing gallows brackets for support

In Some instances, it is necessary to remove the entire chimney breast in order to make a proposed Loft Conversion build feasible for that particular property. In some cases, property owners remove them just to create more internal space. Whichever the reason is there is no doubt that these works will course major disruption. This cannot be avoided, the job will be, dirty, potentially dangerous work for the builders, and costly in terms of disposal of broken bricks/rubble, hiring skips, and labor.

Always preparing for these works before and with good planning, using experienced builders, preparing the site makes the project go smoothly with the least disruption possible.  

We here at Discount Plans have put together an article to explain the process and work involved in order to remove a typical chimney breast that is joined to a common party wall.

TYPICAL CHIMNEY BREAST CROSS SECTION VIEW

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Explanation of the overall structure:

This is a cross section of a typical semi or mid terrace three bedroom house. There are chimney breasts in both rooms on the ground floor and also in both rooms on the first floor. In the loft the two chimney breasts join together to form a single chimney stack which then passes out through the roof. The breasts contain the fireplaces and also the flues (the tunnels which carry the smoke up and out of the chimney pots). The breasts on the lower floor contain just a single flue but the ones on the first floor contain two separate flues, the one for that floor and the one which comes up from below and passes by it. They follow a path like this: