How to remove a freestanding wood fireplace?

Question

Hello folks,

It's been some time since I reached out on here for advice, or suggestions, I do still pop in from time to time when I am looking for some information or guidance, when I am looking at tackling a new project.

In this case I haven't been able to find anything regarding my next project, I'm looking into tackling next.

I am wondering if anyone has removed a freestanding wood fireplace?  And if they did could they give me some pointers please.

What I am wanting to know are the pros and cons of having it removed?

Exactly what is involved?

Has anyone here removed one themselves?

Was it reasonably easy to do, if you did do it yourself?

Things that come to mind that will need my attention:

Removal of the fire place/chimney breast, inside the house as well as in the roof space, and exterior, on the roof.

Repairs to internal ceiling/ gyprock

Matching paint etc.

Will I need to add extra timber to support extra tiles after removing the chimney breast above the ceiling in the roof space and exterior?

Removal of the Hearth/ Hearth Pad ? What's underneath?

Matching the floor covering, plank lino. *(2 years old)

If you have paid for this to be done?  A rough idea on costs?

What have I missed?

Any pointers/advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

This Oldgal   :)

Not my actual free standing fire place. Just an example.

Nailbag · Answer

Hi @Old-gal24

Most of the main steps and considerations have been covered by both @EricL and @Dave. It's a pretty straight forward process with a helper or two to help with lifting and the flue removal which is the only tricky part. Here's some tips on that process. The last one I helped remove we left the top hat on the roof so we didnt have to worry about filling the hole. Otherwise it's a matter of replacing the tile or patching with a section of iron cladding and both matching the existing profile.

The next issue is dealing with whats left. You can patch the ceiling yourself if you're confident enough on the quality of your finish. Then the entire ceilingwill most likely need to be painted.

Under the hearth will be your floorboards like in @Dave-1 photos as the hearth is definitely sitting on top. Unless you're happy with just sanding and polishing the bare section, you will need a full floor sand back to raw timber and new polish. This will be expensive.

Is it an option to replace the existing old style with a new modern one with woodbox?

Nailbag

Dave-1 · Answer

Good Evening @Old-gal24

I would be hard put to say keep it or not :) I think id end up keeping it or purchasing a newer more modern version even (runs on less wood)

@EricL has pointed out most of the things I would be thinking of but I have a couple of extra ones. My place had a woodfire somewhere in the past, the weight of the fireplace and I am presuming water leaking in had warped my floor and supports below. Its fixed now but never thought I would have to.

My advice, check that the floor is level before you pull it out :) When I inspected the house the previous owners had a lounge over the dip lol

Have a builder assess the substructure of the floor before you start removing. Weight being removed will potentially mean something else lifts. I have the support beam plaster crack due to the shifts. Easy fix, just something that does show movement.

The floor after I pulled up the carpet.. It had never been sanded/finished

You can see the dip that the weight caused (Plus a water issues I presume from timber staining of this floor you can see from the garage)

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/271486/levelling-a-timber-floor

It came up nice tho you could feel the dip. The dip sadly did increase over the next 10 years. Here is a link to the repair, this is why I suggest to get a builder/carpenter to check your sub floor structure to see how it is standing up.

The good news is its all doable, it just may have a larger scope than what seems like a pick up and pull out. It would be an interesting project to show if you do go ahead :) Please take lots of photos if you do.

Dave

EricL · Answer

Hello @Old-gal24

It’s a really good set of questions, and you’re absolutely right to think it through carefully before jumping in. Removing a freestanding wood heater is very doable, but there are a few layers to it, especially once you factor in the flue and roof penetration.

Starting with the pros and cons, the biggest advantage is reclaiming space and simplifying the room visually. If you no longer use it, you also remove the need for chimney maintenance, ash cleanup, wood storage and insurance considerations tied to solid fuel heating. On the downside, you lose a very effective off grid heat source, which can be valuable in power outages, and you may reduce resale appeal for buyers who love a wood fire. There is also the cost and finishing work involved, which can add up depending on how cleanly everything can be removed and patched.

The basic process is fairly straightforward in principle. The heater is disconnected from the flue, the flue sections are dismantled either from the roof space down or from the top down depending on access, and the roof cowl and flashing are removed. The roof penetration then needs to be properly closed, which usually means replacing tiles or sheets and reinstalling sarking/framing or flashing to keep everything watertight. Inside, the ceiling opening is patched, plastered and repainted.

For the hearth, most freestanding heaters sit on a tiled, stone or manufactured hearth pad for ember protection. Often the original floor is still underneath unless it was cut away. There may be screw fixings or adhesive to deal with. If your plank lino runs under the hearth, you may be fine, but if it was cut around it, matching a two-year-old product can be difficult if it has faded or been discontinued.

However, removing the flue on the inside and outside will involve a great deal of climbing on ladders or scaffolding. It will require at least 2 to 4 strong individuals to lift an average sized free standing fireplace as they are quite heavy. The slab on your hearth will definitely be heavy and may require a second set of hands to lift. With these circumstances present, I would suggest getting a quote to disassemble the fireplace. I recommend posting it on Airtasker or Hipages, putting in as much information as possible in order to get a quick response.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag, @Noyade, @TedBear, @JoeAzza and @Remarka6le for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric