Fitting stove to fireplace with flue gather type lintel

[Blimey]

I've recently ripped out the existing open type gas fire and surround with the view of having a small wood burner or inset multi-fuel stove fitted. The house was built in the mid 90's and has this cast type lintel (pictured) and the chimney is built onto the external wall. Has anyone got any advice regards either opening up the fireplace or fitting into the existing opening taking into account the type of lintel.

 

[bobasd]

the search button will provide lots of info much of it recent for doing just what you propose.

 

[Blimey]

Out of interest, is the removable keystone a structural part of this type of lintel?

 

[bobasd]

yes, its a very attractive feature of that 3- piece lintel.

 

[Blimey]

yes, its a very attractive feature of that 3- piece lintel.

Is the third piece of the lintel the bit that joins to the clay liner? I have had a couple of Hetas registered installers quote to fit a woodburner, one says they can remove the lintel without any problems and the other is reluctant to remove it (because the clay liners are sitting on it) and suggests fitting an inset woodburner. My question is: If the lintel is removed will the clay liners slip and if it's removed how do you hold them in place?

 

[bobasd]

why not pic up the flue - use a light - and post on here?
there's nothing to stop you removing a few bricks above the present lintel and having a look at how the liner is situated - nothing will fall down.
read the Related Threads below.
supply us with the stove install dimensions required?

 

[Blimey]

why not pic up the flue - use a light - and post on here?
there's nothing to stop you removing a few bricks above the present lintel and having a look at how the liner is situated - nothing will fall down.
read the Related Threads below.
supply us with the stove install dimensions required?

Thanks for comments. It's going to be block work above the lintel (chimneys on external wall) but I'll remove some plasterboard and take a look. The new opening will need to be a minimum of 800mm Wide X 900mm High, the external width at the base is 1600mm. Here's some pics up the flue.

 

[bobasd]

the 900mm height needed would be roughly level with the 1320mm line in your dimension pic.
if you attempted to re-use the 3-piece lintel (as a show feature) you would have to support it on, say an angle iron?

with the lining exposed you could use an angle grinder to nibble away at the lining up to the height required. i dont think anything will slip but then i'm not on site.
given that judgement calls are required for opening up, and using an grinder in a close space maybe you call in a HETAS or builder?

the liner needs sweeping and the stack & terminal should be examined for soundness.