Steel BeamInstallers
Ground-floor chimney breast removed with a short steel beam carrying the breast above

Chimney breast removal · Pembroke

Chimney breast removal in Pembroke

Steelwork, approvals and making good for chimney breast removal in Pembroke and nearby.

  • Free survey visit in Pembroke
  • Engineer's calculations arranged
  • Building control handled for you

Free survey in Pembroke

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  • Free survey visit
  • Engineer's calculations arranged
  • Building control handled
  • Fixed written price once scope is agreed
  • England, Wales, mainland Scotland & NI

Chimney breast removal in Pembroke: how it works

For homes in Pembroke and the SA71 and SA72 districts, we handle chimney breast removal from survey to sign-off. Our coverage runs across Pembrokeshire, so nearby villages are included too. The beam is sized by a structural engineer and inspected before it is boxed in.

We cover the survey visit, structural calculations from a qualified engineer, building control, party wall notices through a party wall surveyor where needed, temporary support, removal, the steelwork and making good. Whether you are taking out the ground-floor breast only or the full height, the itemised written quote shows each stage.

Things to plan for

  • Chimney brickwork is heavy and dirty. Even a single breast produces a lot of rubble and soot, so a skip or waste collection is planned in advance, and floors, stairs and furniture along the route out are protected.
  • A chimney breast removed without proper support or approval is a frequent issue raised in surveys when a house is sold. Keeping the calculations, completion certificate and any party wall documents shows a buyer that what remains was properly supported.
  • A flue still serving a gas fire, boiler or wood burner cannot be removed until that appliance is disconnected and an alternative arranged. Work on any gas appliance or pipe must, by law, be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
  • A chimney closed off at both ends can trap moisture and cause damp patches on the walls. Where part of a flue remains, a vent at room level and a ventilated cap on the pot keep air moving through it.
  • Removing a ground-floor breast with steel support typically takes two to four working days. Full-height removal including the stack and roof repair takes longer and depends on scaffolding, roofing access and the weather.

Four stages, one team

  1. Look and measure

    We check the wall, the span you want and what the wall is carrying, and photograph anything the engineer needs to see.

  2. Design and price

    Calculations come back from the engineer and we confirm your fixed written price, line by line.

  3. Building control

    We submit the application or notice to Pembrokeshire County Council under the Building Regulations as they apply in Wales, before work starts.

  4. Fit, inspect, finish

    The work is propped and the steel installed and packed tight. After inspection the opening is boxed, plastered and left clean.

What does chimney breast removal cost in Pembroke?

As a guide, budget £1,350–£2,750 including VAT for chimney breast removal (ground floor) in Pembroke, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Wales (-9%).

JobTypical guide rangeWhat it usually covers
Chimney breast removal (ground floor)£1,350–£2,750Ground-floor breast removed, steel to support the breast above, building control and making good
Structural calculations for a beam£230–£680Site measure or photos, beam and padstone design and calculations for building control
Load-bearing wall removal with steel beam£1,800–£4,550Typical internal wall up to about 4 m: calculations, building control, propping, steel, padstones, fitting, fire protection and making good
Loft conversion steels£2,300–£5,450Supply and fit of floor and ridge steels on padstones, including lifting into the roof space

Figures include our approximate regional adjustment for prices in Wales (-9%) and are rounded. How these figures are worked out.

Building rules for Pembroke

Removing a load-bearing wall in Wales needs approval under the Welsh building regulations before work starts. For Pembroke the application goes to Pembrokeshire County Council or a registered building control approver, with the engineer's calculations, and a completion certificate follows the final inspection.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in Wales as well as England, so a beam bearing into a shared wall needs a party structure notice at least two months before work starts. We arrange notices through a party wall surveyor.

Building rules in Wales

Chimney breast removal near Pembroke

Questions about chimney breast removal in Pembroke

How much does chimney breast removal cost in Pembroke?

As a guide, budget £1,350–£2,750 including VAT for chimney breast removal (ground floor) in Pembroke, based on published UK cost guides adjusted for prices in Wales (-9%). The exact figure depends on the span, what the wall carries, access and the finish, and is fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.

Can I stay at home while the work is done in Pembroke?

Usually, yes. The work area is screened and floors are protected. The rooms either side of the opening are out of action for a few days, and there is some noise and dust while the masonry comes out.

Should I remove the chimney stack as well?

It often makes sense if the breast is coming out on every floor, because then nothing is left to support. It needs scaffolding and roof repairs, and in terraces the stack is often shared, so your side may not be removable without affecting your neighbour's. The engineer and building control confirm what is possible.

What is included in a chimney breast removal quote?

The itemised written quote covers the survey, engineer's calculations, building control, any party wall notices, temporary support, the steel or other support specified, removal and waste, venting or capping, and plastering and floor making good. Scaffolding and roof work appear as separate lines where the stack is involved, and the price is fixed in writing once the scope is agreed.

How long does chimney breast removal take?

A ground-floor breast with a steel beam supporting the masonry above usually takes two to four working days, including propping, fitting the steel, removing the brickwork and basic making good. Full removal from ground floor to roof takes longer because of scaffolding, roofing work and weather, and plaster needs time to dry afterwards.

Can you work on older or listed homes in Pembroke?

Yes. Older homes often have lime mortar, timber lintels or shallow footings, which the engineer allows for. Listed buildings need listed building consent for internal structural changes as well as building regulations approval, and that must be in place first.

Planning to take a wall out?

Book a free survey visit. You get an itemised written quote covering calculations, building control, steel and making good.