Exposing brick on chimney breast

[Tentontousand]

There was a big crack and hole in the plaster of our chimney breast so my wife started hacking at it and things escalated haha - My main concern is the archway section. It seems to be concreted up, is this usually to support the archway itself or maybe its just an aesthetic patch to square off the curve?

Another question is, will the mortar need to be repointed or can the holes just be patched?

 

[Ian H]

Looks line a thin concrete lintel has been put under the arch with mortar on top. Probably was to square it off.

 

[vinn]

As above - its been lintelled simply to square the opening off.
The brick arch is in excellent condition, and is self supporting.
There's no signs of cracks or "holes" in the brickwork.

Whats your final purpose in doing this work?

 

[Doggit]

You'll need to check if the closure plate is above the concrete arch, and if it is, then remove the arch, repoint the brickwork, brush it with boiled linseed oil, and it'll look lovely

 

[Tentontousand]

As above - its been lintelled simply to square the opening off.
The brick arch is in excellent condition, and is self supporting.
There's no signs of cracks or "holes" in the brickwork.

Whats your final purpose in doing this work?

We'd like to have just the chimney breast bare brick. Theres a few cracks and broken off bricks in places that need to be filled/fixed it seems.

You'll need to check if the closure plate is above the concrete arch, and if it is, then remove the arch, repoint the brickwork, brush it with boiled linseed oil, and it'll look lovely

The closure sits at the bottom of the concrete squared off section... I'd prefer to remove the concrete section and have a new closure higher up inline with the arch really.

 

[vinn]

Then simply remove the lintel and the filler and drop the closure plate.
Depending on what kind of appliance you have or intend to install there will be, of course, other variables to take into account before raising the closure plate.
Perhaps a heads up from a HETAS would help?

Dont apply any kind of treatment to the exposed brickwork - leave it as raw bricks and mortar.

 

[Tentontousand]

Then simply remove the lintel and the filler and drop the closure plate.
Depending on what kind of appliance you have or intend to install there will be, of course, other variables to take into account before raising the closure plate.
Perhaps a heads up from a HETAS would help?

Dont apply any kind of treatment to the exposed brickwork - leave it as raw bricks and mortar.

Thanks Vinn! Ill try these suggestions out later this weekend.