Are the bricks above fireback structural?

b21playa · 28 Jan 2024

Hi all

Looking to get a gas fire fitted in an opening that was already present. Upon further investigation the opening was made smaller by a timber frame (gas man said has to be non combustible material).

I’ve ripped this all out and looking to get a new lintel installed and the fireplace bricked up to the opening specified by gas man. There’s an old fire back with bricks above, are these ok to remove? They look to go up and into the chimney throat?

Many thanks in advance

noseall · 28 Jan 2024

b21playa said:
Hi all

Looking to get a gas fire fitted in an opening that was already present. Upon further investigation the opening was made smaller by a timber frame (gas man said has to be non combustible material).

I’ve ripped this all out and looking to get a new lintel installed and the fireplace bricked up to the opening specified by gas man. There’s an old fire back with bricks above, are these ok to remove? They look to go up and into the chimney throat?

Many thanks in advance View attachment 331089

The fireback and bricks on top, would have likely been added after the builders opening. Take some plaster off a wee bit higher than you already have.

b21playa · 28 Jan 2024

noseall said:
The fireback and bricks on top, would have likely been added after the builders opening. Take some plaster off a wee bit higher than you already have.

Brickes seem to go up about 2ft before they bend around

noseall · 28 Jan 2024

b21playa said:
Brickes seem to go up about 2ft before they bend around

Oh...? Do they eventually form part of the mid-feathers?

b21playa · 28 Jan 2024

I’m not certain but could be. They don’t seem to be tied into the back of the chimney though, which is strange.

Was thinking of getting fireback removed and getting bricks fitted along the face and under the current ones that are on the fireback. This would create the right size opening roughly. If they are part of the mid-feathers, it should tie it in and seal it up???

^woody^ · 28 Jan 2024

Back in the day, the inner bricks were just thrown in, not bonded, may not even be whole bricks, just any old crap with a shovel of mortar here and there. The mortar turns to powder, and friction keeps things together.

So you can never rely on the inner bricks staying up once the fire back and throat are removed.

b21playa · 29 Jan 2024

Thanks. Could turn into a pig of a job. If the bricks drop, above lintel area, no way of putting them back in.

Any suggestions on where to go from here? Think I’ll fit the lintel tomorrow, at least the face will be supported as removing timber frame

b21playa · 29 Jan 2024

I’ve fitted the lintel and tried to tie in the bricks above the fire back that were sticking out. This means there’s a half brick to the rear unsupported if the fireback was to be removed. I’ve attached a picture prior to mixing up the muck. Currently a 100mm bearing each side, but this will increase around 350mm once fully bricked up

My new plan is to bolt a heavy duty angle bracket to the side of these in-tied bricks and to the rear of the chimney, hoping to hold it in place. I can then remove the fire back and brick up to it

b21playa · 29 Jan 2024

Update: fire back removed…..I lost a few half bricks on the left side which I’ll replace as I brick up the opening to the required size given

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Are the bricks above fireback structural?

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