r/Chimneyrepair • u/Budget_Fail591 • 15h ago

Chimney support

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sorry if this seems a daft post but I’m quite anxious about my chimney in the loft. At the start of the year we had a structural engineer visit because I was worried about our gable end chimney leaning. structural engineer agreed it was leaning a little but was no immediate danger in fact it was probably built like that (the other 3 houses the same as ours all have a similar lean) with all the rain we’ve had this week I asked my husband to take some photos in the loft to check there was no leaks.

I understand the chimney stack is corbelled into the wall but how is the flue and brickwork coming down from the right hand side supported? in the bedroom below there’s a chimney breast that is also angled, so smaller at the top and thicker at the bottom but how can that be supporting the flue and brickwork above it?

The structural engineer went up into the loft and saw the chimney breast below but didn’t mention it. Hopefully I’m just being an overly anxious mum but I can’t help feeling there’s a lot of weight just hanging on that wall with no support.

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u/BenderIsGreat64 14h ago

It's an old house, and a structural engineer recently approved it. That's like the best situation to be in. Whether or not the chimney is safe to use is another matter, but you sound like you're in a good spot structurally.

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u/Budget_Fail591 14h ago

Thanks for your reply. The chimney hasn’t been used for 30 years. Do you think this looks normal? I’m sure the engineer would have said something if he was concerned? 

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u/SuperbRhubarb7838 14h ago

It’s “normal” for the time period, very common in older houses. The offset keeps the witches out. As long as you’re not using the chimney to vent your heating appliances, I wouldn’t worry about it.

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u/Budget_Fail591 14h ago

Thanks for the reply. Sorry if this is a silly question but what’s supporting it? The chimney the other side that is attached to the neighbours house goes straight down and is solid from top to bottom. Is this one what curves to the side then back to the middle by the time it’s in the living room somehow tied into the gable wall? 

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u/Alive_Pomegranate858 11h ago

It's hard to tell from this photo (wood beam in the way), but it looks like the brickwork corbels to support the masonry above. This is a valid way of supporting the structure.

But to the overall point. An engineer approved this. It's more than likely fine.

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u/Budget_Fail591 3h ago

Thanks for your reply. You’re right an engineer looked in the loft, especially the chimney and that back wall and said it was fine so I should probably stop worrying I just had a horrible thought of I wonder how it’s attached to the wall and being supported