Is my fireplace safe?

Dit

Joined
12 Dec 2006
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Location
Gloucestershire
Country
United Kingdom
Hi!

I've removed the plywood board covering a fireplace, in order to replace it with plasterboard so it can be skimmed. Lo and behold, dodgy looking bricks! They can be jiggled slightly but I'm reluctant to interfere too much.

In your expert opinion, should I worry about them, and if so should they be replaced or mortared in place?

Many thanks for all help received.

Tim

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It's nothing.

Take the loose brick out or gob it up to stop it dropping later

Remember to fit a vent if boarding the fireplace up
 
If you're intending to cover the opening I think I'd brick it up from the bottom with lightweight blocks. It looks a bit too dodgy to leave, so it's either that or put in a small lintel. The span is very small so even a thick piece of flat steel would probably do.
You can wedge up loose brickwork with pieces of slate (the real stuff), before pointing.
If you do brick up remember to leave a hole for a vent.
 
It's not even two bricks wide, and all the bricks above it are self supporting, so no need to go overboard with extra supports and unecessary work
 
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i had the same problem withmy bedroom fireplace openings.. I can only presume the original fireplaces had the lintels built into them somehow..
 
You guys are brilliant, thank you for the advice. I'm going to use plasterboard to cover the opening, so a wooden frame inside the gap will serve two purposes-fixing for the board and stop the loose bricks dislodging. Yes I'll definitely install a vent. Is it true that these are now law?
 

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