Remove fireplace

Question

I want to remove this fireplace, all of it, so I have bare wall to use. 
 I only have one wall in this room to put furniture. I will have to replace the wall and remove the bricks on the outside also. 
 Has anyone out there had this done? Give me your ideas.

Terry · Answer

Furniture does not have to go on a wall...do not remove your fireplace...it is really nice.

Debi53 · Answer

Terry is right. Furniture looks great floating in the room, but if you want to remove the fireplace, get 2-3 contractors to come out and go over with you what is involved. Then you will be armed with the knowledge of costs & effort. Then you will be able to make an educated decision that's right for you.

Fran McCarty · Answer

I would agree with the other ladies. Keep the fireplace and play around with floating furniture arrangement. Removing a fireplace is a huge expense. The money spent removing it could be spent to purchase new furniture that is perhaps more size appropriate for the room.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Like it. Adds a lot of value to your home, especially if it is working. I'd just accessorize a bit. Looks unloved just now.

Cheryl · Answer

I'm a real estate broker and I would say don't take it out. A house with a fireplace like that is very desirable and it adds value to your home. If you really need that wall have a carpenter build you a faux wall around it

Rosemary Kelly · Answer

Your fireplace and chimney could be part of the structural support for your home. You might want to check with a civil engineer or a mason if your heart is totally set on it. Like the others have said though, I'd keep it. It adds value to your home.

Judy · Answer

DO NOT DIY a project like this. If you do remove it get licensed contractors with experience, I wanted to do the same thing, and found out we couldn't afford it. If the fireplace is functional and certified safe for use, I suggest keeping it Our's was not so we sealed the dampers and chimney chase, it is just decorative. Your's actually looks nice.

Patty Morgan · Answer

It is a big job, when you take away the foundation it can cause big problems. I realize that this firer place just is not your taste. But, it is really nice feature to have in a room. If you don't really use it, you can always seal it up and add an electric panel for heat. I always try to make a negative a positive when I see a change like this.

Ardis Olson · Answer

It so cute! I would decorate around it. Wish I had one just like it!

861650 · Answer

Cheryl, the real estate broker is right in not removing the fireplace and building a faux wall around it. How big is your room? Floating your furniture in the room is a great idea. You may want to look at a lot of living rooms on the web. You could google, 'how to place furniture in a living room,' for starters. Pin the one's you like. Please do your research and be patient. In addition, google 'fireplaces' or 'ideas on painting stucco fireplaces.' Hope this helps.

Mak Meyers · Answer

Do not take out that awesome fireplace, doing so will reduce the value of your home!!

Becky Shell · Answer

Funny people who have somethings that they don't want and others would love to have them,like an old house,antiques,curly hair,straight hair. A friend of mine said you plant trees in your early life and cut them down in your later years. I would keep the fire place but that being said I understand your point in getting rid of it,I have a older house with a very large fire place mantel in my bedroom it takes up lots of space and fire place no longer functions but I have grown to like it more as time goes by as I think it gives room charm.

Kathy Ruth · Answer

Furniture should not always be against a wall! (None of our living room furniture is!)

Vickie · Answer

I agree, keep the fireplace especially if it is a working one. There is nothing better than a crackling fire on a cold evening to set the world right! But I also understand that it might not be your style, from the looks of clock and lamp you might be on the contemporary side. So add a mantel and accessories that will compliment your decor and make it work. I have a very small living room, long and narrow, it is rustic to go with the style of the house. Lots of cedar. BUT my problem, my husband inherited a baby grand piano, black lacquer kind, from his very traditional classic style loving Mom. I tried forever to make the house fit the piano, bought furniture I grew to truly hate, along with other things to try an incorporate the piano into the my rustic loving life. Finally decided to just incorporate the piano into my style instead of fighting what it was and it works! I have cool rustic wood treble clef bookends holding some of the music books on top along with some his Mom's crystal candle holders and a rustic mirror with a 'fancier' beveled edge hanging over the piano. It no longer is the elephant in the room and I have friends that have told me that my 'blend' works very well. So try finding a mantle that suits your style, a couple of chairs to float in front with a huge plant inside the fireplace or maybe if that is not to your liking at all, try a room divider in front to hid it and a sofa in front of the divider and there is your desired 'wall'! Good luck, hope you find a way to love your very unique fireplace!

Judy · Answer

you should take a picture of the whole thing so we can see what the room looks like and maybe we could come up with a great way to decorate without taking a fantastic looking fireplace out.

Morgan · Answer

get rid of it if you don't like it. Don't live for re-sale value, make your house what you want it to be.

Chel · Answer

What a beautiful fireplace!!! I can understand what you want to do on that wall, but getting rid of the fireplace will definitely take away from the charm of the room.

Lisa Cuddy · Answer

Why on earth would you want to remove a fireplace , if it's a working one? Do you know how many people would love to have a fireplace, me included? Furniture doesn't need to be on a wall. It's more interesting floating.

JoAnna Cooper · Answer

Wow, you want to remove the Adobe fireplace, why? You will find out why,when you take off something on an outside supporting wall. It will cost you a small fortune, check into this and you will change your mind real quick. Why not use it as a pizza oven or something like that.

Judy · Answer

Could you put your sofa across from (facing it) with chairs on either side? We just removed a chimney & it was expensive! They set up a scaffolding, started removing bricks from top. Added cost to repair roof, had to reside entire side of house b/c original siding didn't match horizontally, pain to remove bricks from attic space (hot, dirty), dirt dust everywhere in house.....this is a major dirty, expensive (building permit, rent scaffold & don't forget dumpster for bricks, too much trouble to remove the old mortar to reuse, match roofing and soffit) that, unless you are young, agile & strong, someone will charge big bucks to do.

Judy · Answer

Lol, oh, my! Well, unless prices are more reasonable by you than Michigan, plan on $2000 to take it down, $350 dumpster, $500-750 repair roof, ? $ for siding, ? $ for framing & drywall.....? $ for eating out until dust clears, lol. Good luck with everything.....are we going to get pros/cons & pics after you are done?

Angie Hunt Steele · Answer

Glenda, 
 Imh I would do something different tv wise-like get rid of the entertainment center or move it between the two rooms & keep that pretty fireplace. You can decorate the wall where the tv was previously. I would think the large center is making the room look small.

Another thought would be you could paint the fireplace a different color and really decorate it up to enhance it-if you decide it is too costly to remove. Would love to see pictures when you transform it. =)

Good luck with whatever you decide. ;)

Judy · Answer

Thanks for the pics to get a better idea of the layout. If it were my home I probably would get rid of the large entertainment center and hang tv on wall. Get a smaller entertainment center and buy smaller scale furniture. Put a cute wood mantle on fireplace to balance out room. You could do all of this for the price it would cost to take down your beautiful fireplace

Silvia · Answer

I, too, wanted to take my fire place down so I'll have more natural light in the family room. My friend, a realtor, told me not to do it. It's very expensive and it will decrease your home value. Your fire place is beautiful. Crazy idea: what about making the opening bigger and create a cozy sitting area?

Glenda Pino · Answer

I haven't done anything yet. I haven't given up on the idea however, everyone says no don't 
remove. It will devalue selling price down the road. I am in Silicon Valley and many, many times we can't use our fireplaces due to 'no burn days' environmental impacts.
So I need to make up my mind, I probably will go ahead, maybe in 2016. Also I have to find a suitable contractor because it changes more than I realized.

Lorena Salamah · Answer

I realized this is several years ago but I wanted to add I have the same fireplace and I love it

Lorena Salamah · Answer

We have the same fireplace and I love it

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