Why LA homeowners remove chimneys
Many older homes here were built with unreinforced brick chimneys. Over time, mortar weakens, bricks loosen and the chimney may separate from the house. Other homeowners just want the floor space back, or plan a remodel where the fireplace wall no longer belongs.
Whatever the reason, removing a chimney is a structural change to the house. Talk with your contractor or engineer about the plan, especially when the chimney is part of an exterior wall or roof line. We carry out the removal to that plan.
Indoor fireplace and surround removal
Inside the house, fireplace removal ranges from taking off a stone or tile surround to removing the entire firebox and hearth. In finished homes we lay Ram Board on the floors, seal the room with plastic and carry the masonry out in manageable loads.
We have opened fireplace walls in modern homes where every other surface in the room stayed perfect. That kind of work is about protection and patience as much as demolition.
Exterior chimney removal
An exterior chimney is usually taken down from the top, course by course, so bricks do not fall uncontrolled onto the roof, the yard or a neighbor's property. Once it is down to the roof line or the ground, the base and footing can be removed if the plan calls for it. The roof opening and wall need to be closed up by your roofer or contractor afterward.
Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and barbecues
Many LA back yards have a brick outdoor fireplace, fire pit or built-in barbecue that has seen better days. These are freestanding, which makes them simpler to take down, but they are still heavy and full of brick and concrete. We break them down, separate the brick and haul it away by the trailer load.
What chimney and fireplace removal includes
Scope depends on your home and plans. Typical items include:
- Removal of mantels, surrounds and hearths
- Firebox and interior masonry removal
- Chimney takedown above or below the roof line
- Removal of the chimney base and footing if scoped
- Outdoor fire pit, fireplace and barbecue demolition
- Floor and room protection for interior work
- Haul-off of brick, stone and concrete for recycling
Older chimneys and testing
Chimneys and fireplaces in older homes can include materials like old flue liners, insulation or patching compounds that may need testing before they are disturbed. If your house is older, we will tell you whether testing may be needed and what is required before removal starts.
Hauling heavy masonry
A single chimney can produce several tons of brick and mortar. We load it into our dump trailers and trucks as we go, so piles do not sit in the yard. Brick and concrete are kept separate from other debris for recycling.
