Open up the fireplace

[strokebow]

Hi,

I have exposed the fireplace by removing the plaster which was covering it. However, I am a complete building and DIY novice, and dont know how to go about opening the fireplace and securing it properly.

If you look at the uploaded images (in the album - FirePlace 2) you will see that there is a lintel that was put up whenever it was closed. So I am worried the wall will partly collapse if I swing a sledge hammer at it.

Any ideas/suggestions will be most welcome and appreciated.

Untitled

• strokebow
• 3 Jun 2012
• 1

Untitled

• strokebow
• 3 Jun 2012
• 1

 

[Norcon]

Looks like it was crumbling and someone built in a new head.
May then have been used as a fire but looks very small.
Then it was built up completely.

Did one of these a few weeks back. Thunder bolted heavy channel across the chimney breast at high level then acrow propped it before the break out.
The breakout was large as a stove was replacing the fire.
My main concern was avoiding felling the entire chimney fred dibnah style out across the living room floor.

I made up shuttering to form the new head and raft lintel to support the flue liner and poured it from high level in a single pour in situ.
And of course added in the new re-bar prior to the pour.
My other concern was that the flue sections would drop at my feet but luckily they didn't.