GS Renovation removes chimney breasts across Merton, from the Victorian villas near Wimbledon Common to the Edwardian terraces of Mitcham and Morden. With 30+ years of structural experience in SW19, SW20, CR4 and SM4, we take out redundant breasts, properly support the stack left above and square the room off so the bedroom or reception gains real usable space.
Chimney breast removal in Merton's terraces
Most Merton terraces still carry their original breasts in the two front rooms and often in the closet wing behind. Homeowners usually want the ground or first-floor breast removed to reclaim the alcoves, but the masonry stack continues up through the floors and out at the roof. That retained weight cannot be left hanging, so every removal starts with a structural engineer confirming exactly what is being supported.
Where we take out a breast on the lower floor and keep the stack above, we support it on steel gallows brackets bolted into the party wall, or on a beam where brackets are unsuitable. In SW19 and SW20 homes where the whole flue is redundant, we often remove the full-height stack instead and make the roof good, which removes the load entirely and avoids future damp in the old flue.
Party wall and damp control in SW19
Merton's terraces share a party wall with the house next door, and the chimney stack almost always sits within it. Removing the breast, or bolting gallows brackets into that shared wall, is notifiable under the Party Wall Act, so we serve notice on the adjoining owner before work begins. We prepare and issue those notices and keep the neighbour informed throughout.
The structural support is notifiable under the Building Regulations, and Merton Council's building control signs it off, not the planning department. Once the stack is secured we cap any redundant flue with proper ventilation so the old brickwork breathes and stays dry, then replaster the wall and reinstate the skirting so there is no sign a breast was ever there.
- Gallows bracket support for the stack above
- Steel beam support where brackets are unsuitable
- Full chimney stack removal and roof making good
- Structural engineer calculations
- Party Wall Act notices for shared stacks
The GS Renovation Difference in Merton
Merton homeowners choose GS Renovation because we treat chimney breast removal as the structural job it is. You get an engineer-checked support solution, gallows brackets or a beam correctly bolted to the party wall, party wall notices and building control handled end to end, tidy working in an occupied home, and a certified, replastered finish, backed by 30+ years across SW19, SW20, CR4 and SM4.
- Free, no-obligation quotations
- Over 30 years of experience
- Dedicated project management
- Fully insured and guaranteed work
- Building control and planning support
- Clean, tidy and reliable tradespeople