Fireplace Removal

There are a variety of reasons for a person to look into fireplace removal. Most, if not all of them, boil down to the fact that you simply don't like the old fireplace anymore. That being said, you will have the choice of either removing the fireplace yourself, or hiring someone else to do it. Save as much money as you can by doing as much of the work yourself. All you really need to do is follow these instructions.

1. Have it looked at. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but a fireplace (and the attached chimney) are usually a fairly large structure that can have a correspondingly large impact on a house. Removing such large items without knowing what it will do to your home is not only a bad idea, but also potentially dangerous as well. This means that you should have it looked into by a structural engineer. A structural engineer will be able to tell you whether you can safely remove the fireplace yourself, or if you will need to have a professional do it so it can be done safely.
2. Get the tools. As long as the structural engineer says that your fireplace is safe for removal, you will need to get the right tools to do the job. Fireplace removal is basically demolition work, and this means that you will need to get the proper type of demolition tools. The basic tools you will need to get are things like hammers (in various sizes and weights), chisels, pry-bars, and so on. Just go to your local home improvement store and talk to the clerk. You will soon have all the tools that you will need to get the job done. Depending on your budget, and how often you plan on using the tools, you may want to consider renting your tools instead of buying them.
3. Start demolition. Take your tools home, and begin demolition work. Generally speaking, you should start at the top of the fireplace, and work your way down. As you begin removing the bricks, you may want to consider removing them carefully since you can salvage them and use them in other DIY projects. Depending on the type of fireplace you have, you may want to follow the recommendations of your structural engineer to ensure you know the proper way to remove the bricks, as well as remove the chimney. Generally speaking, once you have finished removing the mantle and hearth, you can then begin working on the chimney.
4. Basic clean up. When you have finished your demolition work you will need to actually do a bit of clean up. This will allow you a blank canvas to work with, as well as allow you to properly assess the condition that the area is in before you proceed. While you don't have to do an extremely detailed cleaning job, you should still be as thorough as possible to ensure that you can do your remodeling project as easily as possible.

Now that you have finished the fireplace removal process, you can begin your renovation process. Keep in mind that you will need to do something with the space, or you will find yourself faced with all kinds of problems. The most blatant of all problems should be that you will have a hole in all the levels of your home all the way to the roof.