Hi there - I'm looking for some advice on widening a fireplace please. We have just removed an inset gas fire with a view to installing a freestanding wood burner. Problem is the fireplace opening is not wide enough. The chimney is wide enough externally but internally it seems to have been bricked up to compensate for the gas fire.
We have managed to get the old gas fire out and all the rubble that was packing it in. We've now got bricks which seem to have been used to reduce the size internally. I attach some pics.
We probably only need to widen by 10-15cms either side. There is a lintel in place and it seems to stretch across further than these bricks.
Do you think we are safe to remove a row of bricks either side? Any advice on getting them out - do we just chip away?
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve
We have managed to get the old gas fire out and all the rubble that was packing it in. We've now got bricks which seem to have been used to reduce the size internally. I attach some pics.
We probably only need to widen by 10-15cms either side. There is a lintel in place and it seems to stretch across further than these bricks.
Do you think we are safe to remove a row of bricks either side? Any advice on getting them out - do we just chip away?
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve