The average cost to remove a chimney is £2,400.
The cost to remove a chimney will depend on how much you want removed. If you want the whole chimney breast and stack removed, this will typically cost more than just removing the breast or the stack.
The average cost to repair a chimney can range anywhere from £450 – 1,100.
The cost of repairing a chimney depends on many factors, including the complexity of the job, its size, location, and accessibility.
We delve into the cost of these different jobs and examine the various cost factors to help you determine your budget.
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Contents
How much does it cost to remove a chimney?
The cost to remove a chimney depends on many factors, but the most significant factor that will affect the price is how much of it you want removed.
Do you want to remove the chimney breast, the chimney stack, or the entire chimney (the stack and the breast)? The next question is whether you want it simply removed or rebuilt.
Here are ballpark costs for different types of chimney removal costs:
| Type of chimney removal | Cost | Duration |
| Removal of chimney breast | £1,200 – 3,450 | 1.5 – 3 days |
| Removal of chimney stack | £1,000 – 1,750 | 4 – 8 hours |
| Removal of chimney stack and breast | £2,500 – 3,600 | 3 – 5 days |
| Scaffolding hire | £500 – 700 | per week |
| Skip hire | £100 – 250 | |
| Get quotes | ||
Other factors that will affect the cost of removing a chimney are:
Location
Where you are based can impact the cost of removing a chimney. If you live in London and the south-east, the costs are more than likely to be higher than in other parts of the UK.
Number of tradespeople
Labour costs will increase if the job is complex and requires more than one tradesperson. Due to the risky nature of this work, they often work in pairs.
Size of chimney stack and breast
The size of the chimney stack and / or breast will affect the overall price of the chimney removal.
Typically, the bigger the chimney, the longer it will take to remove it, increasing labour costs. Also, the bigger the chimney, the more waste must be removed, and a larger skip will be required.
Accessibility
If you remove the chimney stack, scaffolding is often required, significantly increasing the cost. Scaffolding to access a chimney typically costs between £500 – 700 per week, but this can vary depending on the house size.
How much does it cost to remove a chimney breast?
The average cost to remove a chimney breast is £2,325.
Removing a chimney breast can be pretty transformative in creating space. However, there are essential things you should consider before removing a chimney breast, which could affect the cost.
Structural support
If you remove the chimney breast but not the chimney stack, some structural support (e.g., RSJ’s or gallow brackets) will need to be put in place, as the chimney stack relies on the chimney breast for support. A structural engineer will need to design a safe solution for this.
Building regulations
Chimney breast removal requires approval under Building Regulations as it removes a structural part of the building. Your structural engineer’s designs must be submitted to building control before starting any work.
Hiring other specialist tradespeople
Before removing the chimney breast, you should hire a professional builder. They can detect any problems with the structure and look for pipes or electrical wires.
If there are any gas pipes or electrical wires, you might need to hire a professional electrician or gas-safe engineer to do any work or checks, which will obviously add to the overall cost.
Shared wall
If your chimney breast is on a shared wall of a terraced or semi-detached house, you must adhere to the 1996 Party Wall Act, which requires approval from your neighbours before commencing the work.
To do this, you will need a party wall surveyor, who usually charges between £120 and £250 per hour.
Plastering and decorating
The condition of the wall behind the chimney breast will also determine the cost.
The exposed wall might need fireproofing, which can slightly increase the material and labour costs.
Removing a chimney breast creates a lot of mess so you will also want to factor in any plastering and decorating costs.
The average cost to plaster a room is between £500 and 1,500, and decorators would probably charge for a half day (£100 – 120) or full day (£150 – 200) depending on how much needs to be decorated.
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Chimney stack removal cost
The average cost to remove a chimney stack is £1,375.
You might want to remove a chimney stack due to the following reasons:
- It is too damaged to be repaired
- The roof leaks, or there is structural damage
- To improve energy efficiency
- For aesthetic reasons – to create a more modern look
There are a few different factors to consider before removing a chimney stack and that might affect the cost which we discuss below.
Waterproofing and insulation
After removing a chimney stack, the roof will need to be patched up and waterproofed to prevent leaks, so you will need to factor in roof repair costs.
Ventilation
Ventilation might be needed to prevent moisture build-up if the chimney stack is removed without the chimney breast. Caps or vents can be added to maintain airflow.
The cost to cap a chimney is around £150 – 200, but it can be more if you choose a more elaborate style. See further down for more information.
Building regulations
You don’t need planning permission to remove a chimney unless you live in a conservation area or listed building.
However, for the same reasons as removing the chimney breast, you may need to check the building regulations, especially if structural changes are being made to the roof.
Scaffolding
As mentioned earlier, scaffolding can add another £500 – 700 per week if needed.
How much does it cost to rebuild a chimney?
The cost of rebuilding a chimney can be between £1,000 and £15,000.
A significant factor affecting this chimney rebuild cost is whether you are having just a chimney stack rebuild or a complete chimney rebuild (stack and breast).
The cost to rebuild a chimney stack (the part above the roofline) is between £1,000 and 4,000.
Other factors that will affect the rebuild cost are the size of the chimney and the location.
Chimney repair cost
Maintaining or repairing your chimney is essential for the safety of your home and family.
The cost of repairing a chimney depends on the amount of damage, the chimney size, and accessibility (whether scaffolding is required). If scaffolding is required, the time it takes to complete the job will also increase.
The table below contains the approximate average costs of the different chimney repair jobs.
These are ballpark figures — to get accurate quotes from bricklayers near you, post a job.
| Type of chimney repair | Average cost | Time to repair |
| Repointing a chimney | £500 – 1,000 | 1 – 3 days |
| Replacing chimney flashing | £750 – 1,100 | 4 – 8 hours |
| Repairing chimney flashing | £400 – 600 | 2 – 4 hours |
| Replacing damaged bricks or stones | £100 – 300 | 2 – 8 hours |
| Replacing a chimney flue | £750 – 1,400 | 1 – 5 days |
| Get quotes | ||
Chimney repointing cost
Repointing a chimney typically costs between £500 and £1,000, depending on its height, size, and accessibility.
The cost of repointing a chimney will differ depending on whether it is brickwork or stonework.
Repointing a stone chimney will be more expensive than brickwork. Stone chimneys, particularly in older buildings, require lime mortar and specific techniques to replicate the original construction.
Replacing or repairing chimney flashing cost
Chimney flashing seals the gap between the chimney and the roof to prevent water from getting in. Lead flashing is the most common and traditional due to its durability and weather resistance.
The cost will depend on whether you need to repair or replace the flashing.
Replacing the flashing will cost between £750 and £1,100, compared to £500 – £600 for repairing it. These costs include scaffolding.
It will also depend on whether you need to replace or repair the flashing of the whole chimney or just parts of it. If you repair just part of the chimney, this will not only reduce the labour time but also decrease the amount of lead needed.
Chimney flaunching repair cost
Chimney flaunching is the sloped mortar bed on top of the chimney stack that holds the chimney pots or flue pipes in place.
The cost of chimney flaunching repair is typically between £50 and £550, depending on the size of the chimney, the extent of the work, and any scaffolding required.
Cost of replacing a chimney flue
The chimney flue directs smoke and gases from the fireplace to the outside. It is often lined with materials, such as clay, ceramic, or metal, to withstand high temperatures so as to prevent the risk of fires.
The average cost to replace the chimney flue is around £1,000, depending on the size of your chimney and which material for the lining you go for.
Chimney removal FAQ
How much does it cost to cap a chimney?
The average cost to cap a chimney is £175, which is a small price to pay when there are many benefits of capping your used or unused chimney, such as:
- Prevents heat loss
- Prevents moisture build-up
- Stops debris or animals entering your chimney
This cost varies depending on the model and hardware fitting you choose, and you might need to include scaffolding costs if necessary.
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Above, we’ve discussed the price of chimney removal, rebuild and repair. Hopefully, this gives you a rough guide for your project.
Next, to kick your project off, post a job to get quotes from local bricklayers.