Hello, we have the following issue: the architect incorrectly marked the chimney location on the upper floor. When the masons were ready to start after the chimney was built up to the upper floor, they realized that the chimney was misplaced by about 1 meter (3 feet), which now disrupts the entire floor plan. What was previously a practical, square layout is now quite awkward and irregular.
Our construction company did not notice this error when submitting the building permit / planning application and so on.
We would like to completely relocate the chimney, but we have been told that this is supposedly not possible for structural reasons. However, the construction company has not specified these reasons, so I do not believe it and would actually want to insist on moving it. The house is already clad with bricks and the roof is finished.
Now my questions: Is relocating or demolishing and rebuilding a chimney really that problematic?
If we have to live with the awkward and undesirable floor plan, can we then claim reimbursements for the drawings and also demand further compensation? After all, we will have to live in these awkward rooms and will probably be quite frustrated, since the chimney now comes out directly at the end of the stairs.
Thank you very much for your opinions. I understand that a chimney or fireplace is not necessary for insulation reasons...
Our construction company did not notice this error when submitting the building permit / planning application and so on.
We would like to completely relocate the chimney, but we have been told that this is supposedly not possible for structural reasons. However, the construction company has not specified these reasons, so I do not believe it and would actually want to insist on moving it. The house is already clad with bricks and the roof is finished.
Now my questions: Is relocating or demolishing and rebuilding a chimney really that problematic?
If we have to live with the awkward and undesirable floor plan, can we then claim reimbursements for the drawings and also demand further compensation? After all, we will have to live in these awkward rooms and will probably be quite frustrated, since the chimney now comes out directly at the end of the stairs.
Thank you very much for your opinions. I understand that a chimney or fireplace is not necessary for insulation reasons...
I still don’t quite understand... the chimney on the documents submitted to the building authority is exactly in the same position as in Clipboard 2, isn’t it?
Is this a freelance architect or the painter from your construction company?
The whole setup is terrible... but you did sign the building permit / planning application like that, right?
How did the architect actually draw it? What was contractually agreed upon?
This won’t work... I would consider giving up the chimney and asking for a refund of the chimney costs, if the builder agrees to that?!
Is this a freelance architect or the painter from your construction company?
The whole setup is terrible... but you did sign the building permit / planning application like that, right?
How did the architect actually draw it? What was contractually agreed upon?
This won’t work... I would consider giving up the chimney and asking for a refund of the chimney costs, if the builder agrees to that?!
Just by looking at the sequence of doors on the upper floor, I can tell that this wasn’t designed by a real architect. Most likely, the builder’s architect just signed off and stamped the plan from the seller.
I’d be interested in seeing the whole house with furniture. I suspect there isn’t much space for a fireplace, and I would generally lean towards leaving out the chimney as well.
I’d be interested in seeing the whole house with furniture. I suspect there isn’t much space for a fireplace, and I would generally lean towards leaving out the chimney as well.
We don’t have children, and it was intentional that the bathroom can only be accessed through the bedroom. This area is off-limits to our guests, and the barrier to entering a bedroom is higher than entering a bathroom. The drawn children’s room is therefore actually more of an office, as is the room near the staircase.
Clipboard 01 was designed intentionally by us; however, the chimney on the upper floor is incorrectly drawn. It is now located directly in front of the bedroom door. It should actually have been 1.25 m (4 feet) away.
In Clipboards 02 and 03, the ground floor is identical to 01 (which has already been stated). In 02, one stair step was concreted to ensure there is at least 0.97 m (3 feet 2 inches) between the staircase and the chimney, so that a door can somehow be installed there again. This makes the stairs noticeably steeper. Naturally, the straight walls no longer fit, so they are now angled accordingly.
Clipboard 03 shows where we would like to move the chimney if this is technically feasible.
My question isn’t how you like the floor plan, but whether it is possible to move a chimney that has already been built up during shell construction (the roof is also already covered) — to demolish it and rebuild it in the desired location?
Clipboard 01 was designed intentionally by us; however, the chimney on the upper floor is incorrectly drawn. It is now located directly in front of the bedroom door. It should actually have been 1.25 m (4 feet) away.
In Clipboards 02 and 03, the ground floor is identical to 01 (which has already been stated). In 02, one stair step was concreted to ensure there is at least 0.97 m (3 feet 2 inches) between the staircase and the chimney, so that a door can somehow be installed there again. This makes the stairs noticeably steeper. Naturally, the straight walls no longer fit, so they are now angled accordingly.
Clipboard 03 shows where we would like to move the chimney if this is technically feasible.
My question isn’t how you like the floor plan, but whether it is possible to move a chimney that has already been built up during shell construction (the roof is also already covered) — to demolish it and rebuild it in the desired location?
I would sit down with the company and discuss where they see the responsibility here. Just with the step, some strange facts are being created. If I believed I was in the right, I wouldn’t simply accept that. If you feel uncertain, get some help.
Otherwise, you might consider having the bedroom placed on the left side of the plan and the bathroom arranged on the top right.
Otherwise, you might consider having the bedroom placed on the left side of the plan and the bathroom arranged on the top right.
It looks like we will need to bring in an expert to address this issue since we don’t trust the step that was added with concrete afterward. However, without this step, you would hit the chimney after 30 cm (12 inches) — which is also not a solution.
We are meeting on site next week — and ideally, we would like to insist on relocating the chimney. The builder, however, already mentioned that this is not technically feasible. I suspect this might be because he wants to avoid the extra work and is therefore saying no. So far, he hasn’t provided any reasons for this—maybe he will do so later.
Is it not allowed to have a chimney next to a wooden staircase? Could a new hole be made through the ceiling to reroute the chimney upward in that spot? Then the old chimney opening could be sealed off. As far as I understand, if it’s possible to add a step with concrete afterward, it should also be possible to close up a hole, right? Would the roof then need to be completely stripped and re-covered? I admit it doesn’t sound simple, but it should be feasible, or am I mistaken? For us, that would be the best solution. If not, we might give up on that altogether and look for alternatives for a cozy fireplace. But even in that case, the openings would still have to be sealed.
Regarding the bathroom, I’m not entirely sure if this would be possible since the pipes are planned there and holes have been left accordingly. But the idea is worth considering.
At the moment, we still feel a bit on our own and are only being offered alternatives that we suggested ourselves... but hopefully, that will improve next week.
We are meeting on site next week — and ideally, we would like to insist on relocating the chimney. The builder, however, already mentioned that this is not technically feasible. I suspect this might be because he wants to avoid the extra work and is therefore saying no. So far, he hasn’t provided any reasons for this—maybe he will do so later.
Is it not allowed to have a chimney next to a wooden staircase? Could a new hole be made through the ceiling to reroute the chimney upward in that spot? Then the old chimney opening could be sealed off. As far as I understand, if it’s possible to add a step with concrete afterward, it should also be possible to close up a hole, right? Would the roof then need to be completely stripped and re-covered? I admit it doesn’t sound simple, but it should be feasible, or am I mistaken? For us, that would be the best solution. If not, we might give up on that altogether and look for alternatives for a cozy fireplace. But even in that case, the openings would still have to be sealed.
Regarding the bathroom, I’m not entirely sure if this would be possible since the pipes are planned there and holes have been left accordingly. But the idea is worth considering.
At the moment, we still feel a bit on our own and are only being offered alternatives that we suggested ourselves... but hopefully, that will improve next week.
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