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How To Remove a Chimney or Fireplace Yourself

Removing a fireplace or a chimney is certainly a job you can do yourself. The reason for removing a fireplace may vary, but many reasons may be that extra space is needed, the fireplace is damaged or you just do not use it often enough. This project will take you some “grunt” time depending on your skill level of diy removal projects. You must use extreme caution to avoid being injured as this project is slightly dangerous. The photos below show us removing a corner room fireplace (chimney was already removed professionally) to make space for an entertainment center. This removal project took us 2 hours to complete. 2 hours to remove the fireplace and many more hours to drywall the area after it was removed. Painting took us another 2 hours and we also installed a new wood floor (and stair railing) after everything was done. Removing the fireplace was hazardous and it is recommended to always wear protective head, eye and face gear. See below for our step by step fireplace removal.

Corner fireplace built in 1981 that we are going to remove

1 – Corner fireplace built in 1981 that we are going to remove

The Chimney on the roof has been removed and the roof has been repaired

2 – The Chimney on the roof has been removed and the roof has been repaired

All drywall has been torn out and removed

3 – All drywall has been torn out and removed

Slowly Getting There

4 – Slowly Getting There

Chimney Vent Gone

5 – Chimney Vent Gone

Fireplace removed

6 – Fireplace removed

Granite flooring base removed

7 – Granite flooring base removed

New drywall

8 – New drywall

Now the painting begins

9 – Now the painting begins

Fireplace removed - completed project

10 – Fireplace removed – completed project

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2 thoughts on “How To Remove a Chimney or Fireplace Yourself”

  1. DIY Project Help Tips

    Hi Liane,
    This required two people to physically maneuver the metal flue above the roof while another person helps disconnect it inside of the attic and then assist by forcing it upward. This required plenty of elbow grease and brute strength. The more people you have assisting you the easier it will be. This is the way we removed the metal flue ourselves. It took some time but if done with patience it can be accomplished.
    -RR

  2. We are removing the same fireplace unit today. How did you take out the metal flue that leads to peak of house. We can not remove the individual sections. Thank you.

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