Concrete lintel crack in old fireplace

[CJRatch]

Hi there,

Thanks for any input.

I'm opening up our 1940's fireplace and have exposed the original concrete lintel it's a good size and bearings good only concern is a vertical crack?

I'm presuming it'll have rebar in if so would this be okay left on or best to remove?

Cheers

 

[sircerebus666]

Could just be a surface hairline crack until you remove the bricks under the lintel you won't know for sure

 

[CJRatch]

Cheers for input 666.

I've removed two courses the crack is visible from the bottom to.

It doesn't appear to be going anywhere right now.

I'm tempted to fit a lintel lower and bricking up tight to the old lintel. I'd lose a bit of height on the opening though but no biggie.

 

[sircerebus666]

Yeah that could work or you could fit a lintel directly under the old but me being me if I was doing that I would just replace the existing lintel.

Going for a log burner?

 

[CJRatch]

No it's more decorative going board it, brick slip it and have an real oak fascia beam.

Getting there but concerned by the amount of what appear to be floating bricks inside. They're not tied into anything?

 

[CJRatch]

Nevermind removed them now to they were infill for I presume an old back boiler.