When a chimney stack is beyond repair or simply no longer needed, taking it down to below roof level is often the most practical and cost-effective solution. We carry out chimney take-downs in Ely and the nearby area, making good the roof covering and structure once the stack is removed.
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Not every redundant or damaged chimney is worth rebuilding. If a stack has never been used since a gas fire was installed, if it has deteriorated to the point where it would cost more to rebuild than the property gains in value, or if the owner simply wants to remove a maintenance liability, taking the chimney down is a straightforward and permanent solution.
The work involves more than just knocking the bricks off. The roof structure where the stack passed through needs to be properly made good, and the slates or tiles have to be cut and fitted back in to leave a weathertight finish. Done properly, you should not be able to tell a chimney was ever there from inside the loft.
Scaffolding or a properly secured access platform is set up before any brickwork is touched. The stack is taken down course by course, with bricks lowered rather than dropped, to avoid damaging the roof covering below. For stacks on terraced properties where the party wall runs through the chimney, the work is done to the party wall line and the exposed brick face is cut, capped and pointed flush.
Once the brickwork is down to just below the roof level, the lead flashings, back gutter and soakers are removed. The timber around the chimney opening - the trimmer rafters and any roof boards - is inspected for rot or damage before the gap is boarded and felt-lined. The slates or tiles are then cut to fit and fixed back in, matching the existing roof covering as closely as possible. On older roofs with natural Welsh slate or handmade clay tiles, sourcing a good match takes more time, but it is worth doing correctly rather than ending up with a visible patch.
Inside the loft, the gap left by the stack is fully insulated and boarded level with the surrounding structure. The chimney breast inside the property is a separate matter - most customers choose to leave it in place unless they are undertaking a wider renovation, as removing it below roof level is a structural job involving an RSJ or similar steelwork.
On a standard two-storey house with a single flue, the chimney stack is non-structural once it is above the roof line. Removing it does not affect the building below. However, on some older properties, the chimney breast forms part of the party wall arrangement and the stack sits directly over the breast that runs through both floors. The roofing work itself is straightforward, but it is worth checking with a structural engineer if you plan to remove the chimney breast internally at a later stage, because the load path through the stack can affect how that work is approached.
If the property is listed or in a conservation area - which applies to a number of properties in central Ely - the removal of a chimney stack may require listed building consent or planning permission. The local planning authority is the right body to consult before work begins. A good roofer will flag this at survey stage.
The roof should be fully weathertight at the end of the job, with no sign of the original flashing or back gutter. Inside the loft, there should be no draught or gap where the stack came through. The brickwork and rubble is cleared from site. If the stack was on a party wall, the capped face is left pointed and tidy.
One practical point: if the fireplace opening is still present inside the room, it should be ventilated once the flue is capped. A sealed fireplace with no airflow can cause damp to build up inside the chimney breast. A small airbrick or a ventilated register plate fitted to the fireplace opening is a simple and inexpensive way to prevent this.
If you are in a nearby town or village, or further afield, get in touch to discuss the job.
Customers often ask whether they can just cap the stack instead of removing it. Capping is a reasonable choice if the brickwork is still in sound condition - it keeps the stack but seals the top against water and birds. A full take-down makes more sense when the stack is leaning, the brickwork has failed in multiple places, or the owner wants to eliminate any future maintenance entirely.
Another question that comes up is whether taking the chimney down will cause damp inside the house. If the work is done correctly - with the roof properly made good, the loft gap fully sealed and insulated, and the fireplace opening ventilated below - a take-down should actually improve matters compared to a neglected, leaking stack. Problems only arise when the roof repair is done poorly or the fireplace is sealed airtight without ventilation.
If you are unsure whether your chimney is worth keeping or whether a take-down is the right answer, the starting point is an inspection. We can look at the stack from roof level, check the condition of the brickwork and flashings, and give you a realistic picture of the options. Call us to arrange a visit.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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