Remove old chimney

I have an old brick chimney that originates about halfway up my kitchen wall, protrudes thru the ceiling and out the roof, then goes up the outside wall of my story and 1/2 house, and then through the eaves. Kitchen remodel requires the removal of the chimney, at least the portion of it in the kitchen. Of course that would be like pulling the bottom can from a supermarket display. Does anyone know of anyway to support the chimney above the portion that has to be removed? I thought of drilling the brick and putting metal rods through, attaching them to the kitchen rafters...but I visualize all this brick tumbleing down! Demolishing the entire chimney is probably safest, but that will leave a large hole in the kitchen roof, a gash up the side of the house and a big square hole in the eave of the roof. What to do?

 

To do it right and safely, you're going to have to take that old chimney out from the top, and rebuild all that you need to, to get your home right.
Good luck!
Mike

 

Mike, thanks...somehow deep down I knew that was what had to be done...just needed to hear it from someone else.

RW