Chimney Breast Removed but Attic and Roof Brick Work Left

[DevlinT]

Hi all

Just had a Building Survey done on a Victorian house we are in the middle of purchasing. As with most Victorian houses there are chimneys in most rooms. The chimney breast in the kitchen at the back of the house was removed but the brick work in the attic and the external chimney remain, basically unsupported. I've attached a screenshot from Google Maps that shows the chimney.

I'm not really sure what to do here. How serious is this really? Is it a big job to either put support in under the existing brick work or just remove it outright?

Thanks for any help.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Was it a structural survey or just the usual cheapie mortgage valuation
Either way, you need to ask the vendors- it may have been done properly already (has the breast been removed from the room above the kitchen as well?)
Not a massive job but messy and disruptive.

 

[bernardgreen]

How serious is this really?

Unsupported items can fall.

You should get a structural engineer to inspect the stack and if there is no support ( or only in-adequate support ) then the necessary support should be added.

Overtime the mortar holding the bricks in place will weaken and the un-supported bricks will detach and fall.

 

[^woody^]

Ask whoever did the survey that's what you paid them for.