Homr836
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 12:21 PM |
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Knocking out a wall + reinforced ceiling
Hi,
Just looking for bit of advice.
I'm having a new kitchen fitted and there's a cubby hole that needs to be knocked down for the space. It looks like the cubby hole housed
an old warm air heating system that has since been replaced with a combi boiler and cylinder (now upstairs).
The ceiling is 7" thick reinforced concrete that supports a 2 sq ft chimney stack which runs up through the loft. I know the cubby hole is
supporting the ceiling which is in turn holding up the chimney stack but would the chimney stack be supporting the roof bearing in mind it sits in
between 2 roof joists? I've chipped away the rendering in the loft and its just breeze block with 2 courses of house bricks on top, then the
roof lining.
I don't mind taking out the stack brick by brick down to the reinforced bit, but am I looking at a specialist job due to structural integrity or
can I start beavering away?
Opinions/advice/chastisement please
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twybrow
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 12:29 PM |
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I would ask a structural engineer to take a look - in my opinion, it is not worth the risk (and you will be in breach of building regulations).
It cost me less than £200 for full calculations to be made when I wanted to remove a structural load bearing wall in my house - your task sounds
simpler, so I would expect it to cost you less than £150 to know for certain - personally I think that is money well spent! If you start beavering
away, and your chimney collapses, then your insurance company will not cover the cost as you are negligent.
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nick205
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 12:42 PM |
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I really do think the name of this site is misleading people  
However, as above, get it checked before starting to dismantle anything like that!
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Litemoth
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 12:43 PM |
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Is the concrete bit 'let in' to the wall? - is the chimney tied to a wall or is it free standing
[Edited on 25/7/13 by Litemoth]
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Homr836
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:12 PM |
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Not sure if the concrete floor is let in or not but the chimney is free standing.
I did have a builder round but he just waffled on about jack hammering the concrete out and joist hangers for the replacement floor afterwards. He
didnt check in the loft to see what was up there so I never got him to come back.
Thanks for the replies
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loggyboy
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:18 PM |
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Just to reiterate what Nick said. This a site about kit cars, not cheap builders! Try DIYnot or as mentioned, a professional (struct
engineer/chartered surveyor)
Mistral Motorsport
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Litemoth
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Just to reiterate what Nick said. This a site about kit cars, not cheap builders! Try DIYnot or as mentioned, a professional (struct
engineer/chartered surveyor)
Yea, like we're all expert automotive engineers and can't bear discussing non-car stuff?
You can't be serious.
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loggyboy
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Litemoth
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Just to reiterate what Nick said. This a site about kit cars, not cheap builders! Try DIYnot or as mentioned, a professional (struct
engineer/chartered surveyor)
Yea, like we're all expert automotive engineers and can't bear discussing non-car stuff?
You can't be serious.
You may note that this is his first posts, and registed today, therefore he has specfically joined to ask this question. Its not just a regular member
who is asking an offtopic question!
Mistral Motorsport
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Litemoth
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:53 PM |
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If the chimney was just built on a concrete bridge between two rafters and isn't tied in to any walls and the chimney isn't supporting the
roof then I think you could take it down relatively inexpensively - from the top down, brick by brick.
I would though, get a reputable roofer to look at it and at least advise you as they often take chimneys out and repair the hole left behind if
it's still goes through your roof.. The hole left behind can mean rafter repair and stripping the roof down to the guttering and putting it back
on again if it's slated (much easier repair to do with tile of course). Roof light potential?
The other thing is ...it can go over like one of Fed Dibnah's chimneys if you just go hacking at it so lots of common sense needed.
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Litemoth
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 01:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by Litemoth
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Just to reiterate what Nick said. This a site about kit cars, not cheap builders! Try DIYnot or as mentioned, a professional (struct
engineer/chartered surveyor)
Yea, like we're all expert automotive engineers and can't bear discussing non-car stuff?
You can't be serious.
You may note that this is his first posts, and registed today, therefore he has specfically joined to ask this question. Its not just a regular member
who is asking an offtopic question!
ah, good point, well made.
I can't resist helping.
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designer
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 02:07 PM |
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quote:
You may note that this is his first posts, and registed today, therefore he has specfically joined to ask this question. Its not just a regular member
who is asking an offtopic question!
He probably joined the wrong forum.
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Irony
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 02:24 PM |
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I like the way you can ask any question on here and receive reasonable replies. As long as the question is correctly titled. However joining the
forum just to pick our brains is a bit much.
I have just bought a house and am currently having a structural engineers report done on the property. It cost 195 quid. Sometimes the chimney is
not structural but I wouldn't make that decision.
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loggyboy
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 02:49 PM |
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I wasnt saying he shouldnt get an answer, but if he came on here looking for well informed information, and all it gets is our off the cuff
'opinions' he may want to know!
Mistral Motorsport
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 02:57 PM |
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That's the problem with the name of this site... I have occasionally been asked for quotes for home extensions when wearing my Locostbuilders
t-shirt! (only in fun I must add, but the name is confusing.)
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Not Anumber
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 03:29 PM |
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I had something similar in my house. The chimney had aready been removed but the thick section of concrete remained. I checked both with my eyes and
with a builder who had structural experience and was satisfied it was independent of the joists. In the end i decided to just take an sds drilll with
a bolster bit to the underside of the slab and took a couple of inches off its height which took it to the right level for a plasterboard ceiling. My
understanding is thesecslabs are usually keyed into the wall and less frequently attached to the joists but where they are attached to a floor joist
this is cheifly for the purpose of supporting the slab and not supporting the floor. If youbdo decide to remove it vou can make good the missing
section of floor with a length of new joist bolted alongside an existing joist, cross brace with noggins to the joists either side to add strength.
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Homr836
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 04:20 PM |
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Beg pardon for getting on people's wicks. My mistake, I googled taking down chimneys and this site was one of the top results due to having a
couple of chimney related topics and with the site name I assumed (ass of u and me) that this was a general building forum not a car forum.
Like mentioned earlier, I am just after some advice and seeing if anyone has had a similar experience with this sort of thing.
Sorry for the confusion.
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nick205
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 04:28 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Homr836
Beg pardon for getting on people's wicks. My mistake, I googled taking down chimneys and this site was one of the top results due to having a
couple of chimney related topics and with the site name I assumed (ass of u and me) that this was a general building forum not a car forum.
Like mentioned earlier, I am just after some advice and seeing if anyone has had a similar experience with this sort of thing.
Sorry for the confusion.
Hey, now you're here and having fun you might as well build a kit car - much more fun than messing about with your chimney
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steve m
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 04:29 PM |
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Thats ok Homr!!
what car have you got, cos on this site "they" know EVERYTHING about cars!!
[Edited on 25/7/13 by steve m]
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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Homr836
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 05:10 PM |
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Well now you mention it, I've got a focus that runs fine at the mo, the wife has a micra with sunroof drainage issues (blocked in the pipe or
sill I think haven't had chance to look at it now I'm doing the kitchen/demolition)
But I was watching a car is re-born the other night with a grin on my face until the wife smashed me in the ribs and told me not to get any
ideas...............not until my next mid-life crisis anyway.
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steve m
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 05:32 PM |
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See, you are one of us, and you did not even know!
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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mark chandler
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 08:31 PM |
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Not so much of a crisis, more of failing to grow up 
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DarrenW
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 09:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
I really do think the name of this site is misleading people
However, as above, get it checked before starting to dismantle anything like that!
this really tickled me!!!!!!!
Could be a good sister site though. Homes built from straw bales etc, might be the next big thing (and yes i do know it has been done before to very
good eco effect).
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DarrenW
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 09:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Homr836
Beg pardon for getting on people's wicks. My mistake, I googled taking down chimneys and this site was one of the top results due to having a
couple of chimney related topics and with the site name I assumed (ass of u and me) that this was a general building forum not a car forum.
Like mentioned earlier, I am just after some advice and seeing if anyone has had a similar experience with this sort of thing.
Sorry for the confusion.
And this just put me on the floor in giggles
Maybe i need to grow up!!!!!
Welcome homr836. take a look at the other sections and get your plans ready for a kit car build. You know you want to now you have come out
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nick205
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| posted on 25/7/13 at 10:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
quote:
Originally posted by Homr836
Beg pardon for getting on people's wicks. My mistake, I googled taking down chimneys and this site was one of the top results due to having a
couple of chimney related topics and with the site name I assumed (ass of u and me) that this was a general building forum not a car forum.
Like mentioned earlier, I am just after some advice and seeing if anyone has had a similar experience with this sort of thing.
Sorry for the confusion.
And this just put me on the floor in giggles
Maybe i need to grow up!!!!!
Welcome homr836. take a look at the other sections and get your plans ready for a kit car build. You know you want to now you have come out
Always good to "come out" on-line to a receptive crowd
If we keep at him he'll buckle and build a car
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