remove fireback with lintel on top?

[Roy carter]

Hi, bit new to this , ripping out a fireplace and installing insert and surrounded, everything fine until came across fireback with fireback lintel the lintel is supported by the fireback , would its be safe to remove this ? Also the fire back goes up into the throat is this safe to remove , do I have to support the fireplace , thanks for any help

 

[TicTac]

The lintel should be the pink beam above the firebrick. You should be fine to remove everything below it; just take it slow and careful.

 

[Roy carter]

Thanks , but the lintel sticks out and the insert will flat to the wall , there is also a fire brick that goes up into the throat , these will all have to be removed , any ideas please??? Also the lintel is supported by the fire brick .

 

[TicTac]

Hire and acrow with a strong boy, and support the wall above the lintel, and change that for narrower one, but the lintel isn't supported by the fire bricks, it's supported on the brickwork either side of the opening. When you remove the fireback, you'll find a load of rubble behind it, but it'll all come out sensibly.

This is a good site to read.

 

[JohnD]

looking at the brickwork, I think it's possible that the "flat" face is structural and has a lintel, and the fireback and projecting brickwork were added later, with an extra (lightweight) lintel to support the bricks filling up the gap. Brush and clean the wall for a foot or so above the pink lintel and the fat mortar filling, and see. You can pull out everything inside the builders opening and the chimneybreast will be sound.

 

[Roy carter]

Sorry got carried away with the pictures!!!