I need to open out a fireplace in the kitchen to fit a range cooker in the opening, with an extractor hood above.

As it will be supporting the rest of the stack do I need to get a structural engineer to quote the beam size to go across the top?

Also if needed has anyone got an idea of price to have someone do it ?

you should be able to do it with one or two linteals maybe a day labour for two men but you can,t say until open it up and it could be unsupported goodluck ta jeff

Structural calculations are a MUST before proceeding otherwise you will never be able to sell the house and you could end up with the rest of the chimney in your kitchen.

Don't you also have to have agreement from next door, if the breast is on the party wall?

yeah you need to do both as dan and ruby said, just trying to out line the work before the paperwork gets involved good luck jeff

Thanks - The chimney is on an outside wall so no neighbour worries but I'm more concerned about the need to get the paperwork as we would want to sell sometime.