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.

Do you already know what you want? Ready to get a quote?

Simply fill in a few details on MyJobQuote and receive free, no-obligation quotes from chimney specialists near you, taking you one step closer to completing your chimney breast removal project.

Need more details first?

Keep reading our complete chimney removal cost guide below.

Chimney Breast Removal Cost Calculator

How Much To Remove a Chimney Breast?

Looking for chimney breast removal costs?

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:

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.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

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.
• 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.

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?

After removing your chimney breast and stack, you can enjoy long-term savings as you no longer have the need for chimney maintenance costs. In total, you can look to save between £1,200 to £2,570 in one-off costs, and an additional £60 to £150 in regular annual costs.

Let's take a closer look at the potential savings related to chimney breast and stack removal:

Chimney Sweeping Costs

Without a chimney, there's nothing to sweep. The cost of chimney sweeping ranges from £60 to £150 depending on your chimney type, with the biggest savings coming from homeowners removing lined and unlined stove chimneys.

Chimneys should be swept around once a year, or more depending on your usage, saving you a few hundred pounds each year.

Chimney Liner Costs

Chimney liners cost between £600 to £1,000 - so cutting out that replacement cost can be a welcome change from your outgoings. While this is often a one-off or irregular cost, over a 30-year period, you can look to save anywhere from £1,800 to £3,000, based on a chimney liner replacement every 10 years.

Replacing Chimney Leadwork Costs

Lead flashing is used where the chimney connects to your home's roof. If you've removed your chimney, there will no longer be a need for chimney leadwork repair costs - typically between £350 to £460, or £700 to £920 if you need scaffolding for access.

Fixing Penetrating Damp Costs

Although chimney stacks and breasts can add warmth and a favoured internal feature to many homes, having a gap running down into the interior of your home does come with its challenges. For homes with recurring penetrating damp issues stemming from the chimney, it can be a relief to remove the cause and correct the damp.

Instead of paying out regular penetrating damp repair costs - anywhere from £250 to £650 for a single wall depending on house size - you can remove the chimney breast and stack and have one penetrating damp treatment to resolve the issue.

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 is covered by certain building regulations as it affects the structure of your property and should only be carried out by an experienced professional.

• 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, 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 council and the type of consent required.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

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’s structural work that 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.
• Do they have positive reviews or recommendations? Check their MyJobQuote profile to see feedback from previous customers.

FAQs