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GALLOWS OR BEAM TO SUPPORT CHIMNEY
Using gallows brackets is the cost-effective way of supporting a Chimney Breast removal. Most Borough councils do not like this method as it could cause problems with your adjoining neighbour if he/she would like their chimney removed at a later date. Below describes to Pros and Cons in using Gallows Brackets as opposed to using a Steel Beam method.
GALLOWS BRACKET TO SUPPORT CHIMNEY
WEIGHING UP THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR BUILD
The Pros in using Gallows Brackets:
Most council Building Control departments do not like using Gallows Brackets to support Chimney Breast removal as this method could cause issues at a later date when your adjoining neighbour decides to remove their Chimney. Gallows Brackets are made up of mild steel angle brackets and are cut and welded together to form a bracket, which is fixed underneath the chimney breast being removed. The Gallows Bracket is then drilled and bolted with resin anchors into the Party Wall. The wall at this point is thinner than the rest of the wall due to the brickwork flues. The bracket option would only be suitable if ONE party was to use this method, if the other party would like to follow this Gallows Bracket option then this would be a major concern as the bolts of the fixed bracket would clash with any future drilling on the neighbour's other side also making the wall weaker by having two brackets located on the same spot which is not ideal. Using a Gallows Bracket only on the basis that the adjoining neighbour keeps their chimney intact then this situation would be ok. It's like a first come first serve deal. (one keeps the chimney then the other can use a bracket)
"Gallows Brackets are ok if one property retains their chimney on the party wall" - lbc
Good practice using Gallows Bracket as a supporting method - Enfield
The Cons in using Steel Beams:
It is very important to know the arrangement of next doors chimney status if it has been removed or not? The council have their own policy which plays by extra safe rules. They view this as choosing an option that avoids using the party wall altogether, this is by means of using a Steel Beam spanning alongside the party wall sitting on at one end the external wall and the other end of the beam on the middle spine wall. Choosing the steel beam this option will avoid any future problems. Using Steel Beams as an option can mean both neighbours can remove their own chimneys without knocking on the next person doors to find out what the other neighbour has done. Using steel beams can be more expensive than using a gallows bracket option as a steel beam that spans the length of a room can cost around £200+vat for a 3-meter length. Another point to raise is that a party wall surveyor may need to get on board if any Gallows is fixed onto the party wall which can be very pricey, so avoiding this route would beneficial.
"The Steel Beam method is the more desirable approach avoiding any conflict with the
neighbouring property" - council
Good practice using Steel Beam as a supporting method - Barnet
GALLOWS BRACKET METHOD SAVING MONEY
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I hope you understood this article and find it useful for your proposals we just want you to get the right results and not to make a mistake in doing the build the wrong way around as this could affect the sale to the next purchaser. Regards John. D.
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