Need fireplace advice ...

bcbud3 · 02-04-2012, 02:35 PM

I have a 3 story house. There is a fireplace but it is on the second floor only. The second floor is shaped like a rectangle with the kitchen/dining room on one half and the living room on the other half. This fireplace is basically in the exact center of the room. We do not use the fireplace and want to remove it. How do i go about doing this?

titanoman · 02-04-2012, 03:49 PM

Brick by brick.

bcbud3 · 02-04-2012, 06:05 PM

is there some way to keep the chimney in place on the third floor? We live on the 3rd floor and its all finished...

titanoman · 02-04-2012, 07:20 PM

Sure, unless the whole fireplace was framed before the floors were built, which I seriously doubt, in which case some support would need to be implemented within the ceiling/floor for support of the upper section.
This is assuming it's a conventional wood frame with an insert.
It starts on the second floor, right?
Nothing downstairs?

bcbud3 · 02-04-2012, 07:47 PM

the chimney starts in the basement. The fireplace insert is on the second floor. Chimney continues up the 3rd floor through the roof. It is a regular wood burner. I am removing all the drywall around the fireplace on the second floor.

RenoStruct · 02-06-2012, 08:12 PM

Age of the home?

Is the fireplace brick/block or just one of the new double-lined vents behind framing? If it's brick/block, it's probably barring weight all the way to the ground, in which case, as it was so eloquently put by titanoman, brick by brick from the top down.

bcbud3 · 02-06-2012, 09:33 PM

the home was built 1960. It is block...

cleveman · 02-07-2012, 07:49 AM

What color is the house?

bcbud3 · 02-07-2012, 08:05 PM

??? Why?

cleveman · 02-07-2012, 08:16 PM

I guess your chimney starts in the basement and there is probably a clean-out down there or at least a thimble?

The fireplace on the main level which you call an insert is connected to the chimney with a piece of stovepipe?

On the second floor, the chimney just goes on up, maybe another thimble?

If this is the case, then remove the fireplace or insert or stove or whatever it is and leave the chimney.

You won't be able to remove the chimney below the top floor and leave the top floor chimney intact because you will have the strongest force of nature (gravity) working against you.

This chimney is quite valuable to have and I wouldn't get rid of it anyway. You can always put in a woodburner in any of the three levels and it would cost thousands of dollars to replace.

So be happy for the things you have and don't complain about what you don't have (a room without a chimney)!

titanoman · 02-07-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleveman

I guess your chimney starts in the basement and there is probably a clean-out down there or at least a thimble?

The fireplace on the main level which you call an insert is connected to the chimney with a piece of stovepipe?

On the second floor, the chimney just goes on up, maybe another thimble?

If this is the case, then remove the fireplace or insert or stove or whatever it is and leave the chimney.

You won't be able to remove the chimney below the top floor and leave the top floor chimney intact because you will have the strongest force of nature (gravity) working against you.

This chimney is quite valuable to have and I wouldn't get rid of it anyway. You can always put in a woodburner in any of the three levels and it would cost thousands of dollars to replace.

So be happy for the things you have and don't complain about what you don't have (a room without a chimney)!

$1000's?

cleveman · 02-07-2012, 08:56 PM

40' of triple wall would cost about $1200 US and that is just pipe. I have no idea what that much masonry chimney would cost, but I could see 3 days of labor and the materials anyway.

bcbud3 · 02-07-2012, 10:02 PM

sorry, i guess i used the wrong terminology...the chimney starts in the basement with a cleanout. The next floor up has a fireplace (basically an opening in the chimney). The chimney then continues straight up through the next floor and out the roof. It is all brick and block...

it's looking like the fireplace will stay...once i open up the wall around it, i will post a pic for ideas on what to do with it...

02-04-2012, 02:35 PM	#1
bcbud3 Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 106	Need fireplace advice ... I have a 3 story house. There is a fireplace but it is on the second floor only. The second floor is shaped like a rectangle with the kitchen/dining room on one half and the living room on the other half. This fireplace is basically in the exact center of the room. We do not use the fireplace and want to remove it. How do i go about doing this? Attached Thumbnails

02-04-2012, 03:49 PM	#2
titanoman Disabled wood vet Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,646	Need fireplace advice ... Brick by brick.

02-04-2012, 06:05 PM	#3
bcbud3 Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 106	Need fireplace advice ... is there some way to keep the chimney in place on the third floor? We live on the 3rd floor and its all finished...

02-04-2012, 07:20 PM	#4
titanoman Disabled wood vet Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,646	Need fireplace advice ... Sure, unless the whole fireplace was framed before the floors were built, which I seriously doubt, in which case some support would need to be implemented within the ceiling/floor for support of the upper section. This is assuming it's a conventional wood frame with an insert. It starts on the second floor, right? Nothing downstairs?

02-04-2012, 07:47 PM	#5
bcbud3 Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 106	Need fireplace advice ... the chimney starts in the basement. The fireplace insert is on the second floor. Chimney continues up the 3rd floor through the roof. It is a regular wood burner. I am removing all the drywall around the fireplace on the second floor.

Need fireplace advice ...