Advice / Help needed on fireplace project

[Johnny - Oxford]

Hi

Please can anybody help me with some advice? It will be most appreciated.

I am slowly modernising a victorian house (circa 1910) and am working on the fireplace.

I have removed the gas fireplace that previous owners had used, and have opened up the chimney to its original size, see pictures.

I have laid some nice black limestone tiles to form a hearth (approx 1 inch thick tiles on top of the existing concrete base where the old hearth was - I do not know what is underneath that).

The master plan is to get a woodburner, I have a chimney chap ready to fit a liner and install the stove etc once I am ready.

My problem is this.

I have (rather naively) ordered a york stone fire surround, and it was delivered today.

Because we wanted it big and chunky I sent my own drawing and they made it based on one of their designs but to my size - which was approx twice as thick as their standard.

The pallet arrived today and the stones are huge and extremely heavy.

I think with some hard work and swearing I will be able to get the 2 uprights in position and fix them with some plates and rawbolts etc to secure them in place.

My biggest doubt at the moment is how I will lift the top cross piece into place and fix it there?

Even with 2 of us I dont think we will be able to lift it, but I cant envisage any lifting equipment that I could get in here? Worse still I have just finished sanding and varnishing the floor (not shown in these pictures) so I need to be careful.

Also do you think I will have any issues due to the sheer weight of the whole structure once it is in place?

Please help! I am pretty good with DIY but I feel a little out of my depth here.

Thanks.

Johnny.

Old fireplace
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o14/johnnyboylager/House/?action=view&current=Fireplace1.jpg

Fireplace as it is now
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/.../?action=view&current=ImportedPhotos00028.jpg

The design
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o14/johnnyboylager/House/?action=view&current=Design.jpg

The pallet with the very heavy new surround stones on
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o14/johnnyboylager/House/?action=view&current=CIMG2873.jpg

The original design (ours is twice as thick, and longer and taller)
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o14/johnnyboylager/House/?action=view&current=kubis.jpg

 

[Bon]

My honest opinion is that will look awful if and when you get it put up as the stone is far too thick.

However, that's only my opinion! To lift it, you'd need something like a Genie-lift to get it up(!) and position from that, but be prepared to crack some of those new (and very well-laid) tiles. Especially where the upright stones will sit.

 

[Bon]

Also Johnny,

Shouldn't a CORGI chap have removed you existing fire and tested/certified it has been capped/plugged off properly?

 

[Johnny - Oxford]

The old gas fire was fed by a calorgas bottle outside, so no need for the Corgi thing.

 

[Bon]

8)

 

[cpd01]

Hi there that surround is bloody big far to big for your opening but its there now id suggest using chemfix to fix top in place it wont move with that on it as for lifting it into place do you know any shotputters you cant use and handling device because as you know york stone will chi if mishandled hope it all goes well and if you need a woodburner have alook on our website *****

 

[r896neo]

When we lift much bigger sills heads etc into place they usually have to go up a lift or two of scaffold. so you put up trestles half way between each lift and do it in stages.

Get a few stable crates or even chairs etc and gradually get it nearer each time.

Enjoy!

P.s bend your knees and dont lift with your back!

 

[Markymilarky]

Hi Johnny.
as far as lifting it goes what i usually do is put some planks down to protect the floor, then put a car jack prefer trolly type or scisors under each end and a wooden block between the jack and the lintel then pump it up. then when at maximum lift put some blocks under it. then put blocks under the jack and do the same again till it's up to position. then push it into position if you can. if it's to heavy to push use a jack and some timber against an imovable object. or something along those lines. mark

 

[breezer]

Markymilarky, Johnny - Oxford made that post 5 months ago its a fair bet to say he has finished by now.

A public sevice post

 

[Markymilarky]

Hi Breezer, Cheers Matey, I gota start looking at the dates. 5 months, fireplace and winter, I'll have to use my loaf more. Cheers Matey.. mark