chimney breast dilema ???

[trowelandhawk]

Can anybody give me advice on this dilema.

I have removed the old gas fire from the chimney breast and had it capped off. I wish to install shelves in the hole that now remains and put AV equipment in it. The problem is that the remaining hole is not deep enough for some of the equipment. I would like to take out the bricks at the back to make this deep enough. It would be one skin thickness which i would take out and 9 course high, by approx 20" wide. Its the depth i need to have everything flush with the face of the chimney breast.

can anyone help ???.
Many thanks.

 

[stuart45]

Can you put a photo up?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

How many bricks thick is the wall? is it a party wall? are you mad?

 

[PWR]

Could save you ££££s if you can plug into your neighbour's sockets.

Seriously how about boxing out the front of the breast to give you the depth. If it is only 4" you need frame it out with 4x2 at front (and on sides if it needs balancing visually), plasterboard, done! One other thing on the inside when you box it out put very fine mesh on the top for letting the heat escape up the flue. Don't know what amp you have but mine gets hot enough to fry an egg on.