Knocking out old fireplace

[willst0ne]

Hello,
I am having a woodburning stove installed and am trying to prep the firplace as much as posible before it is fitted.

My house was built in 1996 and had a coal fire installed. The flue, pot and stack have all been checked and green lighted for the instalation.

I am trying to work out how much I can knock out of the fireplace. I have taken some photos to try and better describe my situation.

Behind the fireback (which I removed) it seems to be filled with dodgy block work held togather with a very week/sandy morter (see photo). I would be quite happy to just knock it all out but it seems the flue is being supported by the top blocks (see photo).

Ok to knock the shoddy block work out or will the chimney/house fall down? And what sort of thing can I expect to find behind?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Will Stone

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• willst0ne
• 1 Sep 2011
• 1

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• willst0ne
• 1 Sep 2011
• 1

 

[Blagard]

Your photo's are too small to make out the detail. Can you try again with a much higher resolution

 

[willst0ne]

Please find attached some higher quality images. Thanks in advance for help

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• willst0ne
• 1 Sep 2011
• 1

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• willst0ne
• 1 Sep 2011
• 1

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• willst0ne
• 1 Sep 2011
• 1

 

[Richard C]

As this comes up so often, I’ve put together this generic post; read the links but not all may apply to you.

You can DIY a stove install but you need to understand the Building Regs (which changed in October 2010), submit a Building Notice & pay a fee. Your LABC will inspect &, assuming everything is OK, issue a compliance certificate; the BI may want to witness smoke & spillage tests. No compliance certificate may lead to difficulties when you come to sell your property; if cannot produce a compliance certificate in the event of a problem, your insurance company may invalidate your policy & reject any claim.

Lots of archive threads on this, & other things you have to watch out for, here a few links for you to read:
http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/stove_building_regulations.html
http://www.hetas.co.uk/public/certificates.html
http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/pdfs/buidling_regs_consumer leaflet.pdf
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=183614
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=211524
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=242738
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=224751

& some more sobering just in case you think it’s all a load of old tosh:
http://www.solidfuel.co.uk/main_pages/news.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...wood-burning-stove-leaks-carbon-monoxide.html
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/warning_over_heaters_after_norfolk_couple_s_death_1_811099

Also get at least 3 quotes from local independent HETAS installers:
http://www.hetas.co.uk/nearest_member

You might be pleasantly surprised & you should ask yourself if you really want all the hassle & risk getting it wrong; climbing onto the roof with an 8M stainless steel snake on your back is not for the feint hearted!

__________________


Read more: //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=267604&highlight=#ixzz1I6jlicut

 

[willst0ne]

Thanks Richard for the info but I am getting a fitter to instal the stove and flue system I am just getting the fire place ready for it to be fitted in.

Maybe I did not explain my self but what I am wondering about is whether or not I can knock out these loose blocks held togather with a weak/sandy mortor mix without effecting the flue.

Thanks again

 

[Richard C]

I’m not saying you didn’t explain yourself perfectly well; this topic comes up so often that I put together a standard post which will cover or provide links to mostly what you need to know. It’s not intended to cover everything or be critical of what you’re doing, just be sure to follow & read all of the links as there is bound to be something in there that will be relevant, if only the refinishing/plastering bit.

It’ very difficult to make out what I’m looking at from your pics & TBH it looks like a bloody mess but the flue liner, chimney & certainly your house ain’t gona fall down. For greater efficiency of your wood burner, you’re going to need a new insulated twin wall liner anyway; my advice is also to go for a multi-fuel stove.

If you search the archive you will find there are many similar threads which I know will cover what you need to know; if not r if you can’t find them, post back.

 

[Blagard]

Thanks Richard for the info but I am getting a fitter to instal the stove and flue system I am just getting the fire place ready for it to be fitted in.

Maybe I did not explain my self but what I am wondering about is whether or not I can knock out these loose blocks held togather with a weak/sandy mortor mix without effecting the flue.

Thanks again

I have not read through Richards links but would say that when removing firebacks I have seen all sorts of crap used to build out the void behind it. Given the age of your property I really would not expect it to look like that as part of the builders orginal opening. So if it is loose I would pull it out anyway.