GS Renovation removes chimney breasts across Woolwich, in the bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces that fill much of SE18. With over 30 years of structural experience in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, we take out redundant breasts safely, support the stack that remains above and hand back a clean, squared-off room.
Chimney breast removal in Woolwich terraces
Most Woolwich terraces still carry their original chimney breasts in the reception rooms and bedrooms, and because these houses stand shoulder to shoulder, the stack usually sits within the party wall shared with the neighbour. The breast helps carry the masonry above, so we begin every job with a structural engineer's assessment of exactly what the stack and breast are supporting.
On the lower floors, where a breast is removed but the stack above stays, we support that retained masonry on steel gallows brackets bolted into the party wall, or a small beam where brackets are unsuitable. A chimney stack is never left hanging unsupported. Where the stack runs the full height of the SE18 terrace, it is often simpler to remove it entirely and make the roof good.
Party wall and building control in SE18
Because the chimney stack in a Woolwich terrace almost always sits within the party wall, removing the breast or bolting gallows brackets into that shared masonry is notifiable under the Party Wall Act, and we serve notice on the neighbour before work begins. This protects both houses and keeps everything on the right footing from the start.
The structural support itself falls under the Building Regulations, so the Royal Borough of Greenwich building control department inspects and signs off the brackets or beam, not the planning department. We manage the engineer's calculations, the party wall notices, safe removal and propping, capping and ventilating any redundant flue against damp, and replastering so there is no sign the breast was ever there.
- Making good, plastering and reinstating the wall
- Flue capping, ventilation and building control sign-off
- Chimney breast removal on one or all floors
- Gallows bracket support for the stack above
- Steel beam support where brackets are unsuitable
Why Woolwich Homeowners Choose GS Renovation
Woolwich homeowners choose GS Renovation because we treat chimney breast removal as the structural job it is. You get an engineer-designed support solution, gallows brackets or a beam bolted properly into the shared party wall, party wall notices and Greenwich building control handled for you, tidy working in an occupied SE18 home, and more than 30 years of local experience.
- 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