opening the chimney breast up

Landcruzer said:

Hoodedclaw,
How did it end up?
I am doing a very similar job, but cant find the details of the W lintels you used.
Anyone know what the spec and name is?
I assume they are just there as extra support for the flue and flue bricks?

Click to expand...

Hi Landcruzer, it went very well, the lintels were fine - building inspector happy with it all.

Getting the linings down was £800 each (2 chimneys lined) which was the best price I could find.. took 4 people 1/2 day and 2 to fit 1 fire the other 1/2 day.

The lintels were just called 'W steel lintels' from B&Q, cost about £20 for 1.5m - as far as I can remember!

Other mistake was using lime render and plaster, its all blowing off and painting in limewash only offers pale colours.

it doesn't get hot enough to cause cement based plaster any problems.

Oh - and the solid one piece slate base, again I was worried about the heat cracking it - lol.. the insulation on the stove is very good and I can comfortably hold my hand under it. the stove burns at 400degC and front is 200degC - so it does pump out!

Landcruzer said:

Thanks hotrod,
I spent an hour googling that and came up with nowt!
An idea how far the W type lintel should sit beyond the opening?

Click to expand...

I'm not surprised you came up with nowt if you were googling for W type lintels - I've never heard them referred to as that. They aren't commonly used but I remember the first time they were spec'd on a job I was working I looked at them and thought wtf ? 100mm end bearing should be fine for your application (as the span will be >1000mm?) - in fact it's probably all you can squeeze if I'm imagining it correct ?

I was just using HoodedClaws terminology..lol.
100 mm end bearing is a problem at the rear. Breeze block wall
between living room and kitchen.
Could i build a brick wall at the back and infill with concrete between the brick and the block to give it strength and sit the w lintel on top?

Very late to this thread but it has really helped me in my project so thank you . I do however have 1 question. The W shape lintels they are obviously very short but still need a sturdy platform to rest on. At the back it is obvious they rest on the brick of the wall but at the front are they resting on the opening lintel?