filling in stone chimney after removal of stack

[SilverSaloon]

Hi

I live in an 1850's sandstone cottage (bungalow). It had 3 chimneys (1 each end and 1 on the centre)

One of the end chimneys was butchered by previous builders before we moved in (pipes now run through it and stack was removed). We dont need this chimney and layout of the referb means its redundant.

The centre chimney is also in poor condition in the attic and above, so was thinking of taking it down to ceiling height so i can use the remaining as a sort of pillar for a new loft conversion.

My question is - should I infill these chimneys before i block them off? or can i leave the void inside without any issues.

I am worried about damp etc

 

[Roger H]

Hi Silversaloon.

Do the chimneys, albeit not working at the minute, contribute at all to the aesthetics of the building e.g. bookending it? and might something of its composition/character be lost by removal?

 

[Penners]

Leaving aside the question of aesthetics (upon which I agree with Roger's concerns), I would not consider filling in a chimney (by which I assume you mean pouring concrete, or some such material, down it). In order to avoid damp, the better plan, in my view, would be to cap it off and ensure that it is ventilated top and bottom to ensure a good airflow through it.

 

[SilverSaloon]

the chimney stack at the end of the house is already gone, leaving just the flue inside the end wall, which pipes run through etc. At the moment it just vents into the attic i guess. The bottom (ie fireplace) is now where staircase will go into the attic level, so i will need to brick it up, but i could indeed vent it into the cavity between the stone wall and the insulated studwork infront of it (edge of stairs)

the centre chimney looks good and my plan was to keep it, however it is in very poor condition inside the loft and would need rebuilding, but in reality its in the way of the attic conversion so my plan was to take it down to attic floor height and use the left over chimney (now big pillar) to help support the attic joists. If i were to vent this at the "top", it would simply be underneath the joists....

So, am i better off leaving the chimneys with the empty void in the middle, or filling up with stuff. By stuff i mean maybe infill with sandstone rubble?

Concrete doesnt go anywhere near the house!

 

[Penners]

My vote goes to ventilated void.

 

[a twig]

Ventilated void seconded here as well.

 

[ricky146a]

I also agree with the ventilated void.
It has stood for over 150 years without anything in the void (other than soot and heat). Introducing rubble to the void could cause unknown stresses when the rubble settles over time and would serve no useful purpose.

I also agree with your 'no concrete' sentiment. It is great in suspension bridges but has no place in a sandstone cottage.
I have just restored/refurbished a sandstone house (1864) and have tried to be as gentle as possible to the structure and as true as possible to the original design - it looks as if you are of the same mind.

 

[SilverSaloon]

thanks - yes spent a good while removing concrete damp proofing put there in the 70s! :x

My plan is to have a nice sandstone cottage, but also bring it bang up to date inside with modern features with a nod to the past. The 60s/70s were not good to my cottage and pretty much all the original features are gone/destroyed by damp/woodworm.

Some builders in the past had decided it was easier to run pipes through the centre of the chimney and also i assume the stack fell down and left it so it erroded. I had to remove that and tile over the old gap. Sadly the centre one is now in the way and also needs repair so i have decided to remove it.

The final chimney is OK and i plan to put a wood burner in it

 

[Zebra]

The 60s/70s were not good to my cottage and pretty much all the original features are gone/destroyed

Same here. Sympathies.

 

[SilverSaloon]

if interested i'm logging my progress of renovating the cottage on my facebook page ( you dont need facebook to view it);

www.facebook.com/GlenCottageRenovation

Enjoy!