Architecture - Possible to take out a double fireplace?

Hi,

My dh and I are looking at buying a 1972 home that is "quirky" - that's probably putting it too lightly. My question is is it even possible to take out a double sided fireplace? Imagine a big room with a cathedral ceiling, chop it in half with a wall (running along the highest point of the ceiling), then stick a double sided fireplace in the middle of that wall creating 2 small rectangular rooms.

If something can't be done about the fireplace, I'm not sure it could be a home I'd be happy with. We live in TX - fireplaces are ridiculous wastes of space. I'm just wondering if there's anything that can be done and if there's a possibility the fireplace is somehow supporting the house.

I know that we can acquire the house plans to figure out what's load bearing in the house but I thought I'd ask here first - since, for all I know, it's an insane idea.

Thanks,
April

A building permit will be required for demolition of fireplace. A structural engineer can tell you if removal with impact the structural integrity of the home.

Looking at the plans will tell you exactly what you have. That is where to start. You can probably do it, but you never know for sure without plans or looking in person.

On a forum you get advice and opinions.

Dick

Thanks for the opinions. It's definitely something I want to look into "officially" but I didn't want to sound like a total idiot when I asked a contractor or whomever I need to speak with. Good to know it might be possible.

April

Yes, it is possible. I have done several of those type of jobs over the years.
Your existing firplace is probably free standing. Most are. In other words, they add no structural integrity to the home. The fireplace was added after the roof was up. The big problem is that it is expensive and not a diy job. It has to be taken apart from the top down, and it will be attached very very well where it comes through the roof. It will have to be taken down stone by stone.. You will then have to address the base and the floor. It would be nice if you have the plans of the house to look at, and a structural engineer is good also. However I have never had either available to me. Luckily I am an engineer also, so I can get myself out of most predicuments. Good Luck

April:

Chimneys/flues are never supposed to be load bearing, but if anyone has hacked the house in the past, it's hard to tell with out looking at it. The wall in which the firelaces live could be carrying at least the weight of the ceiling and joists above, if not more. You didn't mention whether or not the house is one or more stories.

See if you can get into the space above the ceiling (if it's an attic or crawl space) and see which way the joists run. If the joists run perpendicular to the wall that splits the two rooms, it's likely that the wall is carrying the load of at least the ceiling and joists. In order to keep the ceiling from crashing down on you, a header or beam would be required to pick up and carry that load. You could cut up to a 6' opening with a door-like header but if you wanted to take the whole thing out, you might need to clear-span it with an engineered truss-joist, glue-lam, or other engineered wood. Depending on the type of construction of your house, a column on each end might be needed to hold the beam up, and that would require that the foundation underneath is competent to hold the point load of a column.

If the ceiling joists run parallel with the wall, or the ceiling is actually part of a roof truss or something, then you could likely take the wall and fireplace outwithout much effort. Just make sure you dont' have any sewer stacks or other important things running up through that wall cavity.

Sorry there's not a clean answer - probably best to get a carpenter or architect out to look it.

Hope this helps.

Greg