Hi all,
I wanted to run my plan to open up an old fireplace past you to see if it makes sense. Aim is to have an open fire with fire dog.
House is ~1950’s…gas man has disconnected gas and I have removed gas fire; the existing fireplace was made smaller with brickwork which I have removed and its now back to original size, builders opening is 37’’ wide, 58’’ high and 19’’ deep. It has iron lintel forming archway.
I plan to install a concrete lintel below existing iron lintel to reduce height of opening to 38’’ and then brick up above with bricks (using bricks I already removed) with mortar (1:4 cement : builders sand). Then will install floating oak beam ~12’’ above opening and get plasterer in to make it all look good (tempted to try myself but already know I will make a pigs ear of it!)…hearth will be indian sandstone (they are solid slabs, 1-2’’ thick) on bed of 1:4 mortar mix extending out to 300 mm
The fireplace itself needs sweeping and I’m hoping won’t need relining; brickwork and joints don’t look to bad as far as I can see. Once done I will get sweep in to clean and appraise. Ideally, I would have them in before doing the work above but finances and all means it will have to wait while I crack on with the work.
What do you think, is there anything I should reconsider before getting started on putting lintel in this weekend?
Cheers
Richard
I wanted to run my plan to open up an old fireplace past you to see if it makes sense. Aim is to have an open fire with fire dog.
House is ~1950’s…gas man has disconnected gas and I have removed gas fire; the existing fireplace was made smaller with brickwork which I have removed and its now back to original size, builders opening is 37’’ wide, 58’’ high and 19’’ deep. It has iron lintel forming archway.
I plan to install a concrete lintel below existing iron lintel to reduce height of opening to 38’’ and then brick up above with bricks (using bricks I already removed) with mortar (1:4 cement : builders sand). Then will install floating oak beam ~12’’ above opening and get plasterer in to make it all look good (tempted to try myself but already know I will make a pigs ear of it!)…hearth will be indian sandstone (they are solid slabs, 1-2’’ thick) on bed of 1:4 mortar mix extending out to 300 mm
The fireplace itself needs sweeping and I’m hoping won’t need relining; brickwork and joints don’t look to bad as far as I can see. Once done I will get sweep in to clean and appraise. Ideally, I would have them in before doing the work above but finances and all means it will have to wait while I crack on with the work.
What do you think, is there anything I should reconsider before getting started on putting lintel in this weekend?
Cheers
Richard
