Reasonable cost of chimney breast removal?

[Lasitha]

Hi,

I've been quoted £2215 to remove the chinmey breast in both the the ground floor and first floor, with steel gallow brackets in the loft to support the remainder. The house is semi-detatched and the chimney is on the party wall.

The quote includes everything, from the removal of the bricks, skip, building control, making good the floors, skirting boards, capping off the gas supply etc. So the whole process from start to finish.

Is this a good quote? by the way, I'm based near Watford, Herts.

Thanks,

Las

[Muncher]

It doesn't sound too bad to me, does it include replastering the walls and ceilings?

[Sheets Tabuer]

In the process of having mine done right now, 3k all in.

[Lasitha]

I'm getting the Walls and ceiling plastered anyway so that's not so much of an issue.
Still getting quotes, but a good starting point. Thanks for the replies.

[Mandat]

What are you proposing to do with regard to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?

[Lasitha]

The builder said they would sort out all the regs, so that should be covered (I hope)

[VxDuncan]

Will need building control approval and they will usually require structural engineers calcs for the gallows brakects (though std designs such as those from Screwfix are available). Get it in writing this is included.

Check the your neighbours haven't had part of the chimney removed as this means you may not be able to use gallows brackets again on your side.

Quote looks good though if you can get the above in writing.

[russ_a]

I have always predicted that in a few years time people will be paying to have the chimney breasts put back in.

[Mandat]

Lasitha said:

The builder said they would sort out all the regs, so that should be covered (I hope)

Unfortunately, legal matters such as administering the procedures under the Party Wall ect. Act cannot be abrogated to the builder, as they remain the sole responsibility of the property owner.

In my experience, where builders or other non qualified/experienced persons try to administer the Act, they invariably end up creating a problem, costing the owner more expense than would otherwise be required (in clearing up the problem that they created) and possibly even impacting on neighbourly relations.