Exposing old brick fireplace

smish · 7 Dec 2020

Hi all,

Just bought a Victorian terraced house and in the process of trying to expose the chimney breast wall. Having taken off some of the plaster, there appears to be a line of bricks that have been replaced at some point. Has anyone got any idea whether it's feasible to put some original bricks back in and make it look good again?! Have attached some pics. Thanks in advance

blup · 11 Dec 2020

It's not just a case of knocking the bricks out.

If the wall was (and remains) structurally sound after installation of the concrete lintel, it should be possible if done with skill, care, and temporary support.

The bricks below the lintel will have to stay as they support the lintel which in turn supports the wall above.

If you're reusing existing bricks will they be safe and suitable having already been chopped out? And will you ever get the mortar to match?

I'm not an expert, but structural works usually require building regulation approval of prior submitted drawings.

Blup

Hugh Jaleak · 11 Dec 2020

I'd say anything below the arch is safe to remove, looks like they've put the lintel on a couple of piers and then filled in the gap above to make a smaller opening for whatever reason, (back boiler install I'd guess.) The arch supports the brickwork above, be careful doing anything with that!

Also suspect those bricks were removed to allow fitting of the liner. What were you planning to do with the fireplace?

Dannyboyski · 11 Dec 2020

Bash it all out, you can go back to the original brick arch with a hammer. no building control required. the original fireplace has not been messed with (or toothed in), you can very easily just knock out all the additions.

i have done 3 of these in our house.

it is lime built so should come out nice and easily.

you should use lime mortar / plaster to finish.

smish · 11 Dec 2020

Thanks all! The bit I was most concerned about is the vertical line of bricks above the arch that have been replaced at some point.

The arch itself also looks to have been messed with a bit and possibly some of the bricks are broken. Do you think it's possible to put some old bricks back in and get it back to its original state so I can leave it all as exposed brick?

jacko555 · 11 Dec 2020

Dannyboyski said:
Bash it all out, you can go back to the original brick arch with a hammer

I'm not a builder.

Does the arch look like a functioning arch?

It should transfer the vertical load horizontally, but, the peak of both arches look bodged with bricks taken out to fit the flue and placed back in with mortar. The infil looks like its dropped with a little crack.

I wouldn't remove the lintel and trust that arch without a SE.

But then again Im not a builder and am only looking at a photo...

Maybe it's all structurally sound

Dannyboyski · 11 Dec 2020

I don't understand what you mean by the vertical line of bricks above the arch. Do not touch the arch or anything above the arch without adequate support.

it will be hard work to clean those bricks to get them good enough to leave them exposed. When laid they were never intended to be face bricks. But if you like the rustic look go for it. Throw a shed load of brick acid at the wall. Wear all the necessary PPE, correct mask etc and that will get you back to brick. point in lime. seal with pva and water otherwise it will dust a lot.

*don't worry about the odd brick face that's cracked, it will look fine (but still rustic) once pointed up.

edit - yes i see the vertical line, someones been in to access the flue. start at the bottom remove small sections at a time and brick back up with an original matching brick. try and repeat the original pattern.

looks like a perfectly working arch to me. (also not a builder)

directly under the arch you will most likely find a steel lintel. that should stay with the arch

jacko555 · 11 Dec 2020

Sorry, I thought, wrongly, the OP wanted to remove the lintel and reinstate to just the arch.
Ignore me.
Yeah replacing bricks Id be comfy doing.
Restoring fireplace to pre-lintel so there's just an arch? Nah.

Dannyboyski · 11 Dec 2020

This fireplace i did looked very much like yours about a year ago.

note the steel lintel. (Keep that it's structural)

ps have you spotted your old servant bell wires, (the random pipe dropping through the plaster)

smish · 11 Dec 2020

Dannyboyski said:
This fireplace i did looked very much like yours about a year ago.

note the steel lintel. (Keep that it's structural)

ps have you spotted your old servant bell wires, (the random pipe dropping through the plaster)

Well I'm glad to see yours looking so nice now! Haha. Gosh I'd be VERY surprised if they had servant bells, given it's a two bedroom house! Lol

Dannyboyski · 12 Dec 2020

doorbell perhaps. looks like a bell wire.

paul mcnally · 12 Dec 2020

As long as you got the old bricks you should be able to match the brick work bond correctly above just use lime and cement plus sharp sand for the mixing , just remove one brick at a time and taking your time

smish · 13 Dec 2020

Some updated pics now all the plaster is off (apart from the sides)! Got a builder coming to have a look. Really hope those bricks can be replaced and the arch can be saved!

tel765 · 13 Dec 2020

OP,
What you propose is a simple job with no BCO or SE necessary.
However, you've not said what you want to do with the fireplace?

Leave everything below the arch alone for the time being, and replace the vertical line of bricks above the arch - then replace any damaged bricks in the peak of the arch, and any other bricks you want to replace in the face of the c/breast.
Do you intend to keep the SS flue liner?
Give the above a day or two to set, and then remove all the make-up bricks and lintel up to the original arch (the high one) and open up to the original opening.
Nothing will collapse.
The lower leg of greyish bricks at lower left will best be left alone.
The fireback can be smashed out.

After cleaning brickwork then rake out beds and perps and point with a 4:1 mix of sand and lime - no cement.
Sealing old, raw brickwork can be done but it often leaves a glossy effect.

What do you intend to do about the hearth and side recesses?
If the liner is removed then the flue might need sweeping and the stack examined?
What about the fireplace in the room above?

There's a loose cable/wire thats probably redundant but check its not carrying juice.
There's also pipework from a vanished back boiler - plumber check to see if the pipework is wet and active.
Also plumber check that there's no pipe carrying the gas that was feeding the back boiler.

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Exposing old brick fireplace

smish

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