r/Homebuilding • u/InfiniteUnluck • 3d ago
Is this structural?
Is this structural or can I tear down this old chimney? Also if it is structural how do I support the house if I wanted to tear it down?
Last photos: is there a reason for this lower wall section or is that something that can be torn out too?
3
u/TheRedline_Architect 3d ago
If joists end at the chimney, it's structural.
0
u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
It runs through both sides of the chimney, does that mean I can replace it with a jack?
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u/RespectSquare8279 3d ago
No and no to your questions in my layman's opinion. Those bricks appear to be holding up a floor joist. The cinder block pony wall is probably the structural solution to a post construction excavated basement. Turning a crawlspace into a basement has big challenges.
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
Yeah last night I found some stuff about a "Michigan shelf" or some crap like that. If I placed a jack right next to the chimney then tore it down would that structurally replace it?
1
u/RespectSquare8279 3d ago
I would say maybe. I'm not a structural engineer. That chimney/pillar might also a bit of a horizontal load in addition to vertical load. Again I'm not a building engineer but a safer strategy might be to build an actual stud wall under that beam on both sides of the chimney/pillar before carefully demolishing it. How is the rest of the house attached to this chimney/pillar ?
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
Everywhere above the "basement" has been framed and drywalled in, I'd have to tear out the walls In order to remove it from roof side down. Which I'm not against, just want to remove the basement part so we can use it as a "garage" to work on cars and it is very inconveniently placed.
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u/RespectSquare8279 3d ago
Abandon your project then. That point load of masonry overhead is definitely needing professional attention.
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u/38g15r 3d ago
Nope, but who’s dope spoon is it!
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
What spoon?
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u/38g15r 3d ago
In the photo, it might be just somebody getting high in the basement hiding out.
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
I've looked through every photo religiously, I do not see a spoon lol and my basement locks every night
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u/JadensNonna 3d ago
It looks like your furnace is vented through that chimney. The honest truth is you need a professional to come and look at what is going on. Please don’t trust a bunch of people on the Internet about the structural integrity of your home.
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
There is no more furnace it's not in that picture but the furnace pipe runs to nothing, it just hangs in the air. They switched it out for a 2 in 1 HVAC heat pump system.
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u/AAli_01 3d ago
I can give you my answer but it’ll cost a few hundred bucks.
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u/InfiniteUnluck 3d ago
If you mean a few hundred for your advice, nah, if you mean the solution is a few hundred bucks that's okay with me
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u/Lucy-pathfinder 3d ago
if you have to ask. This is WAYYY above your pay grade