Is removing the chimney between the 2nd floor windows structurally sound, or should I be concerned about the soot and tile removal process?
Asked by Justine Garnier 
3 months ago
Last Updated: October 9, 2024
Do you see the bump out between the two windows? It’s actually a chimney from the 1850s house. There’s one on both the east and west side, but only on the second floor – not in the cellar, first floor, attic, or outside the house.
I’m wondering if there’s any structural significance to it. Do you think it would be a problem if I used a hand-held jackhammer to remove it? (I’m not sure how much soot there would be after all these years.)
By the way, I’ve been dealing with the struggle of pulling up old 12″ tiles that are stuck with quick dry cement on plywood subfloor screws. It’s been a nightmare! 🥴
Renovating an old home always brings unexpected surprises, believe me. I suggest removing the drywall for a thorough inspection. (We also removed tile with deteriorating self-leveler on top of heart pine.) Let’s keep going!
I hope it was crumbling 🤣 And it’s not drywall around the chimney. It seems more like a sand-based mortar. I dug into “the other chimney” to investigate. It was 3” of mud/mortar until I reached the brick.
Might be old plaster as well.
Is like old sand-based plaster when chiseled into?
Hey , try googling the term ‘horsehair plaster’ to see if that’s what you’re referring to. I live in an old house with plaster dating back to the early 1900s. While old plaster repairmen are becoming rare, you can still make repairs using drywall and mud over the seams to keep it looking nice.
Hey , you should look up sand cement plaster too. Either way, it’s most likely old plaster – about 99.9% sure.
The niece of the former owner, confirmed that there was a fire at the house. Most of the house is made of drywall now. All the original details have been lost, except for this chimney on the 2nd floor. 🥴
Horse hair plaster seems similar. I’m located in Maryland. It likely contains a good amount of clay as well.
Try searching for ‘sand like plaster’. You’ll find many articles on the topic.
Seems like it’s made of plaster
Just on the 2nd floor? Looks like you’ve discovered the burial spot! 😵💫
There are several choices in this area, to be honest🫣
Just a thought… I’m no professional, but chimneys can be quite heavy. I’m curious if it’s causing strain on the structure that used to be held up by a chimney that was taken out below. You might want to consult a structural engineer about this.
I consulted one of the contractors hired by me. They simply told me not to stress about it. Supposedly, the exterior wall is bearing the weight. Frankly, I can’t wrap my head around how that works.
The wooden floor slants towards it. In every direction.
Maybe that’s the distinction between an engineer who can be held legally accountable for statements like that and a contractor who can easily dismiss it? If the floor is slanting towards it, I’d definitely raise an eyebrow!
The engineer, just brushed it off. None of my concerns seemed to bother him at all. (Basement- primary support beam cut in half with a 5 foot piece missing, propped up by 2 smaller tree trunks.)
I later consulted a foundation expert and they installed a metal beam horizontally. We are gradually lifting the house with this method.
Hey , are you mixing up structural engineers and contractors? Here’s a link that might clarify the differences: https://www.pittdes.com/post/differencesbetweenacontractorandanengineerin-construction Regardless, I hope everything works out well!
Said that the contractor came prepared with a structural engineer for the walk through. This is for an upstairs and downstairs apartment within a single family home. The goal is to convert it back into a single family home. So, the structural engineer was also there.
The soot is really bad. Seal it in with plastic and use an exhaust fan to remove most of the dust when you start the demolition.
That bump out doesn’t seem to reach the ceiling. Have you considered using a small camera to investigate? It could be hiding your main sewage line or water pipes. Check the area in your basement to see what lies beneath.
Hey , this is the 2nd floor. My stove is right below it, and the attic is right above. I can actually look down into the chimney hole through the attic floor. It’s a chimney with mud to give it a bump out look. But it’s basically just there floating over the stove. The plumbing bump out is in a room above in the bathroom. The plumbing for what used to be the kitchen (next to the chimney) was cut when the bathroom on the first floor failed. Last year, we took care of the piping that was exposed when we had to remove the shower due to mold under it.
I think you can safely remove it without affecting the structure. Just start at the top and carefully work your way down layer by layer. Make sure to have a Shop-Vac handy to clean up any loose soot as you go.
I’ve been staring at this setup for about 6 months now. I agree with your assessment. However, a while back, I opened up a load-bearing wall and found that the addition trusses were completely separate from the original structure. I had to add multiple beams to connect everything securely. This house is quite a project!
Utilize the pre-made exhaust route if you’re not using it.
Prefab might hold a different meaning for me…. This house is definitely not prefab.
– my bad. The chimney provides a direct path outdoors, so a duct can be lowered down and connected to an exhaust fan or gas appliance (proper liner needed). Use the right adapters and flashings on top and voila… The Gif demonstrates the consequences of trying to remove just a section… It’s a huge task for what? 2 feet of wall space?
Ah. Got it. Unfortunately, it’s not. It’s “open” at the attic floor and doesn’t go any further. It’s only on the 2nd floor. The floor slopes towards it from all sides. The slope has only worsened with each layer of flooring I’ve removed.
It looks like you don’t have central Heating and AC, judging by the baseboard heaters and window fan in your picture. Try poking a hole in the drywall to check what’s behind it. You could even consider extending that wall and adding an island with bar stools and storage cabinets.
Hey, I’m working on a 2nd floor kitchen removal to turn it back into a bedroom. We’re looking for closet and dresser space without blocking the baseboard. And yep, no central anything. The height is about 6’6″ floor to ceiling.
If you’re going to take it down, I recommend starting from the top. It’s risky to begin at the bottom.
Oh wow. And the ceiling is only 6’6” high. I’m 6’ tall myself. I imagine it would come down quickly. I’d throw bricks out the window to the ground outside.
Is it extending outside through the roof?
No way. It doesn’t even pass through the attic.
Keep being cautious
Got it. I’m currently concerned about horsehair plaster dust and soot as well.
Begin by removing the trim and then tackle the front part at the bottom.
View from the side on the floor
Hannah Sykes Wood, that wall looks like it was hastily put up. I’m curious to find out what’s hidden behind it. I’m thinking it might be an old wall heater that was covered up.
That’s not a wall, it’s actually a chimney. The chimney doesn’t extend below or above this floor, just on the 2nd floor. My husband reached into it from the attic and found insulation and mice nests. Gross!
Hannah Sykes Wood
Agreed. Her husband mentioned he’ll take care of it. He’s thinking about renting an insulation vacuum.
Might be a good idea to avoid dealing with the yuckiness LOL
Seems like she was the culprit. Sitting on 2 2x4s just nailed to the joists. 🥴
There must be a good reason why it’s still standing. That’s a major warning sign! In my opinion, I wouldn’t touch it. But if you’re feeling daring, I’ll be the first to congratulate you! Best of luck.
As I thought. Chimney. Resting on two 2x4s that are simply nailed to the joists
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Why didn’t you get a proper surveyor’s report? Even though you’re saying the chimney doesn’t connect above or below, it doesn’t matter as previous owners might have unintentionally removed those parts. It’s still a part of the house’s structure, so it wasn’t wise to start removing it without an engineer’s inspection.
Mentioned that they had an engineer visit many years back, and the engineer didn’t seem worried about the situation one way or the other.
Hey , I hope he provided you with an official report and that you verified he had liability insurance.
Definitely yes to both
Just take your time and get rid of it. If it’s already been removed to that extent, it means someone was being lazy and gave up.
3 lengths of 2x4s secured in place with some nails to the joists 🤬
Count that as a win for trust!
Oh my goodness. That’s a considerable amount of weight for them to support. It’s good that it’s no longer there.
Make sure nothing is coming through the roof. If not, take out all the bricks above the ceiling and from the wall, and avoid any collapsing. Smooth out the wall afterward for peace of mind.
Noticed there was no brick above the ceiling or poking through the roof. We believe they didn’t bother because they swept all the debris from the roof into the chimneys and walked away. There’s a ton of junk in the chimney.