New extension with big chimney stack in the way

canhefixit

I am going to be having an extension done and I wanted to basically go out the side of gable wall, the house is east/west facing so the extension I want it to be on the south west side which is the kitchen end of the house and in the kitchen I have a range and the bedroom above has an old unused fireplace which results in us having a massive chimney stack.

Now I got a builder to have a look and he advised me that it wouldnt be practical in money terms to start altering or even removing the chimney for the extension and the best way to go is just extend to the rear.

I also had a guy draws up plans, he's not an architect but a draughtsman i think he's referred to, he said of course you can open chimney stack no problem and create access to new extension, I told him what builder said and he said it was rubbish he has seen it done loads before.

Dont know what to do now as the rear of the house will be very dark if I was to stick an extension on it.

Anyone on here lend an experienced thought?

DOCARCH

Best advice is to get a structural engineer to have a look at it.

You can, of course, remove a section of the chimney, but you may need a structural solution to support the remaining section and/or from the ope between the existing house and proposed extension.

Worth investigating. Probably going to cost more to do now (i.e. removing the chimney) but if you don't, you may regret in the long run if retaining the chimney in full makes the back of the house very dark.

prewtna

engage (pay) a structural engineer.

do not do anything more until then.

do this work incorrectly and you could have serious structural implications for your house.

best of luck.

sinnerboy

The end is nigh for all undocumented works.

Pay heed or reduce the asset value of your home dramatically.