Chimney Breast Removal Cost

Trying to find out how much it costs to remove a chimney breast?

You can expect to pay between £1,200 to £3,500. The exact price you're quoted will depend on the extent of your chimney removal — whether that's just removing the chimney breast or stack alone versus taking out the entire chimney breast and stack.

But there's more!

In this guide, we look at all chimney removal costs for all types of houses and chimneys, as well as looking at removing chimney breasts downstairs only. We discuss labour fees, timeframes, and additional jobs you can consider while you have a chimney specialist visiting your property.

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Keep reading our complete chimney removal cost guide below.

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How Much To Remove a Chimney Breast?

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The cost to remove an entire chimney without the stack is, on average, around £2,200 to £2,400, and the average price for removing the entire chimney stack with the breast is around £3,000 to £3,500.

Removing a chimney breast is something homeowners might be interested in doing during a remodel of their home.

It is, however, a very large job and is the type of project that should only be performed by a professional chimney specialist, because the chimney breast is just a small portion of the entire chimney.

Because of this, you will find it's essential to hire a contractor with the proper equipment, knowledge, and experience to remove a chimney breast.

Depending on the size of your chimney, more than one contractor may be required to complete the job effectively.

So, what will the overall chimney breast removal costs depend on?

The costs involved with removing a chimney breast will vary depending on whether or not you’re looking to remove the entire chimney. It will also depend on whether you are removing the chimney breast alone or whether you are removing the chimney stack as well as the breast.

Chimney Breast Removal Prices

Below is a table listing the different types of chimney breast removal jobs and the prices you can expect to pay for each job type.

We have also included duration estimates for each of these jobs - however, these can vary depending on the number of people who are working on the job and the complexity of the job at hand:

If your chimney is being removed from a load-bearing wall, you will also have to consider structural engineer fees. Structural calculations will take around 1 to 3 days and cost £250 to £600.

Ground Floor Chimney Breast Removal Cost

Removing a chimney breast from the ground floor only usually costs around £1,500 to £1,750. This is a popular option for homeowners who want to create more living space downstairs without removing the full chimney above. Even though only the lower section is being taken out, the remaining chimney masonry will still need to be safely supported, which is why structural calculations are often required.

First-Floor or Bedroom Chimney Breast Removal Cost

Removing a chimney breast from a first-floor room or bedroom usually costs around £1,750 to £2,000. This is often slightly more expensive than a ground floor removal because access can be more difficult and additional support may be needed for the chimney structure above or below. The final price will also depend on how much making good is required afterwards.

Chimney Stack Removal Cost

Removing the chimney stack alone typically costs around £1,200 to £1,400. This usually involves taking down the part of the chimney that sits above the roofline and making the roof good afterwards. Costs can rise if scaffolding is needed, access is awkward, or extra roofing work is required once the stack has been removed.

Full Chimney Breast and Stack Removal Cost

If you want to remove the entire chimney breast and stack, you can expect to pay around £3,000 to £3,500. This is the most expensive option because it involves demolition across multiple parts of the property, structural support, waste removal, and repairs to the roof, ceilings and walls once the chimney has been taken out.

Cost to Remove a Non-Structural or False Chimney Breast

If the chimney breast is non-structural, such as a false chimney breast built from studwork and plasterboard, removal can cost as little as £900 to £1,300. This is usually cheaper than removing a traditional masonry chimney breast because less demolition, support work and waste disposal are involved.

Fireplace Removal Cost

Removing a fireplace alone usually costs around £300 to £800, depending on whether you are removing just the fire surround and hearth or also blocking up the opening afterwards, for example if you are moving the fireplace elsewhere in the room. This is much cheaper than chimney breast removal because it often does not involve structural demolition, although costs can rise if plastering, rewiring or gas disconnection is needed.

If a gas fire is installed, a Gas Safe Registered engineer must disconnect the appliance before removal.

Chimney Breast Removal Labour Costs

Let's take a look at labour costs and timescales for this project.

The cost of labour for this type of job will vary depending on your location, the job's difficulty, and the extent of the job at hand. The average cost for labour on a chimney breast removal is around £200 to £300 per day for each tradesperson.

This type of job usually requires at least two tradespeople for efficient and safe completion.

The price you pay for a chimney breast removal will usually have all of the costs together in one sum. However, you can ask for a breakdown of the expenses on your quote, so that you know how much you are paying towards the labour of the job.

Those based in the London areas can expect to pay around £30 to £70 more on average per day for the cost of labour than those based in the north or other parts of the UK.

Depending on the type of job (whether you’re looking to remove the chimney stack alone, just the chimney breast on the ground floor, an entire chimney breast, etc.), it can take anywhere between 1 to 4 days on average to complete.

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Factors That Impact Chimney Breast Removal Costs

There are a number of things that can affect the cost of removing a chimney breast, from the type of removal required to the access and support needed to keep the structure safe.

• Type of removal: The price changes depending on whether you are removing a ground floor chimney breast only, removing upper floors too, or removing the chimney stack and breast together. Partial removals can be cheaper, but they still require structural support for the chimney above.
• Size of chimney breast: Larger chimney breasts involve more demolition work, more waste to remove, and more finishing work afterwards. This can increase both labour time and disposal costs.
• Type of chimney: If the chimney is made from a material that's harder to break down, costs will usually be higher than materials that are easier to remove.
• Chimney condition: If the chimney is in poor condition, it might need more time and care to remove. Additional work to repair the area or issues caused by the damaged chimney can add to overall costs.
• Scaffolding and access: If scaffolding is required to safely remove a chimney stack or work at height, it will add to the total cost. This is especially common where access is restricted or the stack is tall.
• Location and local labour rates: Labour costs vary by region, with higher day rates typically seen in London and the surrounding areas. The number of tradespeople required can also affect the total price.
• Property type and chimney position: Costs can vary depending on whether the chimney is on an external wall, a party wall, or part of a shared central chimney system. Flats, terraces, and semi-detached homes may involve additional considerations around access, neighbours, and the Party Wall Act.
• Future use of the space: If you want to install a fake chimney breast in place of your real one, there will be additional material and labour costs to consider. You might also have to relocate gas or electric following chimney removal.

Additional work may also be required after removal, particularly if walls need plastering and redecoration. Common extra costs include:

• Scaffolding hire cost: £300 to £400.
• Skip hire cost: £100 to £200.
• Plastering internal wall cost: £70 to £200.

You should also consider the cost of materials required to re-decorate after the job is complete.

How Much Does Removing a Chimney Breast Save You?

Removing a chimney breast and stack can reduce future maintenance costs, especially if the chimney is no longer in use or has ongoing damp or repair issues. Depending on the type of chimney you remove, you may avoid some of the following costs:

• Chimney sweeping: £60 to £150 per year
• Chimney liner replacement: £600 to £1,000 every 10 years
• Chimney leadwork repairs: £350 to £460, or £700 to £920 with scaffolding
• Penetrating damp repairs: £250 to £650

These savings won't apply in every case, but chimney removal can reduce ongoing repair and maintenance costs where the chimney is unused, damaged or causing damp problems.

What's Involved in Removing a Chimney Breast?

Removing a chimney breast is an extensive and challenging job that requires a lot of work. External chimney stack removal is typically completed outside of the home and, therefore, will not cause any internal damage.

• Isolate any Utilities – Services such as plumbing, gas and electricity linked to the chimney breast area must be isolated, disconnected or redirected before starting the removal work.
• Structural Support – If upper chimney sections remain, they need to be supported with Strongboy steel wall supports before removing the chimney breast below. This temporary support stays until a permanent support, designed by a qualified structural engineer, is installed.
• Insulation and Damp-Proofing – Proper insulation and damp-proofing must be fitted. These costs are usually included but depend on materials used and job complexity, which vary by your needs and budget.
• Clean-Up and Finishing – After removal, clean-up and replastering are needed to prepare walls for redecoration. This can be time-consuming and may increase costs if hiring plasterers or decorators.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission to Remove a Chimney Breast

Building Regulations

Removing a chimney breast must meet building regulations approval as it affects the structure of your property and should only be carried out by an experienced professional.

A building regulations application and inspection for chimney breast removal typically costs around £200 to £400 and takes 1 to 2 weeks for approval.

• Approved Document A ensures the building remains safe and stable after removing load-bearing elements.
• The work may require installing supports such as steel beams or gallows brackets.
• Fire safety rules (Approved Document J) or the Party Wall Act may apply, especially if the chimney breast is on a shared wall.

As with any work relating to your chimney, it is always advisable to contact your local council to ensure you receive the right information before carrying out any work.

Planning Permission

In most cases, planning permission isn't required for the removal of a chimney breast as it falls under permitted development, unless you live in a listed building.

Extra permissions may apply if the work affects the outside of the property, such as removing the chimney stack, including in conservation areas. In which case, you may also need to submit an application, and fees can vary depending on your local authority and the type of consent required.

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Checklist: Hiring a Chimney Specialist to Remove a Chimney Breast in the UK

There are several things you may need to consider when it comes to hiring someone to remove your chimney breast.

Here's a list of all of the things that you should think about before making a decision on the right person to take on the job:

• Are they a member of a recognised trade body? The Federation of Master Builders is a respected organisation, and membership can show that they work to certain standards.
• Are they TrustMark registered? This government-endorsed scheme helps you find tradespeople who have been vetted for quality and customer service.
• Will they provide an itemised written quote? Ask for a breakdown of costs so you know what’s included and if there are any additional fees.
• Are they experienced? Find out how much experience they have removing chimney breasts, as it has structural implications so needs to be done properly.
• Do they have insurance? Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong during the work.
• Do they understand building regulations? Make sure they’re aware of any building regulations that need to be followed for chimney breast removal.
• Can they arrange structural calculations if needed? Chimney breast removal often requires steel supports or gallows brackets, so your contractor should understand when a structural engineer is needed.
• Are they Gas Safe Registered (if a gas fire is involved)? If the chimney breast contains or connects to a gas appliance, the gas supply must be disconnected or capped safely by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
• Do they have positive reviews or recommendations? Check their MyJobQuote profile to see feedback from previous customers.

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