Chimney breast

[North]

Hi, i moved into a 1930’s house which had the chimney breast removed. Where it stand there is a cement bit with the shape of the old chimney breast which you can tell use to have small tiles on it.
My question is before we decide to tile it or cover it somehow what is under the cement patch? One of the options is to get rid of the patch and cover it with the same type of wooden planks as the rest of the house but before I start digging I would like to know what is beneath.
Any ideas?

 

[skhudy]

I think you're taking about the chimney hearth..

You can dig it put in new joists and floorboards / Ply in the space the cement took up. several hundred kg of rubble to get rid of, and take the bottom of the chimney breast down a couple of brick courses to get new joists in.

I've taken them out of my house, it's hard work, you need a breaker. A chunky SDS hammer drill will do it but take longer.

Nothing below my hearths, supported by the joists and wood put in at an angle - hard to explain, something like this I\=======/I

 

[North]

Thanks, interesting. I think the easiest solution will be to put tiles rather than starting digging out rubble...
Thanks

 

[skhudy]

Thanks, interesting. I think the easiest solution will be to put tiles rather than starting digging out rubble...
Thanks

Or perhaps self leveling compound?

 

[North]

My wife would kill me, tiling looks better!