Cost to Remove Chimney and Fireplace [Pricing for Each Part]

Are you planning to renovate your home sometime soon? If so, the time may be right for you to consider removing some old or outdated fixtures. The placement of your chimney and fireplace, in particular, may require some further consideration.

Even if you’re okay with the current placement of your chimney and fireplace, there are still other reasons to reconsider that. Instead of benefiting your household, those old fixtures may be actively causing discomfort because they’re plagued by issues. The aforementioned fixtures may also be costing you money because they are inefficient elements of your home so consider removing them.

Full demolition of your chimney costs an average of $7,000. You can also opt to have specific parts such as the chimney stack, breast, and flue removed individually. Removal costs for those parts of the chimney are $1,300, $2,000, and $2,800 respectively. Getting rid of your current fireplace will tack on an additional $1,100 to your bill.

Removing your existing chimney and fireplace may be necessary if you want to completely renovate your home. By getting them out of the way, you can implement more of your desired changes. Learn how much chimney and fireplace removal will cost by reading the rest of this article.

Cleaning your chimney regularly can help it stay in working condition for a long time. Of course, your chimney is still susceptible to wear and tear and the stack may show a lot of that damage. You may have to get that chimney stack removed eventually and that will cost you $1,300.

Warning signs will emerge if your chimney stack has sustained a significant amount of damage. The signs of damage are pretty easy to find. They may appear as chips or cracks on the chimney stack so keep an eye out for them.

Leaking can also be an issue for the chimney stack. Vapors may escape through small holes in the stack instead of the hole up top.

Removing the chimney stack is a labor-intensive task. First, the workers will have to set up the scaffolding so they can reach the chimney stack. After that, they will have to remove the bricks carefully.

The workers will patch up the hole where the stack was after removing the bricks. If your roof was damaged at some point during stack removal, the workers will also administer the necessary repairs.

The problematic part of your chimney could also be the chimney breast. In that case, addressing the issue will require more money. The average cost of removing the chimney breast is $2,000.

For those who may be unaware, the chimney breast refers to the walls that surround your fireplace. Its job is to contain the smoke coming from your fireplace. The chimney breast directs the smoke up to the stack where it can be released into the air.

Beyond its functional purpose, the chimney breast can also be a decorative addition to your home. You can modify its appearance so it fits in better with the rest of your home décor.

Even if the chimney breast did fit into your home décor, that may no longer be the case now. Your design sensibilities may change and you may want something different from the current design. Thankfully, removing the existing chimney breast is an option.

Removing the chimney breast is tougher and more expensive because temporary supports may be required. The damage to the area surrounding the chimney breast may also be more extensive this time around. That will require more repairs.

We’ve discussed removing the chimney stack and the chimney breast so we can now turn our attention to the flue and liner. Removing those two components of your chimney system will be even more expensive. On average, removing the chimney’s flue and its liner will cost you $2,800.

Workers charge more for chimney flue and liner removal because it’s a way tougher task. The flue is the portion of your chimney that goes from the fireplace to the exhaust at the top.

As you can imagine, accessing the flue is already pretty difficult. Removing it while trying to minimize damage to the rest of your home will be a serious test for the workers.

Meanwhile, the liner is there to protect the chimney from combustible elements. It’s also tasked with maximizing the performance of your chimney. Detaching the liner will be easier compared to removing the flue.

Liners made from stainless steel are the easiest to remove. Clay and concrete are other materials commonly used to line the chimney flue. Older chimneys are not equipped with liners so you can save some money if you have that.

The renovation project you have in mind may require completely overhauling your home layout. In that scenario, you may need to completely demolish your existing chimney. Professionals will charge an average of $7,000 if you’re asking them to fully demolish that part of your home.

You may have noticed that $7,000 is higher than the combined cost of removing the chimney stack, breast, and flue. That may seem odd at first, but it makes sense once you consider all the work involved in complete chimney demolition.

Full chimney removal means that part of your home will be left completely exposed unless the workers cover it up. They will have to cover the exposed area with walls and a ceiling at the very least. The floor surrounding the chimney breast may also have to be removed.

More time, materials, and labor will be required to cover the area where your chimney used to be. You will have to pay for all of that and that’s why the workers charge more.

Many homeowners typically don’t stop at just removing the chimney. Since complete renovation is the goal, they may also call on the professionals to remove the fireplace.

Removing your fireplace is also a good idea if you have an older model. Some of the older fireplace designs are plagued by inefficiency. They can cost you a lot of money in the long run.

No matter your reason for removing your fireplace, you need to know how much that will cost. We discuss that matter in greater detail by focusing on specific fireplace types.

You may have an electric insert present inside your fireplace. Removing that electric insert will cost you $750.

Fireplace inserts are those boxes installed inside the fireplace. They are usually made from cast iron or steel and they feature insulated glass up front so the fire is visible.

Homeowners have turned to using fireplace inserts because they do a better job of controlling combustion. They are more efficient compared to conventional fireplace setups.

If you have an electric insert installed in your fireplace, removing it will be a straightforward task. Once the wires powering the electric insert are detached, the fixture can be removed with no issue.

It also helps that electric inserts are often not paired with chimneys. That makes removing an electric insert so much simpler.

Expect to pay more if you have a gas insert instead of an electric insert inside your fireplace. The average cost of removal doubles to $1,500 if you have a gas insert.

You have to pay more to remove the gas insert because more elements are involved. Hiring a plumber will be necessary so the gas lines can be properly closed. Capping the chimney may also be required if you’re removing the gas insert without replacing it immediately.

The chimney breast may also have to be modified after the gas insert is removed. If the chimney breast was relying on the gas insert for support previously, you now have to change how it’s designed.

Next up, let’s discuss outdoor fireplace removal. This is a pricey expenditure as well. You’re looking at a bill of $1,300 if you need an outdoor fireplace removed.

Demolishing an outdoor fireplace is expensive mainly because of the boiler system involved. The boiler system connected to the fireplace must be removed carefully or else it could turn into a hazard. The workers may also have to remove plenty of material if the outdoor fireplace is located far from the boiler system.

The design of your outdoor fireplace can also factor into the cost of removal. You’ll have to pay more if you have an elaborately designed fireplace.

Do you have a wood-burning stove in your fireplace? To remove that wood-burning stove, you will have to pay $800.

Old-fashioned wood-burning stoves boast that aesthetic quality that many homeowners adore. Unfortunately, their level of performance leaves a lot to be desired.

Wood-burning stoves tend to produce a lot of smoke. The smoke they produce can be hazardous to your health.

The inefficient nature of an old wood-burning stove also makes it less than desirable. You’re wasting money by using since there are more fuel-efficient alternatives. Replace that wood-burning stove with something safer and more efficient and improve your home in the process.

Related Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Relocate a Fireplace?

Demolishing your fireplace is not your only option if it’s constantly in the way. You can also pay professionals to relocate it to a different part of your home. The average cost of relocating a fireplace is $6,500.Numerous factors can affect the final cost of moving your fireplace. The fireplace’s size, design, and distance between the original site and the new spot are among the most impactful.

Does a Fireplace Add Value to a Home?

Yes, adding a fireplace can boost your home’s resale value. It’s a significant boost too. The addition of the fireplace can increase your home’s value by 12 percent.Adding a fireplace makes sense not just from a comfort standpoint. It’s an investment that can also yield a good return down the line.

Can You Drywall Over a Fireplace?

Removing a fireplace can be expensive. If you want to cover it while you save up to pay for its removal, you can do that. You can hide your unused fireplace by covering it with some drywall.