[chrisdanna]

I have a 2 story home and have wood burning fireplace on the main floor and one on the second floor. We want to know if it is possible to remove the basement fireplace as we are changing it to a bedroom without harming fireplace upstairs and not causing any harm to the structure of the house.

[ballengerb1]

Is this a true masonary fireplace or is it a prefab? If its masonary you can not rmove anything in the basement but you could cover over the existing fireplace.

[21boat]

Just to add to ballengerb1

Check the flue system in the fireplaces to make sure the basement fireplace is not connected to any other fireplace(s) flue

Also the fireplace in the basement is more than likely the structural support for the upper fireplaces and the structural end needs to remain intact for obvious reasons. If there is a 4" brick/stone face on the basement fireplace and it doesn't go all the way to the ceiling to help support the hearth of a fireplace above it, then that veneer can be removed. You can brick shut the basement fireplace in the basement. Use brick to shut the opening not studs for moisture barrier. The separate flue for the basement fireplace needs to be closed of fin the top of the chimney to keep water from entering the chimney.

You can cap the flue with flashing or use mortar. To mortar it shut cut a fairly heavy gage square chicken wire bigger than the inside of the flue and bend it to compress inside the flue about 3" down from the top of the flue. Lay some newspaper on that and fill with mortar carefully to the top of the flue and above the flue in the middle of the flue in order to slope for water runoff.

Signed 21 Boat

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[chrisdanna]

Just to add to ballengerb1

Check the flue system in the fireplaces to make sure the basement fireplace is not connected to any other fireplace(s) flue

Also the fireplace in the basement is more than likely the structural support for the upper fireplaces and the structural end needs to remain intact for obvious reasons. If there is a 4" brick/stone face on the basement fireplace and it doesn't go all the way to the ceiling to help support the hearth of a fireplace above it, then that veneer can be removed. You can brick shut the basement fireplace in the basement. Use brick to shut the opening not studs for moisture barrier. The separate flue for the basement fireplace needs to be closed of fin the top of the chimney to keep water from entering the chimney.

You can cap the flue with flashing or use mortar. To mortar it shut cut a fairly heavy gage square chicken wire bigger than the inside of the flue and bend it to compress inside the flue about 3" down from the top of the flue. Lay some newspaper on that and fill with mortar carefully to the top of the flue and above the flue in the middle of the flue in order to slope for water runoff.

Signed 21 Boat

If I Helped To Answer Your Question Please Rate My Answer

Thanks this helps a lot, it is about 30 yrs old so I imagine it is not possible to remove it but I will be able to cover it.