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Some people want to remove either a chimney stack or a chimney-breast, or both:

             because they don't want an open fire

             because the chimney is damaged and removal is seen as a cheaper solution

             to solve a damp problem

             to make more space inside the house especially in more smaller rooms.

If you still want to remove part or all of a chimney the options are:

             remove the chimney stack to below the roof

             remove the chimney-breast from one internal storey

             remove the chimney-breast from all rooms

             remove the chimney-breast from the attic or loft

In Sydney, under the Party Wall etc. Act (1996), the written consent of the owners of a neighbouring house must be received before some projects can begin if it is a party chimney. If it is a stand alone stack this is not the case.

Most chimneys are free standing. That is, none of the roof structure or floor joists are tied into the chimney brickwork. You could remove the chimney but it should be removed all the way up to the roof. I would not recommend only removing the ground floor chimney breast because the remaining brickwork would have to supported in some way or it would collapse.

If the chimney stack is removed to below the roof, the roof timbers must be extended to meet the wall, and matching tiles or slates found to fill the gap.

If only part of the chimney breast is to be removed, the remaining brickwork above must be supported with an RSJ (rolled steel joist) supported on gallows brackets; a wooden beam is not normally satisfactory.

If a chimney breast is removed in a room, you must decide whether to replace the hearth; if you do this the joists and floorboards must be extended. Damage may be caused to the ceiling of the room below.