I'm installing a working cast iron fireplace in my front room, to replace the non-working decorative bedroom fireplace that somebody so thoughfully installed
The fireplace you see below is the one I'm removing. The one I'm replacing it with is much larger.
This is a good example of how old houses can often cost more than you think
You can see beneath the arch the previous owner has put a couple of courses of brick in, to make the existing fireplace fit, obviously these aren't load bearing, but if you look at the other pictures, you can see that 5-6 bricks are physically loose. The entire arch will move 1/4 inch or so if you give it a gentle push. Amazingly, the depth of the plaster on that breast is over an inch! No plasterwork in the loft on the chimney stack, so I wonder why they laid it on so thick?
So, I'm thinking all it needs is repointing, and then I can remove the 2 courses of bricks from underneath the arch, and carry on installing the fireplace? Whats the correct material to point it with (not that it really matters, because it will be plastered over, but I'd like to stick with tradition). The house was built in 1910. Oh, the bricks above the arch are loose as well, about 6-7 of them will also need attention.
The fireplace you see below is the one I'm removing. The one I'm replacing it with is much larger.
This is a good example of how old houses can often cost more than you think
You can see beneath the arch the previous owner has put a couple of courses of brick in, to make the existing fireplace fit, obviously these aren't load bearing, but if you look at the other pictures, you can see that 5-6 bricks are physically loose. The entire arch will move 1/4 inch or so if you give it a gentle push. Amazingly, the depth of the plaster on that breast is over an inch! No plasterwork in the loft on the chimney stack, so I wonder why they laid it on so thick?
So, I'm thinking all it needs is repointing, and then I can remove the 2 courses of bricks from underneath the arch, and carry on installing the fireplace? Whats the correct material to point it with (not that it really matters, because it will be plastered over, but I'd like to stick with tradition). The house was built in 1910. Oh, the bricks above the arch are loose as well, about 6-7 of them will also need attention.